Living Kindfully

How an Old Macbook Air Helped Me Stay Productive

In early 2024, I acquired a 13-year-old MacBook Air. The previous owner said it couldn't be updated, the software was outdated, and the battery only lasted 20 minutes.

Initially, I was unsure if it was worth salvaging the device. Online resources offered little guidance on reviving such an old machine.

Taking a chance, my local computer repair person quoted the following for refurbishment:

This was a significant investment for such an old laptop. For the same price, it is nearly a 3 days worth of family groceries.

The refurbishment took about 3 days. Upon startup, it took nearly 20 seconds to reach the login screen. I was nervous about overall performance.

However, after logging in and installing updates, the MacBook Air functioned surprisingly well. Applications like Firefox and LibreOffice launched reasonably quickly, and I experienced no lag during use.

Since I primarily use this device for writing and studying, I avoided logging into social media or email. Psychologically, this helps me focus on the task at hand by minimizing distractions.

All my documents are stored in OneDrive and Google Drive. I only access these cloud services when needed. For writing, I use BearBlog for drafts and Google Docs for brainstorming and writing itself. This approach minimizes local storage needs, ensuring data remains safe even if the device is lost or damaged.

The new battery offers approximately 3 hours of power on maximum brightness. I'm confident I can extend this by adjusting brightness settings. Working unplugged encourages efficient workflow, as I need to complete tasks before the battery depletes.

Despite running on Linux Mint, I'm impressed by the MacBook Air's hardware durability. The keyboard and screen look and feel great. If the opportunity arises, I wouldn't hesitate to salvage another MacBook device in the future.