Apple Obsoletes Select Early 2008 to Late 2009 Macs

Apple has updated its vintage and obsolete products list with various older products that have not been manufactured for at least five years, including select Macs manufactured between early 2008 and late 2009, the second-generation Time Capsule and the 32GB original iPod touch.

Apple products on the vintage and obsolete list are no longer eligible for hardware service, with a few exceptions. Apple defines vintage products as those that have not been manufactured for more than five and less than seven years ago, while obsolete products are those that were discontinued more than seven years ago.

Only the new additions are reflected below.

Macintosh products vintage in the U.S. and Turkey and obsolete in Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Latin America

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009)
iMac (27-inch, Late 2009)
MacBook Air (Mid 2009)
Mac Pro (Early 2009)
Time Capsule 802.11n (2nd generation)

Macintosh products obsolete in the U.S., Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Latin America

Apple Cinema Display (23-inch, DVI, Early 2007)
Apple Cinema Display (30-inch DVI)
MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008)
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2008)
Time Capsule 802.11n (1st generation)

iPod products obsolete in the U.S., Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Latin America

iPod touch with Jan SW UPG 32GB

Tag: vintage and obsolete

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

mbc2237

51 months ago

I think it is interesting that the iPod with 32GB of storage is being listed as obsolete but here we are, still getting 16GB storage from brand new devices. I know it has been beat to death but therein lies another rub, why is this something that can even be mentioned? 5400rpm platter drives. etc.

Rating: 19 Votes

talmy

51 months ago

It's irritating that Apple calls "Obsolete" computers that aren't. They should support them longer than 5 years. (Yes, I know that those from 5-7 years are just "Vintage" but the effect is the same.) Technology is advancing slowly these days and there are top end Macs that are "Obsolete" but are faster than the entry systems of today.

Rating: 8 Votes

ElRojito

51 months ago

The amount of people talking about how well their old tech works in this thread is astounding. Of course it works. It's not like Apple is flipping a switch to power off
Your devices. They're just done making old stuff because they have lots of other products to maintain.

Rating: 5 Votes

RMo

51 months ago

Don't despair if you're new to the obsolete list. My iMac (my main computer) has been labeled "Obsolete" by Apple for nearly a year now and it still runs current software acceptably well. [...]

Indeed--"obsolete" (and "vintage") refer only to Apple's willingness to provide parts and service on their devices (and to allow authorized third parties to do officially do the same). It does not reflect that device's ability to function properly with current software, nor is having a "non-obsolete/vintage" item a guarantee that it will run current software, even from Apple. For example, none of the iPad models are even "vintage" yet, but not all of them support the current version of iOS (or even bug fixes for older iOS versions). On the other hand, some of the Macs that are now "vintage" or even "obsolete" still do support the latest Mac OS.

I wonder if that means the next major OS X release will have higher system requirements? They haven't raised requirements since Mountain Lion.

The "obsolete"/"vintage" designation is based entirely on when the product was last manufactured (and whether Apple wants to keep providing official parts and service for it). This doesn't mean that the next OS X release won't have higher system requirements, but this designation doesn't actually factor in to that.

Rating: 4 Votes

RedCroissant

51 months ago

Do you just like living 7 years in the past or are you extremely tight with your money?

You would have to define "living in the past."
It does have a lot to do with me being tight on money, but I also know Macs really well and prefer the build of earlier machines.

My ideal laptop right now is the 2012 15" MBP due to what it can do on its own and what I can make it do with upgrades as far as RAIDs go. The same goes for the 2012 13" non-retina MBP

My PowerMac so far only has one issue as far a limiting me (and that's only due to me not being able to open wire files with Blender). But I can contact the support desk for Autodesk and get a copy of Maya 2008 and then open my Alias Automotive files and then be fine.

None of my devices connect over 802.11ac, so my AEBS still works perfectly.

So it's not so much "living in the past" or being limited by finances as much as it has become more of not upgrading if it's unnecessary.

Rating: 4 Votes

cyberlocke

51 months ago

Reading this thread on a late 2008 MacBook (that's right, no pro) with 8 GB of RAM running El Capitan as my late 2009 27" i7 iMac with 12 GB or RAM (also El Capitan) keeps on chugging on the other room. Unless you're doing heavy video work, animation, or gaming that iMac is a trooper. Still works well for my wife doing graphic design. All of these computers are powerful enough to keep up with just about any media consumption / web browsing (I chalk it up to the mobile emphasis). There just hasn't been a need to keep upgrading unless you're actually a serious creator. Long live the vintage Macs!

Rating: 3 Votes

dejo

51 months ago

The headline is misleading. My workhorse mid-2007 iMac is only 1 full year obsolete.
;):apple:;)

How so? The headline doesn't even mention 2007.

Rating: 3 Votes

commander.data

51 months ago

I wonder if that means the next major OS X release will have higher system requirements? They haven't raised requirements since Mountain Lion.

Rating: 3 Votes

ouimetnick

51 months ago

Mac Pro. The Classic is laid to rest.

Not quite. The Mid 2012 Mac Pro (MacPro5,1) would be the last.

Rating: 3 Votes

RedCroissant

51 months ago

I think this list is awesome because almost every Mac/Apple Device that I have is either vintage or obsolete!

My wife has a Late 2009 iMac (recently added as we all know), a 8GB iPhone 3GS, and an iPod video from 2004.

I have: PowerMac G5 Late 2005, PowerBook G4, iBook G3, 3rd generation Airport extreme, my 32GB iPhone 3GS, and my iPod video from 2004.

The only things that don't seem to be either are the iPad 1s that still work and my wife's iPad mini 2.

Awesome.

Rating: 3 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]