There is a reason for "obsoleting" these Intel-based Macs - they're simply too slow for the average user with Apple and other services enabled. Disable iCloud, Spotlight, MS Office auto-update and other cloud storage services and one has a chance at a (mostly) useful machine, up to a point.
With some hardware skills, one can upgrade / replace the internal storage, though this only goes so far.
Problem is, there are newer, cheaper and better devices with faster storage and higher memory bandwidth, so the market on more recent (non-obsolete or non-vintage) Intel Macs holds steady (for legacy compatibility purposes), while anything that lacks Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C ports becomes a liability.
The last time I saw this was during the transition to Intel chips: PPC G5-based devices fell off the face of the earth within a couple of years, with older G4s holding up the rear for legacy (Mac OS 8.x/9) compatibility. It's a plateau.
dlachausse
Apple stopped sales of these models over seven years ago. It’s hard to be mad at them for ending support.
jeffybefffy519
I wont cling to older hardware if apple gives me a new mac for free or just invests money in supporting it for longer. The hardware is “fine” and should keep getting updates.
sixothree
It’s hard to say my 2013 Mac Pro with a 14,000 PassMark score and more RAM than you can even get in new Macs is obsolete.
You can’t even get a Mac Mini with 64 gigs of even -unified- RAM much less program ram.
Upgrading this thing feels like such a scam.
With some hardware skills, one can upgrade / replace the internal storage, though this only goes so far.
Problem is, there are newer, cheaper and better devices with faster storage and higher memory bandwidth, so the market on more recent (non-obsolete or non-vintage) Intel Macs holds steady (for legacy compatibility purposes), while anything that lacks Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C ports becomes a liability.
The last time I saw this was during the transition to Intel chips: PPC G5-based devices fell off the face of the earth within a couple of years, with older G4s holding up the rear for legacy (Mac OS 8.x/9) compatibility. It's a plateau.