More Macs Put Out to Pasture: Apple’s Updated “Vintage/Obsolete” List

10:17 am, October 21st, 2009, Nicole Martinelli

Vintage: the eMac (USB 2.0) made from 2002-2006.

Apple has updated the list of products it considers “vintage” or “obsolete” and will no longer provide service, parts or documentation for as of next month.

The Cupertino crew defines “vintage” as products discontinued over five but less than seven years ago. (One notable exception: California residents can still get service and parts from Apple Service Providers in the state).
Obsolete products are any product discontinued over seven years ago, no exceptions.

Hit the jump for the complete list of the walking dead, updated from the last list published in February.

iBook G4 (2004), also vintage.

•   iBook G4 (2004)
•   iBook G4 (14″ 2004)
•   eMac (USB 2.0)
•   Apple Cinema Display ADC
•   Apple Studio Display 15″ ADC
•   Apple Studio Display 17″ LCD
•   Apple Studio Display 17″ ADC
•   Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver 2002)
•   Macintosh Server G4 (QuickSilver 2002)
•   PowerBook G4 (DVI)
•   iBook (14.1 LCD 16 VRAM)
•   iBook (16 VRAM)
•   Base Station Airport (Dual Ethernet)

If you’ve still got something on there that needs parts or repairs, check out Apple’s
indie service provider list.

I just (semi-unwillingly) parted with one of those iBook G4s, bought in 2005, which seems too recent to merit the same word as a 1950s handbag.

Have you got anything on the list?

Via Hardmac

Posted by Nicole Martinelli in Apple, News, Vintage Tech | Comment on this article

About the author

Nicole Martinelli was born in San Francisco and has lived in Milan and Florence, Italy. Cultish tendencies and love for DIY increased while living on the Old Continent, where tech came late and cost more in Big Mac index terms. She's written for Wired.com, The New York Times and Newsweek, and since 1999 on her site, Zoomata. If you're so inclined, friend her on Facebook or connect on Linked in.

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12 comments

I use an eMac USB 2.0 1.25Ghz combo daily -infact, it’s my only Mac. Running Leopard on it is great, much better then my Windows 2.4 quad!

Chris, on October 21st, 2009 at 11:41 am

I still have several of these items in service. I guess that I keep my computers too long

- gws

George, on October 21st, 2009 at 12:20 pm

nope. none of my stuff is on that list.

it’s too old

Charli, on October 21st, 2009 at 2:23 pm

My parents still use a 1.25ghz eMac running Tiger. It was probably the most economic mac ever released. I hope it lasts another five years.

Senatork, on October 21st, 2009 at 2:57 pm

I have an eMac. Still kicking!

I also have a PowerBook G4 (Ti). Still (slowly) kicking!

brookshanes, on October 21st, 2009 at 3:41 pm

I use a 2004 ibook g4 on leopard, runs still fine. But i´m saving for a a refurbished MBA anyway

mariov, on October 21st, 2009 at 4:05 pm

I still have and sell several iBook models, G3 and G4 to students who can’t afford $999 so I’ll keep fixing the old stuff as long as I can still get parts!

Dan, on October 21st, 2009 at 6:08 pm

Posting here on my 14″ 1.2GHz iBook running Leopard. We also are still using our 800 MHz eMac (USB 1.1 arrrgh) with Tiger. But heck, I’m still driving my wife’s old 1989 Honda Civic Si. I like to get my moneys worth.

Chris, on October 21st, 2009 at 6:22 pm

Aw, my iBook G4 (14 inch, 2004) died about a month ago…I wanted to hold onto it, so I took it to the Mac store- they fixed it, and get this— it got lost in transit between California and my doorstep! Thanks, FedEx!

Apple did give me a free MacBook Pro to make up for the fact that it took a month for this to be straightened out (I think they felt bad that I was using a borrowed PC that month… ).

Genevieve, on October 22nd, 2009 at 8:31 am

Genevieve — that’s amazing customer service, I almost want to send my other old macbook in for service and hope it gets lost!

Nicole Martinelli, on October 22nd, 2009 at 9:11 am

Obsolete? Hah! Still using hundreds of them! MDD’s, G4 eMacs(1.0ghz’s mostly, and iBook 1.24’s). School district in the south. Course, we also have a couple hundred iMacs out there too. 350-600mhz G3’s. They are workhorses. I have less trouble out of them than I do 13″ 2.16 C2D MacBooks. I’m sad every time one goes to the big bit bucket in the sky. Just started replacing eMac labs with 20″ .edu iMacs.

BigMac, on October 22nd, 2009 at 9:30 am

Unwillingly parted with my much-loved iBook G4 (the 1st gen ones, with 640 RAM max).

All because I got a brand new Macbook Por, and my iBook was just sitting there, collecting dust.

I loved that machine, I spent quite a bit replacing keys that I had accidentally broke (long story behind that), and it was clean, and I had upped the RAM when I first got it to the max- 640MB.

Thing is, the machine is fine for web surfing, running MS office 2004. BUt alas, it coudn’t handle my Adobe CS 3 and MS 2008.

Nevertheless, sold it for about $300, after changing the battery too.

sharmela, on November 1st, 2009 at 8:35 am