4 clever uses for an old Mac

Your old Mac deserves a second life! Don't let it gather dust. Here are some excellent ways to repurpose your trusty machine:

Transform Your Old Mac into a Home Entertainment Center

Smart TVs can be frustrating. Why bother with complicated menus when you can enjoy seamless streaming with your old Mac? Connect it to your TV via an HDMI cable (you might need a Thunderbolt adapter depending on your Mac model). A wireless keyboard and mouse complete the experience, letting you control everything from the comfort of your couch. Bonus: Macs can act as AirPlay receivers, mirroring your iPhone or iPad screen and audio to your TV – perfect if your smart TV lacks this feature. While iMacs might be less ideal for this setup due to their built-in screen, they can easily become dedicated streaming devices for a spare room.

Embrace Retro Gaming

Remember the fun of classic games? Your old Mac can be your retro gaming hub! OpenEmu or RetroArch, powerful emulation software, lets you play ROMs from countless systems. Simply connect a controller and enjoy. Connecting your Mac to a TV enhances the console-like experience.

Build Your Own Home Server

Need a simple way to share files across your home network or set up a private email server? Your old Mac makes a great home server, especially a Mac Mini, easily tucked away in a cabinet. Enable file sharing, media sharing, or even SSH access (if you're comfortable with it) through System Settings > General > Sharing. It's surprisingly straightforward.

Reliable Time Machine Backup Solution

Network backups are convenient. Use your old Mac as a Time Machine backup target for your new Mac. Create a shared folder on the old Mac and point Time Machine to it. This eliminates the need for constantly plugging in an external drive. While other options exist, a dedicated Mac server proves consistently reliable.

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