In some e-waste bin I found an entry level M1 MacBook Pro. The display didn’t work (visible crack lines on the panel and the screen lights up but only shows black), but everything else about the computer is totally fine, I determined after testing.
I managed to factory reset the thing and now I have an extra computer on my hands. And a good one, at that, because I think even an entry level M1 is still a good computer.
I already have a laptop, desktop, and an old server. So I feel like all my needs are met. But are there creative uses with an extra Mac?
Replace the screen, maybe? And now you have an extra laptop.
Hook it up to your living room TV, and make it your entertainment station? With a good set up, you can stream on it, play retro games and emulation, miscellaneous media… I could see it being much more useful than a standard Roku / Fire / et cetera USB stick.
You could sell it for way too much on ebay, those M1 Macbooks are still worth a fair bit. I recently tried to get a water damaged M1 Pro Macbook and people outbid me like crazy; went for 150€ in the end despite being almost certainly a total dud.
Even ones without a working display go for 170€, which is far more than I’d pay for a fully working non-workstation laptop from that time…
Install Linux and turn that into a server with bonus UPS
My one fear is if I try to install Asahi but get stuck on an install step that requires me to be able see what’s on the main laptop display, which would not be possible
Good thinking. High risk. Impressed that you thought ahead to avoid the risk. I like the home entertainment suggestion, but you could also use the extra cycles to run containers or VMs in the background. I know you said you already have a server, so I’m trying to think what else would provide utility. Nice find, hope you come up with some fun projects.
Can you remove the drive? Could remove the drive and put it on another computer then install Linux then reinstall the drive into the Macbook?
soldered/glued :(
What would happen if you remove the cable connecting the laptop screen to the motherboard? Does Mac use eDP?
It seems what happens is the laptop still expects a built-in display to output to unless the magnets/hinges are closed, in which case it will switch to clamshell mode and only display on the external monitor.
but what sucks about that is in clamshell mode the built in keyboard/mouse become unusable, but those components are fully functional. Maybe there is a way to trick it to only output to an external display, never try to output to the broken laptop screen, and keep the kb+mouse operational…
Ditto. One of the biggest gripes I have with my servers is the fat UPS I have to keep next to them.
If you don’t have a need, do not purchase.
If you have purchased without a need, consider returning or selling it.
A broken laptop can simply be used as a desktop with an external monitor.
It was in an e-waste bin. I didn’t purchase it. I just picked it out of a pile of electronics.
Oh my god. I couldn’t believe people throw that away. When you say e-waste bin I thought of it as some kind of flea market.
Nice find, bro.
Probably the only reason I found it is the busted display 😅. I guess to someone that either meant it didn’t work at all, or they just stopped caring and didn’t want to deal with it anymore.
Maybe one day I’ll find a matching macbook pro where the computer doesn’t work but the display does. And then I’ll mix-and-match them and have one fully working laptop and one fully broken one 😀
You can connect to a TV and use as a browser or media center PC
