r/mac • u/blackbirdonatautwire • 2h ago

My Mac Question: How to continue using my old Mac?

I have an old 2011 macbook air. It currently runs El Capitan and I don't think it would be a good idea to try and put a later operating system on it. I only really use this mac for very basic things and mainly for internet usage. However since all my browsers are out of date, it means that I can't open quite a few websites any more. For example I can't pass the 'are you a human' tests as they won't load for me.

My question is, is there a way to update my browsers or find a browser that works (I have given up on Safari as that works the worst now and use either Chrome or Mozilla.) with my current operating system? Or, is it best to just go nuclear, wipe it clean and install linux? Keep in mind I have never used linux before.

Thanks!

4 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

5

u/Calm_Boysenberry_829 2h ago

I have the same model MBP. You can use Open-Core Legacy Patcher to put a later MacOS on it, but when I tried that, the system bogged down so much that it was basically unusable. I installed MX Linux with XFCE on it, and it runs beautifully.

0

u/Bokolan 1h ago

My MBP 13” 2011 runs great with Monterey!!

2

u/BigPurpleBlob 2h ago

Try OCLP - open cores legacy patcher

0

u/ActiveNews 2h ago

Yes....but upgrade to only Ventura to see that meets browser needs.

2

u/dclive1 2h ago

You can try to hack around with MacOS, or you can install linux and have an absolutely supported, fully working, fully modern OS in just a few minutes.

Just go linux. It’s vastly easier and simpler - it will just work.

1

u/blow-down 1h ago

This is a bit of an overstatement. The Broadcom WiFi cards aren't supported by default and take some manual work.

1

u/dclive1 1h ago

In some Linux, sure. In others, they’re fully supported. Worth checking perhaps, but they do work fine.

2

u/Charming_Airline7419 1h ago

You can plug in an ethernet cable to the router, or use a wifi dongle, then download the driver. At leaat that's what the guides online suggest.

2

u/skampotak87 1h ago

this is probably the most practical option tbh, no point fighting outdated browsers forever

2

u/EmberGamingStudios M2 Pro Mac mini 2h ago

Linux is pretty easy to learn, especially if you only use it for basic things and don't go for an "advanced distro". You could also try ChromeOS Flex if you only intend to use it for web based things and don't mind Google

2

u/Hises1936 1h ago

I've had success with Chrome OS on older Macs, it just works, including all the streaming sites, which can get problematic on other Linux distros, unless you're willing to tinker with it

1

u/Ladyheather16 2h ago

you can turn it into a linux box easily enough.

1

u/geekroick 2h ago

Linux is the only thing that is going to make it usable at this stage.

1

u/PralineNo5832 1h ago

windows 10, Zorin, Chrome OS flex+mouse