After setting up your new Mac, you may be wondering what to do with your old device still sitting on your desk. There are a few options available to you. You could factory reset your old Mac and sell it, or you could find a new use for it around the house. Here are some ideas for repurposing your old Mac.
Smart TVs are convenient, but sometimes it’s easier to watch content in a browser. Connecting an actual computer to your TV can solve this problem. Your old Mac, especially if it’s a laptop or Mac Mini, could be perfect for this setup. All you need is an HDMI cable (or a Thunderbolt adapter if your Mac doesn’t have an HDMI port).
This setup is even better with a wireless mouse and keyboard, allowing you to control everything from the comfort of your couch. Additionally, any Mac can be used as an Airplay receiver, enabling you to share your iPhone or iPad screen and audio to your TV if your smart TV doesn’t support Airplay.
If you have an iMac, it may not work well for connecting to a TV due to its screen. However, you could repurpose your old iMac as a streaming TV for a spare room or background entertainment.
Retro Gaming
Setting up OpenEmu or RetroArch on your old Mac can turn it into a retro gaming console. You can add ROMs from various systems, connect a controller, and enjoy playing games on your TV. This setup works best when your Mac is connected to a TV, effectively turning it into a gaming console.
Home Server
An old Mac, especially a Mac Mini, can serve as a home server for sharing files on your local network or setting up a private email server. You can easily configure sharing settings on your Mac to enable file sharing, media sharing, and even SSH access. This can quickly turn your Mac into a functional home server.
Time Machine Backup
You can use your old Mac as a Time Machine backup destination for your new Mac. This eliminates the need to regularly plug in a backup drive. Simply create a shared folder on your old Mac for Time Machine backups and point your new Mac to it. This method is more reliable than other network backup alternatives and is worth considering if your old Mac is being used as a server.
