Austin Evans’ Epic Quest to Revive Old Macs With Linux Is a Must-Watch for Tech Lovers
Austin Evans is breathing new life into old Macs, and the results are stunning. In his latest video, the tech guru takes on the challenge of reviving a MacBook Pro, a Mac Pro, and an iMac with Linux.
In a world of planned obsolescence and yearly upgrades, Austin Evans is asking the question that's on everyone's mind: can old tech be saved? In his latest and most ambitious project yet, the tech YouTuber is on a mission to revive a trio of aging Macs with the power of Linux, and the results are nothing short of spectacular. From turning a 2012 MacBook Pro into a usable daily driver to transforming a 2008 Mac Pro into a high-speed server, this is a tech adventure you won't want to miss.
"Today we're taking these old Macs and giving them a brand new lease on life thanks to Linux," Evans begins, his excitement palpable. The first patient on the operating table is a 2012 MacBook Pro, a machine that hasn't seen a macOS update since 2022. "With a brand new battery, a little bit of TLC, and a copy of Linux, I actually think this could be totally usable today," he says, a hopeful glint in his eye.
But the project is not without its challenges. After a painstaking battery replacement process, Evans discovers that the new battery is a dud. "It kind of doesn't work," he says, his frustration evident. "The quality control on these are just not good." Undeterred, he presses on, installing both Chrome OS Flex and Linux Mint on the aging machine. The result? A fully functional MacBook that can browse the web, play videos, and handle everyday tasks with ease.
Next up is the beast: a 2008 Mac Pro that Evans purchased from Goodwill for a mere $40. His plan? To turn it into a powerful server with a whopping 32 GB of RAM and 40 terabytes of storage. "I have big plans for this," he says, a mischievous grin on his face. After a lot of cleaning, a RAM upgrade, and the installation of a 10-gig Ethernet card, Evans successfully installs TrueNAS, a software that turns the old Mac Pro into a network-attached storage (NAS) device. The speeds he's able to achieve are mind-blowing. "That's fast, dude," he exclaims, as he transfers a 10-gig file in just 20 seconds. "I don't have this fast of speeds on our main server."
The final project is perhaps the most ambitious of all: turning a 2017 iMac into a gaming PC with Steam OS. "As we all know, Macs are good at one thing and one thing only: gaming," he jokes. "Only behind Windows and Linux, a clear, very strong number three." After a few hiccups with the audio drivers, Evans is able to get the iMac up and running with Steam OS, and the results are impressive. He's able to play games like Hades with no issues, proving that even an old iMac can be a capable gaming machine with the right software.
Austin Evans' epic Mac revival project is a testament to the power of Linux and the ingenuity of the tech community. It's a reminder that with a little bit of know-how and a lot of patience, even the oldest and most forgotten pieces of tech can be given a new lease on life. It's a must-watch for anyone who loves a good tech project, and it's a powerful statement against the throwaway culture of modern consumer electronics.
What do you think of Austin's Mac revival project? Have you ever tried to bring an old computer back to life with Linux? Let us know in the comments below!
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