Post #1173105

2026-04-15 21:04 UTC

Another reason to hate #Apple We're seeing more 2018+ MacBook Pro/Air donations — but Apple's T2 chip means even after iCloud sign-out and reset, the firmware stays locked to the original account. Without donor contact, these machines are useless. :( I've upcycled ~1,000 older Macs, but T2 era machines will end that. It's controlling, creates e-waste, and will only get worse. #righttorepair matters — Apple couldn't care less.

Replies (10)

@mangeurdenuage@shitposter.world 2026-04-15 22:43

@codemonkeymike Proprietary hardware proprietary results.

Open ##1179330
@paulywill@mstdn.ca 2026-04-15 21:13

@codemonkeymike@fosstodon.org Can these not run a Linux distro instead of MacOS?

Open ##1179331
@coldclimate@hachyderm.io 2026-04-15 21:13

@codemonkeymike this is astoundingly shit

Open ##1191827
@coreysnipes@hachyderm.io 2026-04-15 21:13

@codemonkeymike ugh, how infuriating. Such a waste.

Open ##1191856
@Victorsigmoid@hachyderm.io 2026-04-15 21:15

@codemonkeymike I don't know the legality of it, but there's a T203 tool from Ali Express plus desoldering and resoldering that is supposed to overcome this. If I had a bunch of these that were legit donations I might try to figure this out, if it works.

Open ##1191861
@paul@notnull.space 2026-04-15 21:27

@codemonkeymike Louis Rossman has spoken about this a LOT. It's absolutely awful.

Open ##1191869
@cygnathreadbare@retro.pizza 2026-04-15 21:27

@codemonkeymike Does that apply to the mac os installer or also the UEFI thingy for installing linux or windows too?

Open ##1191870
@noodlemaz@mstdn.games 2026-04-15 21:47

@codemonkeymike I haven't donated mine yet (I was just going to take it to the apple store for recycling after wiping it) - as long as I, the user, wipe it first, it's OK..?

Open ##1191873
@LoneLocust@mastodon.social 2026-04-15 21:52

@codemonkeymike Link to information about this? Are you saying that the donors failed to clear these machines properly before getting rid of them, or that it is impossible for them to do so?

Open ##1191877
@aglimme@mastodon.online 2026-04-16 16:19

@codemonkeymike@fosstodon.org @Gargron@mastodon.social Oh no all the stolen MacBooks are useless, what will we do!?!? Honestly all snark aside I’d love for the market for stolen Macs to go down more than the recycle market to go up.

Open ##1207160