Apple iPad Air 2

The iPad that I still use pretty much every single day -- for several hours a day, sometimes -- is an iPad Air 2 that I bought shortly after it was released (late 2014, I think?). It still performs quite well and I don't have any real complaints about it. In my case, however, I stopped updating it -- a long time ago, in fact! I'm not sure when it was that I stopped but it's running version 10.0.1 so around whenever that came out. I'm quite aware of the "risks", however, so I don't use it for anything important. It's the device I grab whenever I'm gonna sit and browse HN, catch up on the news, or read some technical documents / papers. I don't really use any apps besides other than Safari and iBooks (I was going to install Firefox for iOS a while back but couldn't as it required a newer version). About a year or two ago, I did look into updating it to a newer version, but I didn't want to install the newest version as I was afraid I'd be unhappy with either it or its performance and be unable to downgrade / rollback. Upgrading to any version other than the latest simply isn't an option, apparently, even "manually" using iTunes with locally downloaded ".ipsw" files (which were downloaded when they were released and so had valid signatures, etc.). Apple wouldn't let me update it to the last version of iOS 13, for example, so I decided it'll be running 10.0.1 until either it dies or becomes unusable (due to being so far behind). Similarly, I'm still using the iPhone 6S th

Please stop spreading unsubstantiated FUD. If you have the data to prove otherwise, please share the links. I have had an iPhone 7 for many years; yes, same device. I don't remember the exact time when I got it, but it might've been around 2017. So this device is over 5, if not 6, years old. In all this time, I've had to replace only the screen due to physical damage, but the phone is otherwise perfectly functional. I've been told a few times that the battery needs replacement, but that's primarily because the phone reports battery's "Maximum Capacity" is 73%; but I'm reluctant to replace the battery because I haven't had any problems with the current battery. Another data point: I bought an iPad Air 2 in November 2016 for my kids, and it's been used by my kids, changing hands as the older one grew out of it, and has had zero issues. Yes, it's screen has got scratches, and it's got blemishes on the body. But it's been running along just fine for over 7 years now. It's getting OS updates, even though it's been discontinued for over 5 years. I cannot say that for any of the Android devices I had bought, not even the ones made by Google. Before getting the iPhone, I was firmly in the "android is best" camp, and I was almost against buying Apple devices, primarily for the cost of the hardware. I have bought phones, and a tablet, powered by Android, but none of them lasted long enough for me to extract value out of my investment. Either they died early because of some hardware fai

I use a computer at work. I don’t use one at home. I’ve been using an Air 2 since it launched in 2014. Added an Anker keyboard a few years ago and really like typing on it instead of the on-screen keyboard. Made doing crosswords and other stuff a lot easier. Decided it was time to upgrade and figured I’d get the “best” and try to get another 6 years out of it.

What are you talking about. My wife went through 2 windows laptops, and nothing by misery, until I gave her my 2013 Macbook and installed Windows on it, she's been using it for 5 years now. I ran OVER my 2015 Macbook Pro with a car last year (long story), it's bent and has rainbows on the screen but still works fine. My 5 year old iPad Air 2, which also got ran over with my Macbook, is bent but still runs fine. I just took my almost three year old iPhone X in for an expanding battery, first real issue I've had with any of my iPhone's since I went snorkling with my iPhone 4. Since I didn't buy the extended warranty, they charged me $89CDN for the repair. Turns out they can't repair the battery, so I got a new iPhone X. Oh, that phone I snorkled with, they COMPED because I'm a good customer.

> this is also Apple's fault to a large degree I don't know, I haven't checked extensively but I believe supporting iphone7 is still one checkbox away in xcode (xcode 26 release notes state that it "supports on-device debugging in iOS 15 and later", which is what is installed on my iphone). I could imagine how some team at N26 though that "supporting" more devices was too much on their plate, which I would sympathise with, but the most likely scenario to me is that some technically inept "decision maker" decided to ban older phones in a security gesture to give the impression that he is adding value. Note: I also own a venerable ipad air2 (2009) that I bought second hand long ago to serve as a midi controller. Still a very nice, well build machine. It's not allowed to connect to wifi or it would figure out what year it is. I call it "hibernatus" (reference to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibernatus ) :)

There are a bunch of distraction-free writing devices, from the BYOK to the Freewrite. They range for $100 - $500. List here: https://kadavy.net/distraction-free-writing-devices/ To me, YAGNI. Let me suggest two cheaper alternatives (battletested by me): 1. Fountain pen and a nice notebook with nice paper (Mnemosyne, or Rhodia) 2. A foldable Bluetooth butterfly keyboard ($43 on Amazon) paired to an old tablet (I have an old iPad Air 2) with Wifi turned off and no apps except a writing app. Google Docs works in offline mode! (this is what I use in cafes when I’m traveling). I recommend a Samsers keyboard. This is what I have: https://a.co/d/3kIJZsv I love good typography and I just can’t with these distraction free devices. The iPad Air 2 has a retina screen that displays beautiful typography. Forget e-ink devices — they might sound like a good idea at first, but their refresh rate is slow enough to be annoying. If you don’t need portability, an old DOS PC running Wordstar or WordPerfect is also distraction free. I used to write long articles for my school newsletter using nothing but Wordstar.

The iPads are basically appliances. They release a new model of fridge every year but I've never once considered "Upgrading" my existing one. My 2014 ipad air 2 is only just starting to feel old.

You don't need a retina display for those things, thus proving my point. It's a waste of resources. I have an iPad mini 2 and Air 2, which still work after almost a decade of use.

On the ios side of the world, the ipad 1 has old apps and runs ios 5.x. The ipad air2 is at 10.3.2 and will go only to 15.8.2. Stay old, keep your old apps. I keep old hardware that still runs. They do the basics that I got them for: music scores and lots and lots of book and article reading. And I haven't read them all yet. On the mac end: Supposedly, 32 bit apps stopped running post Mojave. No problem for old hardware that won't go past Mojave anyway, and I recommended sticking with Mojave to a friend who has 32-bit apps. Older mac apps I bought all are downloadable from the app store if they show in the app store under my purchases. And perhaps some are missing, if the apps shown have all been updated to run post-Mojave. I am actually trying to simplify things. (not easy for me) On the ios side of the mac app store, a lot of apps from 2013 and before are not downloadable. So, no Wild Berries and Herbs app for me. At least on a mac you can copy apps from the /Applications directory and sneakernet them. It seems that you need a third-party app to extract ios apps via a cable. Not going there.

> The way Apple handles storage and memory means ENTIRE devices need to be replaced when a new larger SSD or a few more gigs of memory are all that's really needed to keep a device in service for a few years longer. Most iPads are vastly overpowered and last for a long time. If someone needs more power/storage, then one usually passes them to the next person which might use it for many more years. My old iPad Air 2 from 2024 is still used. > Even the iPad could probably use an M.2 SSD! Most users don't need that. I'm using fixed storage in my Macs (and iPads) for years. I've attached additional storage to USB-C for many years without problems.

Fedora Silverlight for PC. Or ChromeOS Flex, if you need only the browser. Basically zero maintenance system. iPad and iPhone for mobile devices, they just work. I think slightly outdated devices are the best: they still very good, are cheap and won’t attack with the updates. These days I would say it’s iPhones 6S or 7, and iPad Air 2 or even iPad Pro 12.9 (1st Gen.). They are very cheap, still support all of the basic apps and are very good for anyone. Even I myself use the devices from that epic till today.