Turning a Dead Macbook Pro into a Temporary Cable Holder

Last September, you may recall that my stalwart early 2008 model Macbook Pro died from a catastrophic video card failure within two days of purchasing my new 13″ Retina Macbook Pro. After administering last rites, I retired the old beast to the closet.

Today, after months of neglect, the old beast is back on my desk.

Why, you ask?

Because the early 2008 Macbook Pro shares several common ports with its younger sibling, the 13″ Retina MacBook Pro – and it can serve as a quick and easy cable holder for my desk when I need to take my new Macbook Pro on the road. Like the Retina MacBook Pro, the old Macbook Pro has USB ports on both sides, an 1/8″ audio jack, and a MagSafe connector, making it simple to transfer the cables over. (The MagSafe connector isn’t a perfect fit, but it still works.) The old Macbook Pro also serves double-duty as a solid, attractive base to set my Retina MacBook Pro on.

Best of all, no more dangling USB and audio cables.

As Michael Scott would say: “Win! Win! Win!”

A few months ago, I reviewed a product called Cordies, which essentially serves the same purpose. While Cordies do a great job, my inner geek finds it much more satisfying to be able to repurpose my old, dead Macbook Pro for the same task. Somehow it just feels right.

Welcome back, beast.

-Krishna