ironchefchris

Q: Any harm in leaving Aperture on a MacBook I'm selling?

I'm selling my 2009 MacBook Pro and will be using the funds to put towards a new computer. Someone called about the MacBook and asked what I used it for. I mentioned using Aperture. Other than that, the only other software that I had to pay for is Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop cc, which I would deactivate from the MacBook before selling. It's been awhile, but I think I also paid for iWork (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) when I purchased. I believe iWork is now free for new buyers and even available for free to users of pre-2013 Macs. Everything else is a part of OS X or a free download

 

I've copied everything I'm looking to bring with me to an external hard drive and know that the usual procedure is to zero out the hard drive, but I'm looking to use the MacBook right up until I sell it. I don't want to zero out the drive and then have the person not buy it and I don't want to tell a buyer with cash in hand to return later after I've erased everything. I live in a developing country where people appreciate extras and the perceived added value of software (even if it's not going to be used) can help make a sale. Once you tell someone that something is on the computer there's an expectation that it comes with the purchase. Cultural difference. It is what it is.

 

Since moving to Lightroom, I no longer use Aperture. I really don't care if I leave it on this MacBook if the next owner would like to use it (knowing that there will be no future updates/support) and/or if it helps with the sale. If I ever want to use Aperture again (unlikely) I know I can run on it a new Mac. Same with iWork. I don't care if the new owner uses it either.

 

Is there anything about this that screams "bad idea" that I'm not thinking about?

 

I don't have a bootable copy of OS X (currently running Mavericks) and my old discs are in my home country. Thinking this won't be a problem if new owner wants to install either Yosemite or El Capitan.

 

Here's my other question. Since I might not have time to correctly zero everything out and install a new OS, I was thinking I could just move everything to the trash instead. All I have on my hard drive is about 300gb of iTunes files, 200gb of photos, and some boring documents. Nothing really personal, private, privileged, important or valuable to anyone but myself. If someone went to the trouble or recovering erased data they'd only find music files, some boring photos, spreadsheets with plant watering schedules, and other boring things. The person who is looking to buy this is a musician, not a hacker, computer expert, a person who gives off bad vibes, etc..

 

Is this a bad idea? Is there some time saving alternative? Perhaps zero out the hard drive, install Yosemite or El Capitan, and then access everything from my external drive until I sell this - slow as it may be?

 

Sorry for the length. Thought I'd be detailed.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Jul 22, 2016 1:03 PM

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Q: Any harm in leaving Aperture on a MacBook I'm selling?

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  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Jul 22, 2016 1:05 PM in response to ironchefchris
    Level 10 (120,601 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 22, 2016 1:05 PM in response to ironchefchris

    Better to erase and restore OS X to factory settings >  What to do before selling or giving away your Mac - Apple Support

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Jul 24, 2016 9:54 AM in response to ironchefchris
    Level 5 (7,900 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 24, 2016 9:54 AM in response to ironchefchris

    Since moving to Lightroom, I no longer use Aperture. I really don't care if I leave it on this MacBook if the next owner would like to use it (knowing that there will be no future updates/support) and/or if it helps with the sale. If I ever want to use Aperture again (unlikely) I know I can run on it a new Mac. Same with iWork. I don't care if the new owner uses it either.

     

    Is there anything about this that screams "bad idea" that I'm not thinking about?

    Yes, it's a bad idea. Not to mention that Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop is licensed only to you, they should be deactivated and then removed from your old Mac. You're only allowed to be activated on 2 Macs.

     

    Screen Shot 2016-07-24 at 12.47.38 PM.jpg

     

    You should buy replacement DVDs for the Mac and erase it before selling it.

     

    Guidance: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201065

     

    Or: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Prepare+an+older+Mac+for+sale

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Jul 27, 2016 5:17 AM in response to ironchefchris
    Level 10 (105,791 points)
    iCloud
    Jul 27, 2016 5:17 AM in response to ironchefchris

    There is a big difference in the end user license agreement for Aperture, depending on if it has been purchased on installer DVDs or has been downloaded from the App Store.

     

    As long as you did not associate Aperture with the AppleID at the App Store you can erase all copies of Aperture from your own disks and sell the purchased installer DVDs together with the serial number to a different user.

    But any software you downloaded from the App Store is not transferable at all. You do not buy the software but the the right to use the software on the computers you own as long as you live.  The right to use AppStore software is tied to our AppleID and impossible to transfer.