New MacBooks and Recommendations

renfred89

Arch-Supremacy Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2007
Messages
17,520
Reaction score
17
Noob qn here...

Is it true that whether MB, MBA or MBA, all the components (include SSD and RAM) are soldered to the board?

Got friend say don't get MBA cos that's the case but seem to have read somewhere that al are like that now.

Sorry ah, noob here....

MB and MBA have RAM and SSD soldered onto the logic board, cannot be upgraded unless u change the whole board.

MBP has soldered RAM but replaceable SSD.
 

ceecookie

Arch-Supremacy Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2006
Messages
22,161
Reaction score
563
MB and MBA have RAM and SSD soldered onto the logic board, cannot be upgraded unless u change the whole board.

MBP has soldered RAM but replaceable SSD.

Touch Bar models have soldered SSDs so its not replaceable in future.

As for Applecare for Macbook, i was speaking to Apple Store staff about this ytd - she claimed need to purchase within 60 days. Either she got confused with applecare+ for other products or its a hint applecare+ is abt to launch for macbook
 

renfred89

Arch-Supremacy Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2007
Messages
17,520
Reaction score
17
Touch Bar models have soldered SSDs so its not replaceable in future.

As for Applecare for Macbook, i was speaking to Apple Store staff about this ytd - she claimed need to purchase within 60 days. Either she got confused with applecare+ for other products or its a hint applecare+ is abt to launch for macbook

oh.. didn't check on the touch bar variant.. thanks for correcting..
 

charleslin

High Supremacy Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2004
Messages
38,210
Reaction score
1,858
I just ordered the i5 2017 rMBP 13. But this morning I realised the rMBP 2015 13 refurb model is in stock already. I tried calling to cancel but it's like too late it's already shipped to be received tomorrow. Wondering if I should just keep it. I'm just using it for emails and watching YouTube/Drama.

Sent from Xiaomi REDMI NOTE 4 using GAGT

Just saw the refurbished store after seeing your post.

Seems like a pretty value purchase for the base 2015 Retina model.

If it's just for normal work use, no gaming or video encoding stuffs.

Beats $1828 for the new base model even with educational pricing.
 

Navillera

Master Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
Messages
3,616
Reaction score
67
Just saw the refurbished store after seeing your post.

Seems like a pretty value purchase for the base 2015 Retina model.

If it's just for normal work use, no gaming or video encoding stuffs.

Beats $1828 for the new base model even with educational pricing.
Ahh yes! I actually ordered the 2015 rMBP 13 refurb on Friday and it arrived on Saturday. When I compared it to the 2017 model, I can see that the screen on the 2017 is much better in terms of the colours it produces. But I don't think that warrants an extra $550 for it.

Yep for my usage it's just normal use without gaming or photo&video editing.

Sent from Xiaomi REDMI NOTE 4 using GAGT
 

thenakedshades

Supremacy Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2013
Messages
6,670
Reaction score
98
Touch Bar models have soldered SSDs so its not replaceable in future.

As for Applecare for Macbook, i was speaking to Apple Store staff about this ytd - she claimed need to purchase within 60 days. Either she got confused with applecare+ for other products or its a hint applecare+ is abt to launch for macbook


What's the difference between AppleCare and AppleCare +? Hahah I thought all the same?
 

charleslin

High Supremacy Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2004
Messages
38,210
Reaction score
1,858
Ahh yes! I actually ordered the 2015 rMBP 13 refurb on Friday and it arrived on Saturday. When I compared it to the 2017 model, I can see that the screen on the 2017 is much better in terms of the colours it produces. But I don't think that warrants an extra $550 for it.

Yep for my usage it's just normal use without gaming or photo&video editing.

Sent from Xiaomi REDMI NOTE 4 using GAGT

Yeah, I guess it's a pretty good option, if I wanted to do anything "intensive" it would only be on my desktop anyway, so saving that $550 seems to be worth it, considering it's like almost 50% of the MBP Refurb costs.

How was the condition of your set?
 

Navillera

Master Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
Messages
3,616
Reaction score
67
Yeah, I guess it's a pretty good option, if I wanted to do anything "intensive" it would only be on my desktop anyway, so saving that $550 seems to be worth it, considering it's like almost 50% of the MBP Refurb costs.

How was the condition of your set?
The condition of the refurb set? Very good. Looks and smells brand new. Battery cycle clocked as 1 too. Heh.

Sent from Xiaomi REDMI NOTE 4 using GAGT
 

fire

High Supremacy Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2000
Messages
28,436
Reaction score
4,587
The condition of the refurb set? Very good. Looks and smells brand new. Battery cycle clocked as 1 too. Heh.

Sent from Xiaomi REDMI NOTE 4 using GAGT

That's what I like about Apple refurbished, you can't tell the difference compare to a brand new set.
 

charleslin

High Supremacy Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2004
Messages
38,210
Reaction score
1,858
The condition of the refurb set? Very good. Looks and smells brand new. Battery cycle clocked as 1 too. Heh.

Sent from Xiaomi REDMI NOTE 4 using GAGT

Just ordered!

Hopefully it's as good as yours.

But tbh 1 battery cycle can mean it's actually used more than once also right?

They may have just swapped with a new battery?

But I'm sure the hardware will be almost like new.

You bought AppleCare for it?
 

Navillera

Master Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
Messages
3,616
Reaction score
67
New products usually come with 1 and not 0. From my past macbooks and iOS products.

You're able to buy applecare just before the 1 year warranty is up. I think I'll buy it then haha.

Sent from Xiaomi REDMI NOTE 4 using GAGT
 

civicguy

Banned
Joined
Dec 3, 2007
Messages
36,989
Reaction score
8,332
Where can I get those cloth that I can put between the MacBook Pro keyboard and the screen ?

Just got a refurbished set (13" with touch bar and 16GB ram).
 

Zaalaa

Supremacy Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2014
Messages
6,002
Reaction score
107
Bought the 2017 MBP 13"

However, can't get to like the keyboard and the dongle life.

Considering if i should make the jump to 2015 13" refurb set instead.

Sigh...

Paid $2188 for my set. If i go to the old version. It would be only $1348. (i have huge capacity thumbdrives)

$840 difference for newer processor, better speaker, slightly better screen.

Right now i have only 2 USB-C port, a keyboard that i can't type "hahahaa" without finger cramps, it's as if you are hitting the floor, had to adjust your finger to became softer, holding back the strength.

I did tug my charging wire twice. Luckily nothing happens. Would be disastrous as i have kid at home. The USB-C may just break inside the computer. Luckily we can have 2nd chance.

Dilemma.
 

duhduhduh

Arch-Supremacy Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Messages
14,319
Reaction score
907
Bought the 2017 MBP 13"

However, can't get to like the keyboard and the dongle life.

Considering if i should make the jump to 2015 13" refurb set instead.

Sigh...

Paid $2188 for my set. If i go to the old version. It would be only $1348. (i have huge capacity thumbdrives)

$840 difference for newer processor, better speaker, slightly better screen.

Right now i have only 2 USB-C port, a keyboard that i can't type "hahahaa" without finger cramps, it's as if you are hitting the floor, had to adjust your finger to became softer, holding back the strength.

I did tug my charging wire twice. Luckily nothing happens. Would be disastrous as i have kid at home. The USB-C may just break inside the computer. Luckily we can have 2nd chance.

Dilemma.

Its the adapting part, take some time. Though the charging wire.... i think someone had some project at kickstarter they can have the magnet back?
 

Zaalaa

Supremacy Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2014
Messages
6,002
Reaction score
107
Its the adapting part, take some time. Though the charging wire.... i think someone had some project at kickstarter they can have the magnet back?

In my opinion. Not great an improvement to warrant the premium price. Apple could have kept the old pricing. But yeah they can increase and people still buys.
 

Navillera

Master Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
Messages
3,616
Reaction score
67
Bought the 2017 MBP 13"

However, can't get to like the keyboard and the dongle life.

Considering if i should make the jump to 2015 13" refurb set instead.

Sigh...

Paid $2188 for my set. If i go to the old version. It would be only $1348. (i have huge capacity thumbdrives)

$840 difference for newer processor, better speaker, slightly better screen.

Right now i have only 2 USB-C port, a keyboard that i can't type "hahahaa" without finger cramps, it's as if you are hitting the floor, had to adjust your finger to became softer, holding back the strength.

I did tug my charging wire twice. Luckily nothing happens. Would be disastrous as i have kid at home. The USB-C may just break inside the computer. Luckily we can have 2nd chance.

Dilemma.
I paid 1898 for the '17 MBP 13 plus the 1348 refurb model. In the end I returned the 2017 because I couldn't justify the price difference for my usage~

I hate that I need to pull the USB C wire out compared to the magsafe, dongle life and that exorbitant pricing together made the decision.

Sent from Xiaomi REDMI NOTE 4 using GAGT
 

ceecookie

Arch-Supremacy Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2006
Messages
22,161
Reaction score
563
Bought the 2017 MBP 13"

However, can't get to like the keyboard and the dongle life.

Considering if i should make the jump to 2015 13" refurb set instead.

Sigh...

Paid $2188 for my set. If i go to the old version. It would be only $1348. (i have huge capacity thumbdrives)

$840 difference for newer processor, better speaker, slightly better screen.

Right now i have only 2 USB-C port, a keyboard that i can't type "hahahaa" without finger cramps, it's as if you are hitting the floor, had to adjust your finger to became softer, holding back the strength.

I did tug my charging wire twice. Luckily nothing happens. Would be disastrous as i have kid at home. The USB-C may just break inside the computer. Luckily we can have 2nd chance.

Dilemma.

Apple has a no question asked 14 days return policy, so don't hesitate to return if you want to get an older generation one.

Personally, if getting 4th gen I would pick touch bar option to enjoy the bells and whistles, otherwise I'll pick a refurbished 3rd Gen to enjoy backward compatibility with USB devices
 
Important Forum Advisory Note
This forum is moderated by volunteer moderators who will react only to members' feedback on posts. Moderators are not employees or representatives of HWZ. Forum members and moderators are responsible for their own posts.

Please refer to our Community Guidelines and Standards, Terms of Service and Member T&Cs for more information.
Top