MacBook: To Buy or not?

[getsourmuffins]

Hi all! Im a Mac user since 2011 but recently, it’s getting a little slow and I’m thinking if I should upgrade to a new one?

Any thought on which one should I get? Am looking at the MacBook Pro 13” and MacBook but I have concern for the butterfly keys. Any bad experience so far?

Thanks!

 

[rvyne7]

Hi all! Im a Mac user since 2011 but recently, it’s getting a little slow and I’m thinking if I should upgrade to a new one?

Any thought on which one should I get? Am looking at the MacBook Pro 13” and MacBook but I have concern for the butterfly keys. Any bad experience so far?

Thanks!

wait for a week... new event is coming they might refresh it

 

[ashhong]

While there are much complains about the keyboard, i felt that it was alright except that the key travel is shorter and it is much shallow as compared to previous generation. Last week was the first time that i had used the butterfly keyboard for a couple of hours. it might feel strange at first but after a while i got used to it. at least i was able to be up to normal typing speed and that is important.

I had the 2010 mbp, currently i am using the 2015 mbp.

as rvyne7 had mentioned, wait for next week WWDC. they might refresh it.

 

[szeli]

I would also wait till next week

 

[TrueBeliever_jh]

fingers crossed for a 15" 6-core Macbook Pro.

and maybe better keyboard. more ports. HDMI maybe?

jus refresh 2015 Macbook Pro already

 

[Arandalo]

fingers crossed for a 15" 6-core Macbook Pro.

and maybe better keyboard. more ports. HDMI maybe?

jus refresh 2015 Macbook Pro already

Not possible to reintroduce HDMI. Apple has already went ahead with USB type C ports as it's the future one port for all solution. Better keyboard is possible maybe butterfly third generation. Highly unlikely to have redesign too until 2020.

 

[stan216]

Here's an alternative point of view: do you have a particular need where only OS X is applicable? i.e. software is only available in Mac.

If no, then I'll suggest not to. For some reason, the keyboard of my 2015 MBP has failed for the 4th time, which means it averages failing once every 6 months. Macs are also more expensive on average.

 

[Snoweagle]

fingers crossed for a 15" 6-core Macbook Pro.

and maybe better keyboard. more ports. HDMI maybe?

jus refresh 2015 Macbook Pro already

Not possible to reintroduce HDMI. Apple has already went ahead with USB type C ports as it's the future one port for all solution. Better keyboard is possible maybe butterfly third generation. Highly unlikely to have redesign too until 2020.

Here's an alternative point of view: do you have a particular need where only OS X is applicable? i.e. software is only available in Mac.

If no, then I'll suggest not to. For some reason, the keyboard of my 2015 MBP has failed for the 4th time, which means it averages failing once every 6 months. Macs are also more expensive on average.

Yes I agree with Arandalo, USB-C now is Apple's standard, just have to get dongles for different type of ports. A current 6-core i9 MBP would be deadly! But that also means price may cross the $4k mark for the flagship model.

I'm using a mid 2015 MBP and with daily moderate usage, the keyboard still works perfectly. Think during this time of model, they're still using the scissors mechanism.

In fact we mac users all have to face this; if anything fails repairs are going to be very costly. When I was at Apple Store on Sunday awaiting to collect my X from a camera replacement, overheard one Genius specialist telling a customer that her MBP's (dunno which year model) motherboard will cost over $1k to replace. If it were me, I'd just buy a new one, unless it's a recent model.

 

[ashhong]

Here's an alternative point of view: do you have a particular need where only OS X is applicable? i.e. software is only available in Mac.

If no, then I'll suggest not to. For some reason, the keyboard of my 2015 MBP has failed for the 4th time, which means it averages failing once every 6 months. Macs are also more expensive on average.

2015 mbp is the series before the touch bar mbp right? I did not have any issue with that and i use it extensively. the only issue is bad battery and that happens to all macbook when it is close to 3 years old.

 

[Snoweagle]

2015 mbp is the series before the touch bar mbp right? I did not have any issue with that and i use it extensively. the only issue is bad battery and that happens to all macbook when it is close to 3 years old.

No leh, my previous 2010 MBP died because of HDD failure and battery is still good after 5 years of usage (about 92% capacity).

Then I bought the 2015 since launch and used until now, battery still good with around 90% capacity.

To your question, yes after 2015 model, the touch bar was introduced. As a side note, current latest model still have non-touch bar option for 13".

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[stan216]

Yes I agree with Arandalo, USB-C now is Apple's standard, just have to get dongles for different type of ports. A current 6-core i9 MBP would be deadly! But that also means price may cross the $4k mark for the flagship model.

I'm using a mid 2015 MBP and with daily moderate usage, the keyboard still works perfectly. Think during this time of model, they're still using the scissors mechanism.

In fact we mac users all have to face this; if anything fails repairs are going to be very costly. When I was at Apple Store on Sunday awaiting to collect my X from a camera replacement, overheard one Genius specialist telling a customer that her MBP's (dunno which year model) motherboard will cost over $1k to replace. If it were me, I'd just buy a new one, unless it's a recent model.

2015 MBP has a repairability score of 1/10. Replacing the motherboard also means replacing the RAM, which is on the motherboard itself, unlike being on its own daughterboard like PCs.

Thankfully, I bought Apple Care warranty for 3 years. Mine expires march 2019. My Mac experience however, is already tarnished. I'm not sure if I want to invest into another Macbook once the warranty expires.

 

[Snoweagle]

2015 MBP has a repairability score of 1/10. Replacing the motherboard also means replacing the RAM, which is on the motherboard itself, unlike being on its own daughterboard like PCs.

Thankfully, I bought Apple Care warranty for 3 years. Mine expires march 2019. My Mac experience however, is already tarnished. I'm not sure if I want to invest into another Macbook once the warranty expires.

I’d still get another MBP after my current model expires. Now the MBPs aren’t like my old 2010 model where the RAM is a dedicated unit and can self-upgrade. Now all soldered/glued to reduce size and bulk, hence the mediocre repairability score.

 

[ashhong]

No leh, my previous 2010 MBP died because of HDD failure and battery is still good after 5 years of usage (about 92% capacity).

Then I bought the 2015 since launch and used until now, battery still good with around 90% capacity.

To your question, yes after 2015 model, the touch bar was introduced. As a side note, current latest model still have non-touch bar option for 13".

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my bad, I could have been clearer by mentioning the non-touch bar as well.

i had both 2010 and 2015 mbp, both shows "Service Battery" after about 2years plus. glad that i had applecare which take care of the replacement fee.

 

[Snoweagle]

my bad, I could have been clearer by mentioning the non-touch bar as well.

i had both 2010 and 2015 mbp, both shows "Service Battery" after about 2years plus. glad that i had applecare which take care of the replacement fee.

So far I’ve not gotten that status before and hope it remains that way. I plan to use my 2015 MBP for another 2 years or so before replacing it.

 

[ashhong]

So far I’ve not gotten that status before and hope it remains that way. I plan to use my 2015 MBP for another 2 years or so before replacing it.

probably is due to my usage pattern, I bring it out everyday.

But even at "Service Battery", the battery still last more than 5 hours as long as I don't use Google Chrome.

My 2010 MBP lasted me till 2015.

 

[chenaz]

Use opera . Lesser battery consuming and got battery saving mode

probably is due to my usage pattern, I bring it out everyday.

But even at "Service Battery", the battery still last more than 5 hours as long as I don't use Google Chrome.

My 2010 MBP lasted me till 2015.

 

[Snoweagle]

probably is due to my usage pattern, I bring it out everyday.

But even at "Service Battery", the battery still last more than 5 hours as long as I don't use Google Chrome.

My 2010 MBP lasted me till 2015.

My 2010 MBP also lasted me until 2015 and at that time, was a few days before the mid 2015 models launches, so I was without a macro that few days. after it's out, I immediately called up all nearby Nubox outlets as stocks were mainly not available yet but found one set at NEX outlet, reserved it.

As of now, batt cycle count is 315 and condition is normal. Batt capacity at 91.4%.

 

[ashhong]

Use opera . Lesser battery consuming and got battery saving mode

I use safari when i need my mac to last longer while outside.

My 2010 MBP also lasted me until 2015 and at that time, was a few days before the mid 2015 models launches, so I was without a macro that few days. after it's out, I immediately called up all nearby Nubox outlets as stocks were mainly not available yet but found one set at NEX outlet, reserved it.

As of now, batt cycle count is 315 and condition is normal. Batt capacity at 91.4%.

I changed my battery in Aug 2017. Now the cycle count is at 121. But nowadays I am not sure if it is the macOS that is draining more battery or what. If i let it sleep over the weekend, I will lose over 50% of the battery.

I ordered from the Apple Online Store.

 

[Snoweagle]

I changed my battery in Aug 2017. Now the cycle count is at 121. But nowadays I am not sure if it is the macOS that is draining more battery or what. If i let it sleep over the weekend, I will lose over 50% of the battery.

I ordered from the Apple Online Store.

Current macOS does require a bit more RAM as I've noted and presumably it's because of this, battery will drain faster.

By the way, how much typically does it cost to replace the batt?

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[ashhong]

Current macOS does require a bit more RAM as I've noted and presumably it's because of this, battery will drain faster.

By the way, how much typically does it cost to replace the batt?

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well, I had 16GB ram.

For mine, it would have cost $474.77 if I don't have applecare. That is not including labor cost.
They need to replace your top case too.

This is the number 1 reason why I always tell people to have applecare.