16 ms·

I am just flabbergasted. Apple is ruining the MacBook brand with every update they release. My 2017 MBP keyboard is ready for the mandatory replacement. The pow

I am just flabbergasted. Apple is ruining the MacBook brand with every update they release. My 2017 MBP keyboard is ready for the mandatory replacement. The power brick has no 'ears' and the cable no clip for safe transport any more. USB C only means I always have a bunch of adapters dangling from my laptop that make it look like a bad attempt at adding some 'cyberpunk' feel to it. And now they finally upgrade the MBP hardware and then this?!

coldtea 8y ago
>I am just flabbergasted. Apple is ruining the MacBook brand with every update they release. Yeah, first by not releasing "MBPs with 32GB RAM" and then by releasing them. They can never get a chance... >USB C only means I always have a bunch of adapters dangling from my laptop Or, you know, just buy USB-C to whatever cables and be done with it. It's like a $50 investment for a $2000+ laptop, if having an adapter is so much of a problem. I have USB-C to A, USB-C to that bizarro USB B BS 2.5 external hard disks have, USB-C to lighting, and USB-C to HDMI. End of story, no adapters to carry. YMMV.
- komali2 8y ago
  Do you mean USBC male to HDMI male? What about when you need to plug into the office HDMI projector?
  - coldtea 8y ago
    Then you need an additional USB-C to female HDMI of which are tons from various brands + the office's male cable. Or you can get just the USB-C to female HDMI alone, and a standard HDMI cable for your monitor. You aren't going to be carrying HDMI cables around anyway.
    - smilekzs 8y ago
      > an additional USB-C to female HDMI which is called an adapter (edit to fit terminology in this thread)
      - coldtea 8y ago
        Yes. You'll need ONE (1) adapter. Iff you want to connect to the office's projector. Or they can leave an adapter at the office, along with the projector's cable, and everyone can get to use it. The complain was about being "full of adapters", not about having to use a single adapter under specific requirements... My $2000/$3000 laptop needs a $30 adapter to connect to a projector is as "first world's problems" as they come.
        deleted 8y ago
        [deleted]
        runesoerensen 8y ago
        Or you could just plug in to the office HDMI projector with an USB-C to HDMI cable. ZERO adapters needed :) I can't tell if the people who are opposed to adapters expect every laptop to have an HDMI port, or if they use "something that isn't USB-C" to HDMI cables. If it's the latter, the argument is moot vs USB-C, and if it's the former I just personally don't miss the HDMI port in earlier MBPs. Mostly because I would have to use a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI to get 4K@60Hz - the HDMI port in the latest pre USB-C Macbook Pro only support 4K@30hz.
        smilekzs 8y ago
        If the projector is mounted overhead then you are left with a bundle of plugs, likely none of which USB-C. The situation with display connectors is particularly sad even without USB-C, as we went quickly from still largely VGA and maybe DVI a few years ago to HDMI/DP/mini-DP co-existing, and now USB-C in the mix. I just recently had to buy a USB-C to DP cable even though my work laptop has HDMI and I've been using it fine, becaues this particular monitor does not support anything bigger than 1920x1080@60 over HDMI, and DP is only offered via USB-C on the laptop side. How often do you see this particular combination being required a year ago? But here we are, dealing with a quasi-N^2 problem.
        coldtea 8y ago
  - samcat116 8y ago
    Most office/conference room projectors I've seen are just HDMI ports patched into the wall or table with a cable. You can just unplug that cable no?
    - mmt 8y ago
      > You can just unplug that cable no? For the "road warrior" use case, one cannot, in general, assume that it will be possible to unplug an arbitrary cable (especially not within a reasonable amount of time), no. Even assuming one could just unplug that cable, there's no guaranteeing that the substitute cable is long enough. I've seen a remarkable variety of conference room cabling setups, and, though it speaks to the ingenuity of (especially startup) companies adapting to various facilities constraints, it also means that there are no safe assumptions one can make a priori about availability of connectors, including gender thereof.
    - komali2 8y ago
      In my company, you'd have to have a very long USBC to HDMI cable to reach the TV, and then you'd have to get behind the TV somehow which would be a total fucking nightmare because my CEO is very earthquake conscious and has thus bolted the thing to the wall without any give. We probably could have a better setup, but we don't.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- anuragsoni 8y ago
  I don't think that buying adapters is the biggest issue here. Personally for me it starts to become a question about the compromise I'd need to make on a laptop that is really expensive. I don't see $50 adapter as an investment on a Macbook when there are really high quality alternatives that satisfy my use case just as well. But then again, all of this is really subjective and every body will have a different set of requirements that they value!
- falcolas 8y ago
  An adapter by any other name is still an adapter. The chips are simply smaller than they were in the past. Of course, if you look back in the past by only a few years, you would have been in a time where none of those adapters were even necessary with a MacBook Pro. And there are other models of computer (of comparable capabilities) where they're not even necessary today. It's also probably good that you don't try and carry a USB-C to USB-C cable, since it would probably be out of spec for some use of USB-C.
  - SomeHacker44 8y ago
    I carry only TB3 cables since in my experience they meet all the requirements for every mode of USB-C. Both short passive and longer active cables.
  - coldtea 8y ago
    >An adapter by any other name is still an adapter. The chips are simply smaller than they were in the past. People don't like to carry adapters in the form of "dongles" -- not mere adapters that are just cable sized. The argument was against the extra bulk over cables, not against any added circuitry (not to mention that USB itself, whether A, B, or C, has circuitry anyway).
- function_seven 8y ago
  > I have USB-C to A, USB-C to that bizarro USB B BS 2.5 external hard disks have, USB-C to lighting, and USB-C to HDMI. End of story, no adapters to carry. YMMV. You listed the four adapters you have, then said "no adapters". :) Just because the adapter is more than 3" long doesn't make it something else. You still have to buy it separately and carry it with you. When a machine has more than just one kind of port, you're freed up to use whatever standard cable is already connected to the projector, or came with the hard disk, or was included with your phone.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - runesoerensen 8y ago
    USB-C to USB B, USB-C to lightning and USB-C to HDMI are available as cables without any adapters. Not sure what parent uses USB-C to A for, but guessing there's a USB-C cable for that too. Otherwise the USB-C to A + USB-C to HDMI is one adapter if you get Apple's version. So maximum one adapter is required here.
    - coldtea 8y ago
      >Not sure what parent uses USB-C to A for, but guessing there's a USB-C cable for that too. For my external audio interface (I do computer music). It's also common in MIDI controller keyboards -- USB from the computer to USB B on the keyboard (though I have mine setup with BT MIDI). But also many printers use one, especially older ones.
  - samcat116 8y ago
    I think he's talking about replacing the entire cable to the devices.
    - function_seven 8y ago
      Understood. I don't think that solves the issue that many adapterphobes have, though. With my 2012 MBP, I don't need to buy extra cables for each device I have. I just use the standard cable that's included. Or the one that the conference room already has. HDMI for displays (or DP), USB for a keyboard or mouse, etc. When all you have is the USB-C port, it's now your own responsibility to carry a cable for each situation. Don't get me wrong. I don't think it's all that big of a deal. But I understand where complainers are coming from.
- whywhywhywhy 8y ago
  > YMMV My 2014 13" retina MBP can plug 2 USB devices 2 Thunderbolt devices a HDMI screen and power If I go all USB-C my 2017 13" can plug screen and power anything more and I need to use dongles and from what I see looking around the offices I visit, most people end up using dongles. MBPs have been USB-C only for years now and a dongle free future is still nowhere in sight, I'm starting to feel USB-C is going to be forever a dongle port.
cageface 8y ago
My 2017 MBP keyboard is also starting to go, and I really can't be without a machine for a week while they fix it. I was going to bite the bullet and upgrade to the new model but with this throttling issue I don't see much point. At this point I'd happily trade this machine back for my MBP 2015. I'm seriously considering buying a Windows laptop for the first time in almost a decade.
- noir_lord 8y ago
  For what a reasonable spec Macbook Pro costs you can get a high spec T480 or T580 w/4k display. They run Linux well if you want that *nix goodness.
  - Improvotter 8y ago
    The only reason why I still vastly prefer a Macbook for on the go (and I'm still using my late 2013 model) is because the touchpad is just unmatched anywhere in the industry. My desktop is Linux, but that's because I don't need a touchpad on there. When I'm on the go, I don't want a crappy trackpad and I don't want to carry a mouse with me.
    - anuragsoni 8y ago
      While its still not the same as a Macbook, there are some good touchpad options on the Windows/Linux side. Dell XPS, Surface Book etc with Windows Precision touchpads are pretty decent (I've tried it on my co-workers laptops at work). Personally I have been very happy with the touchpad on my Thinkpad with the libinput drivers under Wayland.
      - malnourish 8y ago
        Seconding the XPS. I loved my MBP15 trackpad but the XPS is pretty good. The gestures are great for navigating the desktop. Honestly, the biggest failing is that there's no comprehensive way to gesture forward/backward in browsers or through tabs like you can on a chromebook
    - 8y ago
ajross 8y ago
I'm torn. On the one hand, much of this complaining seems a bit much. These remain pretty solid devices, albeit maybe not as world-leading as they used to be, and at a price point that is hard to justify based on features. On the other, it's absolutely hilarious given the history of this community. Those of us with Linux-running Thinkpads remain ready to receive you guys. Seriously: it's pretty nice over here.
- folkhack 8y ago
  Yep - 100% agree. Y'all should come to the dark side and get yourselves a refurb Thinkpad. Personally I run a 2017 MBP for work and a heavily modified T430 running Debian at home. I often miss my personal hardware throughout the workday - having USB ports, ethernet, different display ports, and swappable batteries is invaluable. The OS differences are huge too - OSX is just not my cup-o-tea when it comes to package managers (brew sucks vs. aptitude), running a development environment, and even just running simple *nix binaries (there are significant differences with the OSX versions).
- trash_panda 8y ago
  Exactly! Those that were disenchanted by Linux in the past should really give it a try every now and then. If the current status doesn't fit your needs, fine! But keep believing in the project. It is constantly improving and what may be a hassle today tomorrow it could be as good as your Mac. I know that some things may "just work" on the Apple ecosystem, but don't forget that you are paying a lot of money to get that ecosystem working and from all the complaining I'm reading It doesn't seem like a totally smooth experience at all. edit: words, format.
  - gmac 8y ago
    Microsoft and Adobe keep me off Linux and on Apple more than Apple do. If I could have current Office and Creative Suite on Linux, I'd be there.
    - johnchristopher 8y ago
      It really does depend on your workflow and your needs but I am running CS2 and latest Office in a VM.
40acres 8y ago
I was in the market for a laptop last year. My choices dwindled to the 2017 MBP and Dell XPS 13, due the price increase and reviews of the touch bar I decided against the MBP. And due to quality issues I also decided against the XPS. I ended buying a 2015 (or whatever the previous model was) MBP and it's been working great. Seems in hindsight like a solid choice.
whywhywhywhy 8y ago
I found the removal of the cable pegs and only including the long charging cable a particularly tacky way to reduce the BOM on their computer considering the USB-C model had a price increase over the previous model that included these features.
personlurking 8y ago
My 2015 MB battery only lasts 45 min at best, and the percentage icon turns red sometimes at 50% remaining charge, and MB turns off at 20% often. I looked into replacing it but was told I'll have to shell out around $500 cause batteries alone can't be swapped out anymore. Meanwhile my 2011 MBA (w/ a cheap replaceable battery) lasted 7 years before I sold it on to someone else, still in working order. Between the two anecdotes above is a huge difference.
- chendragon 8y ago
  Here in Canada Apple charges about $250 CAD to change the set of battery/topcase in a MBP Retina 13 from 2015. I think that's not a bad price considering you get a new keyboard, casing, and trackpad.
  - personlurking 8y ago
    Thanks for the info, that's quite a lot less. I'm American but living in the EU where I was told by an Apple repair outfit over here that the topcase replacement would be something like 400-450 euro (so, roughly $500). I also noticed price differences of about $300 on the laptops themselves, if bought new and locally. What I'll probably do is wait til the rest of the fall lineup is announced, including the rumored "MBA replacement", to see what the prices are before buying one. Then I'll just use my current MB as backup.
- geoelectric 8y ago
  $200 in the US for a Pro, $130 for an Air. Their price list is online. You might check your country-specific site and see if the same is true. https://support.apple.com/mac/repair/service https://support.apple.com/mac/repair/service It's pricy, for sure, but I assume that also includes the cost of a new OEM battery which usually isn't especially cheap.
runesoerensen 8y ago
When the first touch bar MBP was released I quickly got fed up by all the USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 hating. The whole point of getting it wasn't so I could use it with old, slow and inferior tech, but so I could to take advantage of the expansion options and use it with high-end, new tech. So I went ahead and bought it and haven't regretted that decision although: 1. I just mailed it in for the keyboard replacement yesterday. 2. I was slightly disappointed at the time that they didn't include a USB-C to Lightning cable for the iPhone 7, but it made sense as the iPhone 7 was released earlier. The fact that the iPhone X doesn't include that cable is inexcusable. 3. It's weird that there's an audio jack but my iPhone comes with lightning headphones. Not much of an issue in practice though as never really use either for audio, and AirPods work well on both devices. So my issues with the MBP are mostly related to how it ties in to the broader Apple line-up, and the lack of out-of-the-box compatibility/connectivity between devices. USB-C, and particularly Thunderbolt 3, is awesome though: * Sure, the power brick doesn't have ears, but you can just remove the cable from the adapter. Seems like a better solution to me. The ears are no longer necessary because the cable isn't attached to it. * The power brick can be used to quickly charge your iPhone or other USB-C PD devices. For instance, I also use it to charge a USB-C PD battery pack, which I can then use to charge my MBP at 30W on the go. * I never have adapters dangling from my laptop. I've bought a few new cables, a USB-C display that charges my laptop over a single cable, and a USB-C SSD that's more compatible (e.g. not Thunderbolt 2) and faster than I could previously achieve. * I'm contemplating getting a Thunderbolt 3 NVMe SSD and an eGPU soon. Both will provide near-desktop performance extremely conveniently albeit at the expense of backward compatibility. * Touch ID makes it much easier for me to keep my computer safe. I can conveniently separate more activities with user accounts and use longer passwords, and I don't have to worry if someone or a camera is peeking while doing so. * The few times I've had to use HDMI I've plugged in the HDMI cable, which now has a USB-C adapter permanently attached. Problem solved.
- samcat116 8y ago
  This. I don't think people realize that to make USB-C work, you basically have to replace every cable you have. It kinda sucks from a money perspective, but thats what it takes. But that means I can plug in my MacBook Pro and Thinkpad into the same desk setup with one cable.

coldtea 8y ago

>I am just flabbergasted. Apple is ruining the MacBook brand with every update they release. Yeah, first by not releasing "MBPs with 32GB RAM" and then by releasing them. They can never get a chance... >USB C only means I always have a bunch of adapters dangling from my laptop Or, you know, just buy USB-C to whatever cables and be done with it. It's like a $50 investment for a $2000+ laptop, if having an adapter is so much of a problem. I have USB-C to A, USB-C to that bizarro USB B BS 2.5 external hard disks have, USB-C to lighting, and USB-C to HDMI. End of story, no adapters to carry. YMMV.

komali2 8y ago
Do you mean USBC male to HDMI male? What about when you need to plug into the office HDMI projector?
- coldtea 8y ago
  Then you need an additional USB-C to female HDMI of which are tons from various brands + the office's male cable. Or you can get just the USB-C to female HDMI alone, and a standard HDMI cable for your monitor. You aren't going to be carrying HDMI cables around anyway.
  - smilekzs 8y ago
    > an additional USB-C to female HDMI which is called an adapter (edit to fit terminology in this thread)
    - coldtea 8y ago
      Yes. You'll need ONE (1) adapter. Iff you want to connect to the office's projector. Or they can leave an adapter at the office, along with the projector's cable, and everyone can get to use it. The complain was about being "full of adapters", not about having to use a single adapter under specific requirements... My $2000/$3000 laptop needs a $30 adapter to connect to a projector is as "first world's problems" as they come.
      - deleted 8y ago
        [deleted]
      - runesoerensen 8y ago
        Or you could just plug in to the office HDMI projector with an USB-C to HDMI cable. ZERO adapters needed :) I can't tell if the people who are opposed to adapters expect every laptop to have an HDMI port, or if they use "something that isn't USB-C" to HDMI cables. If it's the latter, the argument is moot vs USB-C, and if it's the former I just personally don't miss the HDMI port in earlier MBPs. Mostly because I would have to use a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI to get 4K@60Hz - the HDMI port in the latest pre USB-C Macbook Pro only support 4K@30hz.
        smilekzs 8y ago
        If the projector is mounted overhead then you are left with a bundle of plugs, likely none of which USB-C. The situation with display connectors is particularly sad even without USB-C, as we went quickly from still largely VGA and maybe DVI a few years ago to HDMI/DP/mini-DP co-existing, and now USB-C in the mix. I just recently had to buy a USB-C to DP cable even though my work laptop has HDMI and I've been using it fine, becaues this particular monitor does not support anything bigger than 1920x1080@60 over HDMI, and DP is only offered via USB-C on the laptop side. How often do you see this particular combination being required a year ago? But here we are, dealing with a quasi-N^2 problem.
        coldtea 8y ago
- samcat116 8y ago
  Most office/conference room projectors I've seen are just HDMI ports patched into the wall or table with a cable. You can just unplug that cable no?
  - mmt 8y ago
    > You can just unplug that cable no? For the "road warrior" use case, one cannot, in general, assume that it will be possible to unplug an arbitrary cable (especially not within a reasonable amount of time), no. Even assuming one could just unplug that cable, there's no guaranteeing that the substitute cable is long enough. I've seen a remarkable variety of conference room cabling setups, and, though it speaks to the ingenuity of (especially startup) companies adapting to various facilities constraints, it also means that there are no safe assumptions one can make a priori about availability of connectors, including gender thereof.
  - komali2 8y ago
    In my company, you'd have to have a very long USBC to HDMI cable to reach the TV, and then you'd have to get behind the TV somehow which would be a total fucking nightmare because my CEO is very earthquake conscious and has thus bolted the thing to the wall without any give. We probably could have a better setup, but we don't.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
anuragsoni 8y ago
I don't think that buying adapters is the biggest issue here. Personally for me it starts to become a question about the compromise I'd need to make on a laptop that is really expensive. I don't see $50 adapter as an investment on a Macbook when there are really high quality alternatives that satisfy my use case just as well. But then again, all of this is really subjective and every body will have a different set of requirements that they value!
falcolas 8y ago
An adapter by any other name is still an adapter. The chips are simply smaller than they were in the past. Of course, if you look back in the past by only a few years, you would have been in a time where none of those adapters were even necessary with a MacBook Pro. And there are other models of computer (of comparable capabilities) where they're not even necessary today. It's also probably good that you don't try and carry a USB-C to USB-C cable, since it would probably be out of spec for some use of USB-C.
- SomeHacker44 8y ago
  I carry only TB3 cables since in my experience they meet all the requirements for every mode of USB-C. Both short passive and longer active cables.
- coldtea 8y ago
  >An adapter by any other name is still an adapter. The chips are simply smaller than they were in the past. People don't like to carry adapters in the form of "dongles" -- not mere adapters that are just cable sized. The argument was against the extra bulk over cables, not against any added circuitry (not to mention that USB itself, whether A, B, or C, has circuitry anyway).
function_seven 8y ago
> I have USB-C to A, USB-C to that bizarro USB B BS 2.5 external hard disks have, USB-C to lighting, and USB-C to HDMI. End of story, no adapters to carry. YMMV. You listed the four adapters you have, then said "no adapters". :) Just because the adapter is more than 3" long doesn't make it something else. You still have to buy it separately and carry it with you. When a machine has more than just one kind of port, you're freed up to use whatever standard cable is already connected to the projector, or came with the hard disk, or was included with your phone.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- runesoerensen 8y ago
  USB-C to USB B, USB-C to lightning and USB-C to HDMI are available as cables without any adapters. Not sure what parent uses USB-C to A for, but guessing there's a USB-C cable for that too. Otherwise the USB-C to A + USB-C to HDMI is one adapter if you get Apple's version. So maximum one adapter is required here.
  - coldtea 8y ago
    >Not sure what parent uses USB-C to A for, but guessing there's a USB-C cable for that too. For my external audio interface (I do computer music). It's also common in MIDI controller keyboards -- USB from the computer to USB B on the keyboard (though I have mine setup with BT MIDI). But also many printers use one, especially older ones.
- samcat116 8y ago
  I think he's talking about replacing the entire cable to the devices.
  - function_seven 8y ago
    Understood. I don't think that solves the issue that many adapterphobes have, though. With my 2012 MBP, I don't need to buy extra cables for each device I have. I just use the standard cable that's included. Or the one that the conference room already has. HDMI for displays (or DP), USB for a keyboard or mouse, etc. When all you have is the USB-C port, it's now your own responsibility to carry a cable for each situation. Don't get me wrong. I don't think it's all that big of a deal. But I understand where complainers are coming from.
whywhywhywhy 8y ago
> YMMV My 2014 13" retina MBP can plug 2 USB devices 2 Thunderbolt devices a HDMI screen and power If I go all USB-C my 2017 13" can plug screen and power anything more and I need to use dongles and from what I see looking around the offices I visit, most people end up using dongles. MBPs have been USB-C only for years now and a dongle free future is still nowhere in sight, I'm starting to feel USB-C is going to be forever a dongle port.

cageface 8y ago

My 2017 MBP keyboard is also starting to go, and I really can't be without a machine for a week while they fix it. I was going to bite the bullet and upgrade to the new model but with this throttling issue I don't see much point. At this point I'd happily trade this machine back for my MBP 2015. I'm seriously considering buying a Windows laptop for the first time in almost a decade.

noir_lord 8y ago
For what a reasonable spec Macbook Pro costs you can get a high spec T480 or T580 w/4k display. They run Linux well if you want that *nix goodness.
- Improvotter 8y ago
  The only reason why I still vastly prefer a Macbook for on the go (and I'm still using my late 2013 model) is because the touchpad is just unmatched anywhere in the industry. My desktop is Linux, but that's because I don't need a touchpad on there. When I'm on the go, I don't want a crappy trackpad and I don't want to carry a mouse with me.
  - anuragsoni 8y ago
    While its still not the same as a Macbook, there are some good touchpad options on the Windows/Linux side. Dell XPS, Surface Book etc with Windows Precision touchpads are pretty decent (I've tried it on my co-workers laptops at work). Personally I have been very happy with the touchpad on my Thinkpad with the libinput drivers under Wayland.
    - malnourish 8y ago
      Seconding the XPS. I loved my MBP15 trackpad but the XPS is pretty good. The gestures are great for navigating the desktop. Honestly, the biggest failing is that there's no comprehensive way to gesture forward/backward in browsers or through tabs like you can on a chromebook
  - 8y ago

ajross 8y ago

I'm torn. On the one hand, much of this complaining seems a bit much. These remain pretty solid devices, albeit maybe not as world-leading as they used to be, and at a price point that is hard to justify based on features. On the other, it's absolutely hilarious given the history of this community. Those of us with Linux-running Thinkpads remain ready to receive you guys. Seriously: it's pretty nice over here.

folkhack 8y ago
Yep - 100% agree. Y'all should come to the dark side and get yourselves a refurb Thinkpad. Personally I run a 2017 MBP for work and a heavily modified T430 running Debian at home. I often miss my personal hardware throughout the workday - having USB ports, ethernet, different display ports, and swappable batteries is invaluable. The OS differences are huge too - OSX is just not my cup-o-tea when it comes to package managers (brew sucks vs. aptitude), running a development environment, and even just running simple *nix binaries (there are significant differences with the OSX versions).
trash_panda 8y ago
Exactly! Those that were disenchanted by Linux in the past should really give it a try every now and then. If the current status doesn't fit your needs, fine! But keep believing in the project. It is constantly improving and what may be a hassle today tomorrow it could be as good as your Mac. I know that some things may "just work" on the Apple ecosystem, but don't forget that you are paying a lot of money to get that ecosystem working and from all the complaining I'm reading It doesn't seem like a totally smooth experience at all. edit: words, format.
- gmac 8y ago
  Microsoft and Adobe keep me off Linux and on Apple more than Apple do. If I could have current Office and Creative Suite on Linux, I'd be there.
  - johnchristopher 8y ago
    It really does depend on your workflow and your needs but I am running CS2 and latest Office in a VM.

40acres 8y ago

I was in the market for a laptop last year. My choices dwindled to the 2017 MBP and Dell XPS 13, due the price increase and reviews of the touch bar I decided against the MBP. And due to quality issues I also decided against the XPS. I ended buying a 2015 (or whatever the previous model was) MBP and it's been working great. Seems in hindsight like a solid choice.

whywhywhywhy 8y ago

I found the removal of the cable pegs and only including the long charging cable a particularly tacky way to reduce the BOM on their computer considering the USB-C model had a price increase over the previous model that included these features.

personlurking 8y ago

My 2015 MB battery only lasts 45 min at best, and the percentage icon turns red sometimes at 50% remaining charge, and MB turns off at 20% often. I looked into replacing it but was told I'll have to shell out around $500 cause batteries alone can't be swapped out anymore. Meanwhile my 2011 MBA (w/ a cheap replaceable battery) lasted 7 years before I sold it on to someone else, still in working order. Between the two anecdotes above is a huge difference.

chendragon 8y ago
Here in Canada Apple charges about $250 CAD to change the set of battery/topcase in a MBP Retina 13 from 2015. I think that's not a bad price considering you get a new keyboard, casing, and trackpad.
- personlurking 8y ago
  Thanks for the info, that's quite a lot less. I'm American but living in the EU where I was told by an Apple repair outfit over here that the topcase replacement would be something like 400-450 euro (so, roughly $500). I also noticed price differences of about $300 on the laptops themselves, if bought new and locally. What I'll probably do is wait til the rest of the fall lineup is announced, including the rumored "MBA replacement", to see what the prices are before buying one. Then I'll just use my current MB as backup.
geoelectric 8y ago
$200 in the US for a Pro, $130 for an Air. Their price list is online. You might check your country-specific site and see if the same is true. https://support.apple.com/mac/repair/service https://support.apple.com/mac/repair/service It's pricy, for sure, but I assume that also includes the cost of a new OEM battery which usually isn't especially cheap.

runesoerensen 8y ago

When the first touch bar MBP was released I quickly got fed up by all the USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 hating. The whole point of getting it wasn't so I could use it with old, slow and inferior tech, but so I could to take advantage of the expansion options and use it with high-end, new tech. So I went ahead and bought it and haven't regretted that decision although: 1. I just mailed it in for the keyboard replacement yesterday. 2. I was slightly disappointed at the time that they didn't include a USB-C to Lightning cable for the iPhone 7, but it made sense as the iPhone 7 was released earlier. The fact that the iPhone X doesn't include that cable is inexcusable. 3. It's weird that there's an audio jack but my iPhone comes with lightning headphones. Not much of an issue in practice though as never really use either for audio, and AirPods work well on both devices. So my issues with the MBP are mostly related to how it ties in to the broader Apple line-up, and the lack of out-of-the-box compatibility/connectivity between devices. USB-C, and particularly Thunderbolt 3, is awesome though: * Sure, the power brick doesn't have ears, but you can just remove the cable from the adapter. Seems like a better solution to me. The ears are no longer necessary because the cable isn't attached to it. * The power brick can be used to quickly charge your iPhone or other USB-C PD devices. For instance, I also use it to charge a USB-C PD battery pack, which I can then use to charge my MBP at 30W on the go. * I never have adapters dangling from my laptop. I've bought a few new cables, a USB-C display that charges my laptop over a single cable, and a USB-C SSD that's more compatible (e.g. not Thunderbolt 2) and faster than I could previously achieve. * I'm contemplating getting a Thunderbolt 3 NVMe SSD and an eGPU soon. Both will provide near-desktop performance extremely conveniently albeit at the expense of backward compatibility. * Touch ID makes it much easier for me to keep my computer safe. I can conveniently separate more activities with user accounts and use longer passwords, and I don't have to worry if someone or a camera is peeking while doing so. * The few times I've had to use HDMI I've plugged in the HDMI cable, which now has a USB-C adapter permanently attached. Problem solved.

samcat116 8y ago
This. I don't think people realize that to make USB-C work, you basically have to replace every cable you have. It kinda sucks from a money perspective, but thats what it takes. But that means I can plug in my MacBook Pro and Thinkpad into the same desk setup with one cable.