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Holding off buying a new MacBook Pro at the moment. It’s like issues pop up every other week and I simply cannot buy a machine that is not reliable. Also lookin
by cygned 8y ago
Holding off buying a new MacBook Pro at the moment. It’s like issues pop up every other week and I simply cannot buy a machine that is not reliable. Also looking into a Lenovo Thinkpad w/ CentOS as an alternative, even though it would be difficult. It’s a pity.
- bpicolo 8y agoPotentially a large part of that is just visibility into issues on account social media and distribution scale. People keep an eye on Apple hardware issues far closer than any other vendor
- cptskippy 8y agoAnd most other vendors sell significantly fewer units across many more SKUs. Thus you would expect with a smaller product portfolio you'd have greater engineering resources to work out the kinks.
- nkkollaw 8y agoYes, specially since class actions are needed just to make them acknowledge the problem (talking about their keyboards now).
- jwalton 8y agoI have a 15" 2018 MBP, with 32g of RAM. And, while I don't care for the touchbar or the feels-like-I'm-typing-on-a-hollow-piece-of-wood keyboard, I also haven't had any kernel panics or crackly speakers or any other problems. Which is not to say I won't, but I haven't yet.
- dijit 8y agoLinux these days is incredibly stable. As long as you have a laptop that has reasonably high quality (read: open) drivers. Intel graphics, Wi-Fi and a decent SSD/HDD from a known brand is usually enough to have a trouble free personal compute platform. I have a precision 5520 and haven’t had a single Linux/hardware related issue, before that I had a Thinkpad x201s, and an x201 before that- and further back still I had a T400. It’s been more than a decade since I’ve personally seen a Linux+hardware issue. — That said, the value of a MacBook is the build quality of the device and the application ecosystem. Try getting Skype for business and outlook working on a Linux laptop. :/
- cygned 8y agoLuckily, Skype is nothing I need to use. However, I would miss applications, namely Sketch. And I’d need to run Windows in a VM. I am also not sure about the build quality. Despite the keyboard, MacBooks are very well designed and built devices.
- noir_lord 8y agoI have last years T470P (the i7-7700HQ/2560x1440@14" model) and it's phenomenally good with 32GB of RAM and an m2 SSD it screams, enough that I delayed my new development desktop at home from July last year til Ryzen 2 next year.
- KozmoNau7 8y agoSo are Thinkpads, Elitebooks, Probooks, Latitudes and Precisions.
- eropple 8y agoThey are. But so are a few PC lines. For my money, the ThinkPad T480 hits the sweet spot--the keyboard is reminiscent of the older rMBPs (but a little more throw, it seems), with a good-enough touchpad and enough battery life to last basically as long as I could ever see needing it. (I'm not a fan of the XPS 13 or 15; the keyboard is a little clicky and the touchpad is not good.)
- danShumway 8y agoI use Linux exclusively across all of my computers. The biggest problem is touch support - you can get drivers working fine, but the ecosystem is terrible. Open Source applications are an entire generation behind on basic gesture support. The best drawing apps on Linux don't even support pinch-to-zoom. This is a solvable problem that I expect to improve, albeit probably not any time soon, and I'm still incredibly frustrated by it right now. Seriously people, just test your software, even a little bit, on a convertible device. But... if you're not an artist, and you're not using a tablet, and you have someone who can even just help you get set up a little, you kinda, maybe, probably should be at least looking at Linux? Especially if you're using a computer as a professional. It used to not be this way at all, but I think that modern Linux is generally way more stable than Mac or Windows, and is generally easier to work with for professionals. It's starting to reach the point where it may be easier for low-tech users as well, since you can get someone else to set up a computer with exactly the stuff you want, and then only install security updates. It's a major selling point for me to be able to go to someone and say, "Hey, Ubuntu will support an LTS for 5 years. You won't need to change a single thing about your interface, and everything will just keep working."
- tbrock 8y agoGet a ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th gen with Arch Linux or Fedora. Forget CentOS.
- cygned 8y agoPlease elaborate. Why using Fedora when I could go with CentOS?
- tbrock 8y agoNewer drivers. They are the same basic OS but it’s not a server so you actually care about the newness of the drivers and other client software.
- cygned 8y agoI expected that. I run it in a VM and on the server and there this is obviously not that much of a challenge. Thanks for that input.
- lykr0n 8y agoCentOS is an option, but the hardware will perform better under Fedora due to a newer kernel build to support newer hardware. Feature wise, the only difference you really need to know is that Fedora ditched Yum and switched to DNF. Same command structure, and you can still install yum. fun fact. Fedora is what RedHat uses to test and flesh out all the fancy features coming in CentOS 8 & RHEL 8. I think Fedora 25 or 26 is what those OSs are being build from.
- cygned 8y ago> switched to DNF Oh I didn’t know that. Will look into that!
- whytaka 8y agoTime and time again, I cannot believe people recommend a company that installed spyware in their hardware. I will never ever buy a Lenovo. It doesn't matter that it didn't affect the ThinkPad line.
- Log1x 8y agoNo love for Hackintosh? I run all of my machines with High Sierra and they are rock solid.
- tqkxzugoaupvwqr 8y agoHow much time did/do you spend reading and fiddling? If I knew setting up a machine (incl. picking hardware parts) is no hassle, I would build myself a desktop. For now I’m holding out for a new Mac mini.
- cutety 8y agoNot the OP, but I had a hackintosh awhile back, and it (obviously) wasn’t as easy as a Ubuntu install, but it wasn’t a complete pain in the ass either. After it was installed, most everything worked as good as it does on my macbook. The only annoying thing I encountered were OS updates, because installing them normally would more than likely break the install. The OSX86 Project[1] is pretty much all you’ll need for instructions for getting a hackintosh setup running. And if you’re interested in building one from scratch, the OSX86 Project lists compatible hardware so you can know what you’re buying will work. If you don’t mind having to do a bit of reading and tinkering to get it working, it’s a solid way to be able to use OS X on non-Apple hardware. But, if you’d rather have something you can just install and forget, you’re better off just installing your favorite Linux distro, or buying a Mac. [1] http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
- bitL 8y agoMy Hackintoshes take usually 3 days to set up 100% working; mostly issues with setting up Intel HD/NVidia and HDMI/DP audio properly. Obviously I do some research before buying hardware about the success of other people; some machines like most Intel NUCs or ASUS ZenBooks work flawlessly, sometimes even better than with Linux (which is my primary OS). On all Hackintoshes I have Linux, W7, W10 and macOS. Sometimes I have to buy Broadcom WiFi/BT PCIe module and replace Intel one. Frankly, getting W7 running on newer hardware (hello Threadripper!) is sometimes more difficult than installing macOS...
- 8y ago
- otp124 8y agoHave you considered System76? I've been interested in their laptops for a while
- eropple 8y agoSystem76's laptops tend to be heavy and hot for their size. If I had a choice between one and a ThinkPad, it's not really a hard call.
- some_account 8y agoHighly recommend Matebook X Pro with Manjaro Linux, pure awesomeness.
- satysin 8y agoNo issues with my 2018 15" MBP. Runs perfect, solid battery life, cool and quiet. No kernel panics or any other crashes in 3 weeks of owning it. Edit: Should mention I have only restarted it two or three times in those 3 weeks so it has had plenty of time to crash
- cygned 8y agoDid you experience the sound issues?
- satysin 8y agoNope but I have read about some people who have a horrible crackling sound. I do have one weird issue which seems related to installing the Mojave beta which is the machine will randomly wake up from sleep and play the power connected chime then go back to sleep. Very strange and only started happening when I installed the Mojave beta so I am assuming it is some kind of firmware bug as it is a beta after all. Other than that this machine is perfect. Keyboard is great and much quieter than the previous butterfly models. Screen is gorgeous and with the addition of True Tone it is even more lovely. I didn't realise just how blue my XPS 15 screen is compared to the MBP. Plus it is almost always silent and stays cool even with a moderate workload. Obviously if I do anything serious it gets warm and the fans kick in but for regular work in IntelliJ and Xcode it is cool and quiet. I am getting around 10h battery life as well for normal work, about 12 for web/Netflix.
- natvert 8y agoAs much as I dislike the inability to repair or upgrade the new mbp 15", I have to agree. Mine works great.
- satysin 8y agoYeah it is horrible how you can't repair or replace anything but it does work so damn well and I have had so much hassle with other laptops that I just thought fuck it and went with the MBP. I had a Surface Book 2 which was one of the worst laptop experiences I have had in the past decade and it was close to the MBP in price. Microsoft waaaay over-engineered the Surface Book just to be unique yet still don't have the software experience good enough to be totally reliable. I have never had my MBP fail to wake from sleep like my Surface Book for example. Or the daily need to detach/reattach from the base so that the backlight for the keys works properly, etc. So many weird quirks with that thing.
- NeedMoreTea 8y agoI'm looking at the new Thinkpad P1 and it's everything I hoped the last Macbook Pro update would be. Way things are going I'll be very surprised if my next machine is a Macbook when my 2015 needs replacing.
- bonestamp2 8y agoImagine that, it even has all the ports one would expect on a professional's computer. It's going to be hard to give up macOS but Apple is too obsessed with aesthetics. Design can only ever be as good as function and if you sacrifice function for design then it's a failed design.
- coin 8y agoExcept for the off-center trackpad. Why is it so hard to find a PC laptop with a centered trackpad?
- symfoniq 8y agoThe ThinkPad P1 trackpad is centered.
- coin 8y agoIt looks slightly off center to the left https://www.lenovo.com/medias/Thinkpad-p1-hero.png?context=bWFzdGVyfHJvb3R8MzExNTUzfGltYWdlL3BuZ3xoNTUvaDE3Lzk4MDMwMTI0MDczMjYucG5nfDNjNTc3MDBlZTRkZGJmMmQyZjRiYTFhNDMxNmE0Y2ZmNzEzM2EwN2M4ODQwNWVmNjhiNDY3MDJmNjkxZDVlMzk https://www.lenovo.com/medias/Thinkpad-p1-hero.png?context=b...
- bubblethink 8y agoThat's a nitpick. When people say off center, they mean numpad. And I can't tell from the render if it is even slightly off center. It's a render for one.
- coin 8y agoIt's off centered relative to the screen
- jchw 8y agoThinkpad P1 is looking pretty good.
- DC-3 8y agoI'm running a new (9370) XPS 13 with Arch and it's flawless.
- Kagerjay 8y agoBuy a 2015 macbook pro, its the last one without any issues, superior keyboard, legacy ports as well. Smaller more compact touchpad as well The only downside is it is only thunderbolt 2, and they recently went away with external GPU support for new macOS updates. I paid $1500 for mine in practically brand new mint condition on amazon, buying a new a 2018 version was $2500 roughly for something that also had 512 GB SSD. I find the macbookpro has way better ergonomic features than windows laptops. Also, programming environment is just so much nicer IMO on mac.
- 4di 8y agoYeah my laptop of choice is 15" MB Pro mid-2015. Picked up 2 of them over the last couple of years from Apple's refurbished store and I think with OS X it really is still one of the best laptops out there. A little tip - you can use https://refurb-tracker.com/ https://refurb-tracker.com/ to get alerts when they get in stock. TBH it's the MB Pro + OS X combo that works so well. MB Pro + Windows is definitely sub-par... lot of other great laptops for that. I've never tried Linux on a MB Pro.
- cpeterso 8y agoThanks for the tip! I reluctantly bought a 2018 MBP but returned it within a week. I thought I would have to stick with my workhorse 2012 MBP, but now I'll check out refurbished 2015s.
- ehead 8y agoUbuntu runs great on my 2013 15" Macbook Pro. It does mess with the boot manager, and can become unstable if you install it simultaneously with boot camp. The only issue is that the trackpad drivers aren't so good. Stick to OS X if you're a trackpad gesture power user.
- pokemongoaway 8y agoYes buying an old model is one type of solution, but I think we should be harder on Apple as the experts we are... One must wonder how many Apple employees are making these comments on tech websites too. One should not have to buy an old, used, out-of-warranty product just to avoid idiocy. Apple obviously has not been listening to customers.
- BuckRogers 8y agoI've spent a lot of time reading reviews over Lenovo, HP and Dell. Honestly, I wouldn't touch any of them. You can get good stuff from them, but they want the same money as you'd pay to Apple, and I don't believe overall any of those have the build quality Apple offers. And, these sorts of flaky issues affect them equally or more. I know that's not popular to say, but it's the truth. Apple or Samsung is what I've come to. Of the Macbooks, I prefer the MPB13 non-touchbar, it not only misses the touchbar but also has no dGPU for increased reliability. It's just the simple sort of design that I tend to go for and it's solid. But if you don't like that, then take a look at the Samsung 9 Pro. They're available at Best Buy and have the traditional "good price per specs" PC argument going for them (I'll take build quality over specs anyday but that's just me), but reviews and teardowns all give me a ton of confidence in them. They also have the SPen and 2-in-1 capability which is a pretty nice value add. In my experience, Dell/HP/Lenovo never did figure out how to build a good laptop in 30 years, and given the latest Dell XPS reviews, they aren't going to start now. Lenovo's decline is more recent, after the IBM divestiture of course. I'm sure no one is going to like this, everyone thinks something like a Lenovo X220 with Ubuntu is the only way to go, but I actually prefer Windows 10 to both macOS and desktop Linux (though I have a place in my heart for Linux Mint for sure and I quite liked Antergos for a rolling distro when I used it). With the Samsung 9 Pro, it's almost guaranteed to lose the SPen features if you insist on avoiding Windows not to mention harming the battery life.
- prolikewh0a 8y ago>You can get good stuff from them, but they want the same money as you'd pay to Apple, and I don't believe overall any of those have the build quality Apple offers. And, these sorts of flaky issues affect them equally or more. I know that's not popular to say, but it's the truth. https://www.youtube.com/user/rossmanngroup https://www.youtube.com/user/rossmanngroup
- bitwize 8y agoBit surprised I'm saying this, but consider a System76 machine. Their laptops are still badge-engineered Clevos, but reports indicate the build and component quality of recent Clevo laptops has gone up.
- dmix 8y agoWhy use such an old Linux kernel with CentOS? Arch and Debian are very stable operating systems for Desktop use.