12 ms·

As someone who bought a mid-2018 with the escape key on the touchbar, then watched the next model have it's own key, then watched all these ports get added back

As someone who bought a mid-2018 with the escape key on the touchbar, then watched the next model have it's own key, then watched all these ports get added back... I'm extremely frustrated to say the least. Trade in is valued at $840. If I had known either of these two updates would have gone "backwards" like this, I would have waited to purchase

benwaffle 5y ago
Just swap CapsLock with Esc
WhompingWindows 5y ago
Seems Apple loves to Think Different every couple of years. They make these paradigm shifts so quickly, it's a blessing and a curse.
csomar 5y ago
Same here. I bought the mid-2018 for $3.5k (full spec). It had battery issues and now I think it's mostly just junk especially that it's quite slow with the new macOS.
- behnamoh 5y ago
  You should never upgrade to the latest macOS due to performance loss issues.
  - diebeforei485 5y ago
    It depends. Sometimes macOS upgrades are worth it for new features. For me personally, I installed Big Sur for the ability to use Stereo HomePods as an AirPlay output (previously you could only choose one, but not both in stereo). It made my movie/tv/video watching experience so much better that it's worth the downside of slightly lowered performance. That said, because macOS is not a fully sandboxed system like iOS, it's probably worth doing an erase install every 3-4 years, especially if performance has dropped noticeably. I did this with the 11.4 mid-cycle update earlier this year and it was helpful on my 2014 machine.
  - aiisjustanif 5y ago
    You definitely should because of so many of the hacks that have come out.
- diebeforei485 5y ago
  Use the keyboard service program[1]. A full keyboard replacement includes a new battery as well. https://support.apple.com/keyboard-service-program-for-mac-notebooks https://support.apple.com/keyboard-service-program-for-mac-n...
1-more 5y ago
Funny you say backwards: this 2016 review predicted this (in its way) https://blog.pinboard.in/2016/10/benjamin_button_reviews_the_new_macbook_pro/ https://blog.pinboard.in/2016/10/benjamin_button_reviews_the...
- rrreese 5y ago
  This is amazing as having only vaguely followed the announcements I thought it’s was published today until the very end.
  - evolve2k 5y ago
    I’ve been sitting on my 2015 MCP considering it good enough for my needs until now. I’m sure I’m not the only one.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
    - numbsafari 5y ago
      You aren’t. Very ready for this upgrade. ps… 6 years for a laptop that… works very well to this day is why I have no qualms about the price of this thing.
      - chrisweekly 5y ago
        Yeah, my (maxed out at the time) 2012 mbp15r is amazingly still usable -- and there's finally a suitable replacement.
      - jrochkind1 5y ago
        Same! Still have the 2015. Really the only thing that doesn't work well on it to this day is the dreaded Microsoft Teams, which brings the thing to a screeching halt. Well, plus trying to do more than minimal VM/container use, to be honest.
dmt0 5y ago
Back in 2018 I chose to buy a refurbished mid-2015 specifically to avoid dealing with those issues. And feeling no frustration whatsoever :) I guess when you take a stand and refuse to hand over your money for anti-features, you do get rewarded sometimes.
- jjri 5y ago
  The early-2015 model has been working wonders for me over these past years. Now the hard part is between the new MBP or Framework, hard choices.
  - sangnoir 5y ago
    Having had to send in my early-2015 for repairs after accidental liquid damage, my next purchase will be a Framework. Mac repair costs are insane, I would have tried the repairs myself (thank $DIETY for YouTube repair videos), but it was going to be a multi-hour-process fraught with risk, so I sort-of get why Mac repairs are costly. Since I had no AppleCare as I chose to "self-insure" (it's a 6-year old laptop), and the Apple Genius helpfully informed me the repair costs were the same as the price of a brand new Apple laptop (what a coincidence!), a 3rd party handled my repairs, and it was still pricey. I'm comfortable with DIY repairs, so I see Framework laptop when I decide my Mac bites the dust, or needs more costly repairs.
    - mshroyer 5y ago
      The Framework laptop is a good choice—I'm typing this reply from one. My least-favorite thing about the older MacBook Pro I migrated from was that (even when it was covered by AppleCare+) both times its battery failed I needed to wipe its SSD, hand it over to Apple for a week, and then restore it from a backup when it was returned. If my Framework's battery ever fails I can order a replacement for $59 and replace it myself in minutes. I see a lot to salivate over in the new MBP. But as long as I can avoid it, or until batteries become radically more reliable, I'll never again rely on a main laptop without a user-replaceable battery.
      - 5y ago
wetpaws 5y ago
This is a price you have to pay for being an apple customer.
Bud 5y ago
Ignore the "trade-in" value. Your machine has excellent resale value, because it's a Mac. Take advantage of it.
- throwdecro 5y ago
  > Your machine has excellent resale value, because it's a Mac. If the laptop is from Apple's garbage era of 2016-2019 who would pay good money for it? Macs don't unconditionally have excellent resale value, the resale value depends on the quality of the item.
  - foobar1962 5y ago
    Put it on eBay with an auction starting at 99c and see where it ends up, you'll be surprised.
  - Bud 5y ago
    A lot of people will pay very well for those machines. I hear that you think otherwise, but that's because you haven't actually bothered to check. I agree with you that the 2016-19 machines are inferior, though.

benwaffle 5y ago

Just swap CapsLock with Esc

WhompingWindows 5y ago

Seems Apple loves to Think Different every couple of years. They make these paradigm shifts so quickly, it's a blessing and a curse.

csomar 5y ago

Same here. I bought the mid-2018 for $3.5k (full spec). It had battery issues and now I think it's mostly just junk especially that it's quite slow with the new macOS.

behnamoh 5y ago
You should never upgrade to the latest macOS due to performance loss issues.
- diebeforei485 5y ago
  It depends. Sometimes macOS upgrades are worth it for new features. For me personally, I installed Big Sur for the ability to use Stereo HomePods as an AirPlay output (previously you could only choose one, but not both in stereo). It made my movie/tv/video watching experience so much better that it's worth the downside of slightly lowered performance. That said, because macOS is not a fully sandboxed system like iOS, it's probably worth doing an erase install every 3-4 years, especially if performance has dropped noticeably. I did this with the 11.4 mid-cycle update earlier this year and it was helpful on my 2014 machine.
- aiisjustanif 5y ago
  You definitely should because of so many of the hacks that have come out.
diebeforei485 5y ago
Use the keyboard service program[1]. A full keyboard replacement includes a new battery as well. https://support.apple.com/keyboard-service-program-for-mac-notebooks https://support.apple.com/keyboard-service-program-for-mac-n...

1-more 5y ago

Funny you say backwards: this 2016 review predicted this (in its way) https://blog.pinboard.in/2016/10/benjamin_button_reviews_the_new_macbook_pro/ https://blog.pinboard.in/2016/10/benjamin_button_reviews_the...

rrreese 5y ago
This is amazing as having only vaguely followed the announcements I thought it’s was published today until the very end.
- evolve2k 5y ago
  I’ve been sitting on my 2015 MCP considering it good enough for my needs until now. I’m sure I’m not the only one.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - numbsafari 5y ago
    You aren’t. Very ready for this upgrade. ps… 6 years for a laptop that… works very well to this day is why I have no qualms about the price of this thing.
    - chrisweekly 5y ago
      Yeah, my (maxed out at the time) 2012 mbp15r is amazingly still usable -- and there's finally a suitable replacement.
    - jrochkind1 5y ago
      Same! Still have the 2015. Really the only thing that doesn't work well on it to this day is the dreaded Microsoft Teams, which brings the thing to a screeching halt. Well, plus trying to do more than minimal VM/container use, to be honest.

dmt0 5y ago

Back in 2018 I chose to buy a refurbished mid-2015 specifically to avoid dealing with those issues. And feeling no frustration whatsoever :) I guess when you take a stand and refuse to hand over your money for anti-features, you do get rewarded sometimes.

jjri 5y ago
The early-2015 model has been working wonders for me over these past years. Now the hard part is between the new MBP or Framework, hard choices.
- sangnoir 5y ago
  Having had to send in my early-2015 for repairs after accidental liquid damage, my next purchase will be a Framework. Mac repair costs are insane, I would have tried the repairs myself (thank $DIETY for YouTube repair videos), but it was going to be a multi-hour-process fraught with risk, so I sort-of get why Mac repairs are costly. Since I had no AppleCare as I chose to "self-insure" (it's a 6-year old laptop), and the Apple Genius helpfully informed me the repair costs were the same as the price of a brand new Apple laptop (what a coincidence!), a 3rd party handled my repairs, and it was still pricey. I'm comfortable with DIY repairs, so I see Framework laptop when I decide my Mac bites the dust, or needs more costly repairs.
  - mshroyer 5y ago
    The Framework laptop is a good choice—I'm typing this reply from one. My least-favorite thing about the older MacBook Pro I migrated from was that (even when it was covered by AppleCare+) both times its battery failed I needed to wipe its SSD, hand it over to Apple for a week, and then restore it from a backup when it was returned. If my Framework's battery ever fails I can order a replacement for $59 and replace it myself in minutes. I see a lot to salivate over in the new MBP. But as long as I can avoid it, or until batteries become radically more reliable, I'll never again rely on a main laptop without a user-replaceable battery.
    - 5y ago

wetpaws 5y ago

This is a price you have to pay for being an apple customer.

Bud 5y ago

Ignore the "trade-in" value. Your machine has excellent resale value, because it's a Mac. Take advantage of it.

throwdecro 5y ago
> Your machine has excellent resale value, because it's a Mac. If the laptop is from Apple's garbage era of 2016-2019 who would pay good money for it? Macs don't unconditionally have excellent resale value, the resale value depends on the quality of the item.
- foobar1962 5y ago
  Put it on eBay with an auction starting at 99c and see where it ends up, you'll be surprised.
- Bud 5y ago
  A lot of people will pay very well for those machines. I hear that you think otherwise, but that's because you haven't actually bothered to check. I agree with you that the 2016-19 machines are inferior, though.