Eventuall the iMac, Mac Mini and Mac Pro will also have soldered flash storage. I think the new MacBook Pro is a turd rolled in glitter.
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15-Inch MacBook Pro With Touch Bar Has Non-Removable SSD
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Deal-breaker for me.
I had issues with this machine already, but this is the last freakin' straw.
Now you HAVE to replace the WHOLE THING if you ever need to upgrade.
I have replaced drives on EVERY Mac I've owned (since 2001), because I always run out of space. Family of 6 x high-def photos + high-def video + Final Cut school projects + 15 years worth of (literally) all kinds of files etc. = Drive replacement at least once.
In this day and age of UHD everything, this makes absolutely no sense on a computer. Files are getting bigger. WiFi bandwidth is not there yet to handle huge data sets quickly enough to put everything in the cloud.
WTF, Apple. This is a machine that's 5-years early, at least. I understand pushing tech forward, but this machine is now unquestionably a bad investment.
Except for the rich, which can option it out to have a 2TB drive now (putting the 15 at over $4K with no other upgrades).
BTW, this is right there on the order page, so it shouldn't be a surprise (I just didn't look for it).
All that said, for those who don't have issues with the above and have deep pockets, well, it's an MBP. No need to sell it. It sells itself.
I had issues with this machine already, but this is the last freakin' straw.
Now you HAVE to replace the WHOLE THING if you ever need to upgrade.
I have replaced drives on EVERY Mac I've owned (since 2001), because I always run out of space. Family of 6 x high-def photos + high-def video + Final Cut school projects + 15 years worth of (literally) all kinds of files etc. = Drive replacement at least once.
In this day and age of UHD everything, this makes absolutely no sense on a computer. Files are getting bigger. WiFi bandwidth is not there yet to handle huge data sets quickly enough to put everything in the cloud.
WTF, Apple. This is a machine that's 5-years early, at least. I understand pushing tech forward, but this machine is now unquestionably a bad investment.
Except for the rich, which can option it out to have a 2TB drive now (putting the 15 at over $4K with no other upgrades).
BTW, this is right there on the order page, so it shouldn't be a surprise (I just didn't look for it).
All that said, for those who don't have issues with the above and have deep pockets, well, it's an MBP. No need to sell it. It sells itself.
Sad. I bet it's a quite a small percentage of customers who were upgrading them with 3rd-party solutions though (not that I'm agreeing with that as a justification - it should be a standard feature of all computers that eh storage is removable/upgradable/replaceable, IMHO).
This arguably makes it even more important to encrypt your drive before you write any personal data to it, because you can't easily remove it or replace it later. In fact I think Apple should be turning Filevault on by default nowadays if they're going to use non-removable storage to this extent.
This arguably makes it even more important to encrypt your drive before you write any personal data to it, because you can't easily remove it or replace it later. In fact I think Apple should be turning Filevault on by default nowadays if they're going to use non-removable storage to this extent.
Just another way to get users to pay up front massive amounts for storage they can't upgrade. Even these fast SSD's aren't as expensive as Apple changes, you know they get margins probably over 50% when you select a higher storage option. This is a new low though At least give people the option to put a new SSD in, its not that hard Apple. Stop being evil.
At least give people the option to put a new SSD in, its not that hard Apple. Stop being evil.I really don't get the bellyaching. If you are a true pro, you are going to configure your laptop from time of purchase that meets current and future needs. Costs should not be a major factor for pros. Because you are going to be writing off the cost of it in your taxes. Pros do not keep all their files on a laptop. Only the stuff they need to complete tasks. Older files are copied to the cloud and local backups.
If you are a person who likes to tinker, you really should be building your own machine from the ground up.
If you are a person who likes to tinker, you really should be building your own machine from the ground up.
I don't see the problem here. As a pro user you should regularly do backups of your machine and your data - so if the logicboard dies you should still have a copy of your valuable data.
Just use a NAS, an external drive or a Time Capsule to backup your data.
Just use a NAS, an external drive or a Time Capsule to backup your data.
...then Apple will be happy to dispose of your old one and sell you a new one for $2399.
You think it is smaller just because they soldered it onto the board? There is a index finger size of space around the batteries, they could easily have found room for the connector instead of soldering it.
I heard the same thing, but I personally would prefer replacability over the current fast speeds. I mean, if it was a choice...
Just curious, if you do a lot of 4k editing or even disk transfers, it's known that SSD degrades differently from HDD, so 5+ years from now if it's degraded, it can't be replaced and the entire beautiful machine will be paperweight?
Reason I'm asking is because Macs used to have 10 year lifespan, even 5,6,7 years is not unreasonable to keep using a Mac, now with the soldering it seems it'll definitely add some reduction in lifespan right?
Reason I'm asking is because Macs used to have 10 year lifespan, even 5,6,7 years is not unreasonable to keep using a Mac, now with the soldering it seems it'll definitely add some reduction in lifespan right?
I wish I have $1400 that I can spend on upgrading to a 2TB SSD, but I don't.
I am a little bit astonished. People buying a Mac / Macbook Pro should know, that it's impossible to update the SSD. Some shops offer so called "update - ssds" for 2012 -2015 Macbook Pro's but the ssd offered is mostly far inferior to Apples SSD's.
In the end the best way to go forward is, to buy the Macbook Pro with the largest ssd needed.
Or to go with open systems like Dell, then you have to live without MacOs X - which is possible but not every time the best choice.
If you replace the SSD on a base 4k Dell XPS / Precision with a 2TB Samsung SSD 960 Pro (if it is available) and upgrade the memory to 16GB -- as far as I know you end up with nearly $ 3,500.- ( with slower Graphics, only 1 Thunderbolt -Port ). It is not as expensive as the MBPro, but with some disadvantages.
In the end the best way to go forward is, to buy the Macbook Pro with the largest ssd needed.
Or to go with open systems like Dell, then you have to live without MacOs X - which is possible but not every time the best choice.
If you replace the SSD on a base 4k Dell XPS / Precision with a 2TB Samsung SSD 960 Pro (if it is available) and upgrade the memory to 16GB -- as far as I know you end up with nearly $ 3,500.- ( with slower Graphics, only 1 Thunderbolt -Port ). It is not as expensive as the MBPro, but with some disadvantages.
Or when most applications and real world usage can't tap that bandwidth. Space is more important.
That right there is the single largest nightmare with these things ever since 2012.
Someone should make some sort of system where you can make a duplicate copy of your data in another location just in case something like that was to happen.
While the new entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro with function keys has a removable SSD, the same cannot be said for the Touch Bar model.
MacRumors reader Jesse D. unscrewed the bottom lid on his new 15-inch MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar and discovered, unlike the 13-inch model sans Touch Bar, there is no cutout in the logic board for removable flash storage. Another reader said the 13-inch model with a Touch Bar also has a non-removable SSD.
Given the SSD appears to be permanently soldered to the logic board, users will be unable to upgrade the Touch Bar MacBook Pro's flash storage beyond Apple's 512GB to 2TB built-to-order options on its website at the time of purchase. In other words, the amount of flash storage you choose will be permanent for the life of the notebook.
The discovery also increases the importance of backing up data using Time Machine or a similar solution in case of logic board failure.
These are the first MacBook Pro models to ship with non-removable SSDs, following in the footsteps of the 12-inch MacBook.
The photos also show "pretty large, nearly index finger width gaps" around the battery cells, possibly to keep the MacBook Pro's overall weight lower and to encourage better airflow. The fan placement and internal layout of Touch Bar models is significantly different than the standard function key model.
Official teardowns from the likes of iFixit and OWC should confirm and provide a better look at the non-removable SSDs.
Article Link: 15-Inch MacBook Pro With Touch Bar Has Non-Removable SSD
... or perhaps give the cells room to "grow" in the event of failure and swelling, while minimizing risk of damage to nearby components.
Regarding the soldered SSD. Nothing like that surprises me anymore. In fact, Apple has successfully conditioned me to expect it now, which is not necessarily a good thing.
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There are enclosures that are compatible with SSDs from MacBook Pro Retina 2012 - 2015.
Have fun not being able to upgrade to the latest OS. I have a 17" MacBook Pro with 8gb or ram. Still runs well but does lag with Lightroom with large RAW files sometimes. You pretty much just bought an obsolete computer. But I guess if you're not doing heavy graphic/3D stuff then I'm sure you're fine.
Of course. But that still does not excuse the lack of modularity in the systems these days. Earlier, logic board fail was not an issue, take your disc and plug it in any other Mac and as Steve would say, "Boom! It just works."
Today? It's more like the other boom.
But not everyone has deep pockets so will get say 500GB with a view to get 2TB in years to come.
Some folks like to keep most of their data on the computer without attaching a dongle, oh did I say dongle!
I doubt there are many computers where you cant swap out the hard drive.
Out of interest what SSD size would you being a "Pro" opt for?