It is a portable computer. Who wants to carry external drive and dongle?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
15-Inch MacBook Pro With Touch Bar Has Non-Removable SSD
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Not a macOS one you can't. I couldn't care less what pieced together Windows laptops you can buy. If you like that, go and buy one.
No you'd order a new logic board - likely Apple main service centre can solder new parts on. You could ask the same question about the GPU, the ram, the CPU, the wifi and everything else soldered onto the logic board.
And if any storage device fails without you keeping a backup, yes you lose all your data.
LOL at all the tears.....
Obtain adequate storage space when you purchase the MBP
Archive over WIFI to your NAS device. (50 MB/sec with AC)
If you need high-speed external storage, Purchase an external array and use a TB3/USB-C cable.
Question for the whiners: When did a cable become a dongle?
Example: "I need a dongle to connect the iPhone to my MBP"
...No, you don't, you just need the appropriate cable.
Obtain adequate storage space when you purchase the MBP
Archive over WIFI to your NAS device. (50 MB/sec with AC)
If you need high-speed external storage, Purchase an external array and use a TB3/USB-C cable.
Question for the whiners: When did a cable become a dongle?
Example: "I need a dongle to connect the iPhone to my MBP"
...No, you don't, you just need the appropriate cable.
Last edited:
Agreed. With all the external storage options available, I have to believe that upgrading internal storage is not a priority for most people.
Even most of the people complaining here are probably more concerned about future proofing their purchase but in reality, they'll likely buy an external drive to offload old/seldomly used files.
I did not miss a beat really. My great concern was stability and file system. But in both Application package it has been rock solid. Everything revolves around Adobe CC/Microsoft Office for us at the studio so I have no ties to Apple software that I would miss. I had a few hiccups with Fonts - but after making a clean set that was resolved. With W10 they really streamlined file management a great deal so that went fine as well. We also so dependent on cloud storage that it almost makes the native OS file system irrelevant.
I do comp notes on PDF with the digitizer and now take all my notes at production meetings in OneNote with the pen also. I always used a Wacom tablet so the transition was easy for me. Being able to just sketch out layout ideas in team/client meet regardless of where I'm at sealed the deal.
I also could not deal with loud heavy PC machines of old - this is 2.6 lb and silent even with an i7 Quad in it.
I really can't agree with your characterization as "throwaway computers." The simple truth is that the vast majority of computer users do NOT upgrade their computers.
As for upgrade... aren't you not better off just upgrading the whole computer? Unlike PC's... Macs hold great resale value. I would venture to say that you can resell your current computer, and buy the newer model (with increased space) for not too much more than buying the components to upgrade your machine. Problem solved.
Don't forget you'll need adapters and dongles to make an external hard drive compatible. Or use wireless which is always slower.. oh but don't plug anything into those USB C ports otherwise your wireless could stop working....
If you are an "Old School Mac Guy" as your forum name says then you know your first sentence is nonsense because the current 27" iMac has a RAM door for user upgrades. Tim Cook mentioned them when he introduced the model even. But the current iMac likely had a lot of input from Jobs during the design state. He appreciated the fact pros liked to upgrade and accomodated where possible. The previous generation Mac Mini was also quite upgradable and the access lid was screwless. Again that was launched under Cook, but a Jobs era design.
But, yes, you make my point... this TC version of Apple is a pale image of the Jobs II Apple in terms of the detail it goes to to make products "insanely great" for anyone who buys it, marginalizing no potential customer if possible. The MBP is not a pro machine, it's a consumer machine with a slick marketing name. Of course, in reality is a MacBook Plus, so you are correct, the soldered SSD won't hinder sales unless Apple missed the market and consumers are put off by the price too. We'll have to wait until 1Q sales to see how that turns out.
There doesn't seem to be any exigent reason why the SSD was soldered in except to prevent people from upgrading if they wanted to or save a buck. As an old school Mac guy myself I find it odd that you would so veheminetly defend the indefensible here and welcome our new weak sauce laptop maker overlord. Apple should be careful before burning its bridges because if us old loyalists get turned off and tired of the brand then the more fickle public isn't far behind.
As mentioned by many people in this thread, the Samsung 960 Pro is already faster at 3,500 MB/s, and anyone with a laptop with an m.2 NVMe slot can use it.
More importantly, who knows what will Samsung come up with next year? I have no idea what the physical limitations of m.2 NVMe are, but the jump from 950 Pro to 960 Pro was 2,500 MB/s -> 3,500 MB/s. If they can maintain this progress into the 970/980/990/whatever generations, then those will slaughter the Apple drives in raw performance in a year or two or three.
More importantly, who knows what will Samsung come up with next year? I have no idea what the physical limitations of m.2 NVMe are, but the jump from 950 Pro to 960 Pro was 2,500 MB/s -> 3,500 MB/s. If they can maintain this progress into the 970/980/990/whatever generations, then those will slaughter the Apple drives in raw performance in a year or two or three.
Why would this be ok for the average hipster, and not a "pro".. however you define that term? You order one with the amount of SSD storage that you anticipate that you need. Simple enough. Are you suggesting that "pro" users are less capable of anticipating/choosing the storage that they need than are the "average hipster?" Or is it that "Pro" users need for storage space is more important than the "average hipster?"
There are lots of good reasons to do so, including reducing contact impedance, improved reliability, etc.
This is so stupid. If your ssd fail, you have to completely change the logic board. And they still offer only 1 year warranty on these machines, insane.
They could easily kept the slot, there is plenty of room in around the battery, so is not a question of space.
About the speed, they are just using standard PCIe blades, just making them soldered. The samsung blades attain these speeds...
They could easily kept the slot, there is plenty of room in around the battery, so is not a question of space.
About the speed, they are just using standard PCIe blades, just making them soldered. The samsung blades attain these speeds...
what difference does it make that you have to replace the logic board? Costs you the same amount either way ($310). And apple takes the old circuit board and breaks it down appropriately.
And Apple is dead to me. This is nothing but a money grab pure and simple. Might as well buy the top of the line and never consider anything else from them because there is now not a single thing you can upgrade on these.
Wow .. what a money grab.
Either you replace the logic board (Apple) or you COULD have replaced the SSD yourself. It's a huge difference.
Wow .. what a money grab.
Either you replace the logic board (Apple) or you COULD have replaced the SSD yourself. It's a huge difference.
Last edited:
Not sure why this is a surprise - right on Apple's website it says:
"Please note that this storage is built into the computer, so if you think you’ll need additional storage capacity in the future, it’s important to upgrade at the time of purchase."
Apple's been trending towards non-replaceable parts for the past five years or so.
"Please note that this storage is built into the computer, so if you think you’ll need additional storage capacity in the future, it’s important to upgrade at the time of purchase."
Apple's been trending towards non-replaceable parts for the past five years or so.
Perhaps because most computer users never upgrade their computers. And i mean, its not even close. This is a non-issue for most people.
It also has the fastest drive in any laptop in the world, but you know - lets rile the forum members a bit more
Complete tosh.
You can configure custom Laptops with a Samsung 960 Pro M.2 SSD already which destroys this last-year tech joke of a Machine.
Get your facts straight.
Yes it would cost more. The fact is Apple is charging less for a 1TB PCIe 3 SSD than anyone else. Dell wants $1300CDN for a slower 1TB and finding a more equivalent Samsung 960 on Amazon is going to set you back almost $700USD. Apple is charging half of that for their 1TB. Even if those prices do drop over the next five years they are going to have to drop a very long ways to get to what Apple is charging today. So suddenly $310 is looking very reasonable and why would you pay more to go somewhere else.
I did the research and ordered the 2TB drive anticipating it would be soldered.
OK guys, it's over.
As some already pointed out, 2012 was the last time any MBP was upgradeable.
So, how much do you love macOS? That is really the question, and you'll DEFINITELY have to put your money where your mouth is, because Apple WILL NOT reverse course here. EVER. I said it when the Retina MBP first came out, and I'll say it again:
"Apple will remove something you will miss with each iteration."
I also said that Apple's ultimate expression of what a computer should be is the iPad. This is just one more step towards that ultimate goal.
I can't wait to hear the anger when they go all-ARM, and make macOS go away in favor of (a hopefully more capable) iOS.
For my part, as long as the Terminal, filesystem access, and (Android-like) desktop customization is there, I wouldn't object to, say, a Surface Studio-like iMac where the "i" stands for iOS. it might even be fun.
Not for everybody, but enough for me. Until then, my 2011 17", 2012 15", and perhaps a refurb Retina 13 (if I'm desperate) will serve me well (because I can just keep upgrading them).
That is, unless I finally decide to give Windows a try. Their trackpads (in many machines) have improved to the point of parity with the Mac version. That was the last anchor keeping me in the Mac camp.
It saddens me a bit that Apple is going this way, but hey, the future is certainly uncertain. I also hope Google and Microsoft capitalize on all the bad press Apple is getting and pull a "what iDon't Droid does" rabbit out of their hats.
As some already pointed out, 2012 was the last time any MBP was upgradeable.
So, how much do you love macOS? That is really the question, and you'll DEFINITELY have to put your money where your mouth is, because Apple WILL NOT reverse course here. EVER. I said it when the Retina MBP first came out, and I'll say it again:
"Apple will remove something you will miss with each iteration."
I also said that Apple's ultimate expression of what a computer should be is the iPad. This is just one more step towards that ultimate goal.
I can't wait to hear the anger when they go all-ARM, and make macOS go away in favor of (a hopefully more capable) iOS.
For my part, as long as the Terminal, filesystem access, and (Android-like) desktop customization is there, I wouldn't object to, say, a Surface Studio-like iMac where the "i" stands for iOS. it might even be fun.
Not for everybody, but enough for me. Until then, my 2011 17", 2012 15", and perhaps a refurb Retina 13 (if I'm desperate) will serve me well (because I can just keep upgrading them).
That is, unless I finally decide to give Windows a try. Their trackpads (in many machines) have improved to the point of parity with the Mac version. That was the last anchor keeping me in the Mac camp.
It saddens me a bit that Apple is going this way, but hey, the future is certainly uncertain. I also hope Google and Microsoft capitalize on all the bad press Apple is getting and pull a "what iDon't Droid does" rabbit out of their hats.