2012 laptop slowing down - should I just upgrade now

[BallparkDreamer]

My cMBP has been pretty slow these past few months, and it's starting to affect my day-to-day work/leisure. There'll be times when it's loading for a solid five minutes or more minutes, and it can be frustrating. The battery also doesn't last very long. I had been planning on upgrading in March or so (whenever Skylake comes out), and that's only five months away. I'd rather not do any upgrades to my current machine, just because I plan on updating it in five-six months. I could upgrade now, since I have the funds, but my laptop ~does~ work, even if it can be a pain. What do you all think?

 

[Isamilis]

Replace the hdd with SSD first. The machine will become new machine again. 2nd priority is to add the RAM, but this only applies if you use memory-hog application.

 

[lympero]

I have a late 2011 cMBP with 840 pro Ssd and runs like a champ. Definitely upgrade your hdd

 

[T5BRICK]

A SSD will run $100-200 depending on capacity. It'll make your computer feel brand new.

Upgrading now isn't a bad choice either. The current rMBPs are nice.

 

[BallparkDreamer]

I'm leaning towards upgrading now, especially because some users around here think Skylake macbooks could be released at WWDC. That's a bit too long of a wait for me. SSD+battery would be, what, $300-350? I also have the 15" brick, and would like something lighter.

 

[T5BRICK]

SSD+battery would be, what, $300-350?

In that range. It really depends on the SSD you might choose.

I also have the 15" brick, and would like something lighter.

I have absolutely zero complaints about my 2015 13" rMBP. It's a fantastic computer.

 

[simonsi]

What do you all think?

1. Upgrade to an SSD
2. Upgrade to 8GB RAM
3. Forget about upgrading for a good while
4. Consider a new battery

 

[Samuelsan2001]

I'm leaning towards upgrading now, especially because some users around here think Skylake macbooks could be released at WWDC. That's a bit too long of a wait for me. SSD+battery would be, what, $300-350? I also have the 15" brick, and would like something lighter.

$120 for a battery but SSD depends on size. If you can get away with 250Gb for the next few months (archive old files etc) a BX100 will set you back a low $82. If it's any help I think they'll be released before WWDC.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=BX100

 

[BallparkDreamer]

That's not bad at all. I assume Apple will put USB C ports in the 2016 rMBPs, which probably be worth waiting for because it'll be nice future proofing...I mainly just want to see if they release space gray MBPs to be honest

 

[Adamantoise]

That's not bad at all. I assume Apple will put USB C ports in the 2016 rMBPs, which probably be worth waiting for because it'll be nice future proofing...I mainly just want to see if they release space gray MBPs to be honest

USB-C isn't future proofing anything. USB-A will continue to be the dominant form factor for all peripherals but tablets and phones. Only advantage of USB-C is the power delivery, and unless you intend to you use laptop as a battery for your phones (your battery can't even deliver power that fast, so I'm being facetious here), then what does USB-C gain you?

USB 3.0/3.1 over USB-A is here to stay for the foreseeable future.

 

[snaky69]

My cMBP has been pretty slow these past few months, and it's starting to affect my day-to-day work/leisure. There'll be times when it's loading for a solid five minutes or more minutes, and it can be frustrating. The battery also doesn't last very long. I had been planning on upgrading in March or so (whenever Skylake comes out), and that's only five months away. I'd rather not do any upgrades to my current machine, just because I plan on updating it in five-six months. I could upgrade now, since I have the funds, but my laptop ~does~ work, even if it can be a pain. What do you all think?

Your symptoms are similar to those of a dying hard drive. I'd make sure to keep a backup handy.

 

[Greene]

Your symptoms are similar to those of a dying hard drive. I'd make sure to keep a backup handy.

This. Even 2010 Macbooks can handle daily usage like a champ. If you really want to sink minimal money into the machine, a nice, new HDD could fix your problem and help with your battery life.

 

[ben123456]

I'm in a similar situation. I could use a laptop, but I currently have an iPad and probably could wait if the next version is going to be so much better.

 

[snaky69]

I'm in a similar situation. I could use a laptop, but I currently have an iPad and probably could wait if the next version is going to be so much better.

If your computing needs are being satisfied by an iPad, any Mac you buy, current or next gen, is already utter overkill for you. I wouldn't bother waiting.

 

[Adamantoise]

I'm in a similar situation. I could use a laptop, but I currently have an iPad and probably could wait if the next version is going to be so much better.

I love seeing people set themselves up for disappointment. Apple is probably just going to toss in Skylake and call it a day.

 

[Greene]

I'm in a similar situation. I could use a laptop, but I currently have an iPad and probably could wait if the next version is going to be so much better.

Almost as a rule, the next generation is rarely that much better.

 

[BallparkDreamer]

Just spent the last 15 minutes with the beachball after my laptop froze, then I closed it and it didn't wake up from sleep, and then it took another handful of minutes to boot up and load my previous pages...don't think this is worth the 4 month wait

 

[Adamantoise]

Just spent the last 15 minutes with the beachball after my laptop froze, then I closed it and it didn't wake up from sleep, and then it took another handful of minutes to boot up and load my previous pages...don't think this is worth the 4 month wait

Just get the SSD ... I mean, if you're serious about wanting these problems alleviated, that's the answer. Or if you have a spare $1,500 lying around. I suppose go out and bu yourself a Macbook Pro that comes with an SSD.

 

[krishmk]

Just spent the last 15 minutes with the beachball after my laptop froze, then I closed it and it didn't wake up from sleep, and then it took another handful of minutes to boot up and load my previous pages...don't think this is worth the 4 month wait

I have been using SSD since the day they came out and knowing how fast they are, I would never use a spinning hard drive ever. Even my Synology NAS drive has SSD in it.

Get an SSD and you will feel like you got a new mac.