2015 Macbook Pro - good idea?

[urbanlegend179]

I've been putting off getting a laptop for a while but now I've got the chance to get the 2015 Macbook Pro 13 inch at a reduced clearance price. It's brand new. But it's 3 year old technology? I am still interested because at least I wont need any damn dongles! is it worth it?

I am worried about one thing though, is Apple able to slow down the CPU for older MacBook Pros? I want to use this laptop for the next 5 years without noticing anything different whenever I update the software. Or how about I just dont update at all? does it force you to update?

 

[Zapdoc]

I've been putting off getting a laptop for a while but now I've got the chance to get the 2015 Macbook Pro 13 inch at a reduced clearance price. It's brand new. But it's 3 year old technology? I am still interested because at least I wont need any damn dongles! is it worth it?

I am worried about one thing though, is Apple able to slow down the CPU for older MacBook Pros? I want to use this laptop for the next 5 years without noticing anything different whenever I update the software. Or how about I just dont update at all? does it force you to update?

[doublepost=1517614557][/doublepost]Just bought one of these with 1TB and 16GB i7 model - really good machine and so easy to type on Heavier but feels more robust than the newer thinner ones after it Enjoy

 

[Tenashus1]

Depending upon what you intend to use it for, the 2015 MBP is a great machine. Nice keyboard, no dongles, sleek casing. I'm typing on one now. Excellent machine.

 

[jerryk]

I've been putting off getting a laptop for a while but now I've got the chance to get the 2015 Macbook Pro 13 inch at a reduced clearance price. It's brand new. But it's 3 year old technology? I am still interested because at least I wont need any damn dongles! is it worth it?

I am worried about one thing though, is Apple able to slow down the CPU for older MacBook Pros? I want to use this laptop for the next 5 years without noticing anything different whenever I update the software. Or how about I just dont update at all? does it force you to update?

If you don't mind sharing, what is the configuration and price?

 

[ruarmani]

Depending upon what you intend to use it for, the 2015 MBP is a great machine. Nice keyboard, no dongles, sleek casing. I'm typing on one now. Excellent machine.

2015 MBP also had its problems and issues with graphic failures, screen flickers, battery, fans going up to max speed and being loud, etc. I think it is like any computer, you might get a good machine and have no issues, or can an get a faulty one and have a hard time with one. My late 2008 BMP lasted almost 10 years and I killed it with a spill.

 

[urbanlegend179]

Thanks for your replies guys.

If you don't mind sharing, what is the configuration and price?

It's the base model, Intel Core i5 2.7 GHz, 13.3 Inch with Retina Display, 128GB SSD, 8GB RAM. Price: $1000, it's the last unit they have in stock and want to get rid of it.

My main concern is: Can I just use it with the software pre-installed back from 2015? I believe it is OS X El Capitan, or do I have to update as soon as I start using it? I just don't want to take any risk with an update slowing down the CPU. I want to stick with El Capitan and want to avoid macOS Sierra or macOS High Sierra. But would that mean I can't update any apps?

 

[zin]

No, Apple does not force you to update your Mac. Just remember to untick automatic update downloads and installs in System Preferences.

 

[urbanlegend179]

Thanks! But what about in terms of apps? Right now, I have an iphone 6 running on ios 8.1.2 and it is still as fluid and responsive and fast as the day I bought it more than 3 years ago! I don't want to update my ios but whenever I want to update an app it says "this app requires ios 9.0 or later" which is annoying! I know for a fact if I update my iphone it will slow down and have issues, for sure!

 

[zin]

10.11 is not that old. I don't think you should have many issues with app compatibility today. But in five years the situation might be different.

 

[urbanlegend179]

Actually, I've just found out it comes with OS X 10.12 Sierra, which is the one right after El Capitan I am guessing.

 

[zin]

If it comes with Sierra I would consider upgrading to High Sierra. There is virtually no performance difference between the two and HS will give you APFS, which is far more 'future-proof' in the long run.

 

[urbanlegend179]

Thanks for the feedback

 

[Hanson Eigilson]

I swapped my work mbp2017 15" for a 2015 and i'm very happy, I used to have an 2014 model a few years ago and missed it. If you ask me it's a great buy and it might be less future proof, but today it's certainly convenient to just plug things in along with many other niceties. For me i ended up with the dgpu model so it has a discrete gpu (m370x) but it does not seem to be that much better than the integrated one and macOs does handles it as it's supposed to, but it's not doing it great, it sucks up considerable battery even unused and it makes the fan speed up a little bit so that it's audible when using external screen (which the one with integrated graphics only does not as far as I remember) if i were to pick again i would pick the one with integrated graphics only unless it's going to be running windows.

As for updating or not updating I'm not sure, I don't think I have ever noticed macOs getting slower on older hardware that could not be solved with a clean install from usb key, but I have had a lot of High Sierra issues, and annoying problems with APFS. Good luck!

 

[ZapNZs]

I'm still using El Capitan and Sierra - I'm not ready to upgrade to High Sierra yet on production machines due to my use of whole disk encryption and how new APFS is (APFS will be awesome, and Apple has done amazing in the implementation, but I think it is totally unreasonable to not expect growing pains with any new FS and HFS+ is currently doing just fine for me while APFS matures). Both El Cap and Sierra are actively getting security updates, including mitigations for meltdown and spectre. You can choose whether or not to install them.

If you are getting a good price on it, it so happens that you want the features it has, and you are OK with the tiny SSD, then it's a great computer. It is older technology and so it will not perform as well as the current generation, but that doesn't make it a bad system - it's still plenty capable.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"I've been putting off getting a laptop for a while but now I've got the chance to get the 2015 Macbook Pro 13 inch at a reduced clearance price. It's brand new. But it's 3 year old technology? I am still interested because at least I wont need any damn dongles! is it worth it?"

My opinion only, but... YES... it's worth it.

When the "new" 2016 design was introduced, I compared the 2015 side-by-side with the 2016 -- and picked the 2015 as the better design.

No dongles, and I liked the "old" keyboard design MUCH better. That was before all the problems with KeyGate™ started.
In hindsight, it might be the best "Mac buying decision" I ever made.

RE the particular model you described above:
I'd stick with Low Sierra for now (too many folks having too much trouble with High Sierra)
128gb will be "on the tight side", but it's still manageable so long as you don't load the internal drive up with junk.
256gb would be better -- but "if the price is right", get the 128.

 

[Krug1985]

Thanks for your replies guys.



It's the base model, Intel Core i5 2.7 GHz, 13.3 Inch with Retina Display, 128GB SSD, 8GB RAM. Price: $1000, it's the last unit they have in stock and want to get rid of it.

My main concern is: Can I just use it with the software pre-installed back from 2015? I believe it is OS X El Capitan, or do I have to update as soon as I start using it? I just don't want to take any risk with an update slowing down the CPU. I want to stick with El Capitan and want to avoid macOS Sierra or macOS High Sierra. But would that mean I can't update any apps?

I know you said dongles are kind of a down side but right now best buy has the 2017 macbook pros with those specs for $1099 new. It would be more future proof I would think. I have seen the 2015 Pros Referb on apples website from time to time for around $900.