OP clearly stated that he is not going to use the machine for computer programming and video editing, if we take it from there, a 2017 system is a waste of money and not the proper machine for his use. He asked for advice, and I told what I did.
There's no question that a MacBook Pro 2017 out performs a MacBook Pro 2015, as I wrote, if money is not the problem, the best choice is a 2017 system. In my case, the keyboard is not a problem because my MacBook Pro is 75% of the time connected to a external monitor with a external keyboard. I decided to buy a 2015 with max out specifications because I don't do anything related with photos or 4k videos editing which are system intensive procedures.
When there's a budget, and money is an issue, then $500 plus tax is a big difference and something to consider when the machine is not going to be used for computer programming or video editing. In may case my system has been used for computer programming and it performs with fling colors. And for my line of work, the MacBook Pro 2015 is not outdated yet, it works with all my peripherals. Very happy with it. Once I replace the SDD drive with a faster one, it's going to be snappier. So I'm happy with my purchase decision because I save some money which will be handy to upgrade from the iPhone 6 plus to the iPhone X.
Yeah, so just like everybody else you are defending your purchase. The upgrades to the 2017 from the 2015 are easily worth $500. There isn't much else that's worth saying here. Money could be a concern, but then if that's the case you go with the more future-proof 2017 and save money.
I use both a 2015 15" and 2016 15" for software engineering (I'm a research engineer). I'm not here to debate those but just wanted to throw that in for context.
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@smallcoffee
Couple things there.
1. Apple has posted a "how to clean out your keyboard with compressed air" page on their site - very unusual and it's a ridiculous process of "holding at a certain angle, etc"
They also post how to clean your screen and how to reset PRAM. I've cleaned keyboards with compressed air my entire life.
2. They did slightly tweak the keyboards between 2016 & 2017, I think to basically insert the shim fix that they were doing to 2016's in store/sent out for repair. I don't have more info on that though, perhaps you do?
It looks like a further improvement on the 2016 keyboard?
3. Apple PR appears to have reached out to Casey Johnston this week after her frustration article about this at The Outline.
Who cares?
The reality is - The keyboard is in some measurable way less reliable or failing in modes previous ones had not, that much is obvious simply based upon their reactions above.
Are you willing to at least see that angle? (or the potential of something there?)
Maybe it's a nothing burger and those with issues have just been totally, really, unlucky (some of us with multiple machines and fixes) - could be - just seems odd that Apple is responding on this and
There could be a hardware issue but it's impossible to tell what the actual scope of the issue is. People have been freaking out about this MacBook Pro since it was announced, so any issue is probably going to be amplified more than normal given how shrill the community has been.
Let's say you have had multiple machines and fixes. Ok that sucks. I've only had one machine. Now what?
That's why these anecdotes are useless, and hardware failures aren't a factor when making a purchase. You don't know the extent, and the machine is under warranty.
some of us have some strange anecdotal evidence that also suggests an issue.
Ok, and to cancel out your anecdote, I have not met a single person who has a new style MacBook Pro, 13" or 15" or even the little MacBooks who have had this problem. So what gives?
**One other thought here. You keep saying that nobody has any statistics or data indicating a problem - I would simply add that you also have no data that there is no issue or the severity of any issue that may exist. I think it'd be only fair on your part to not insist that there is "no issue at all" given that.
You can't ask me to prove a negative. And I've even given consideration of it being a huge issue (10%) and discussed why that still doesn't matter. I can insist that there is no issue at all because it's not an effective issue.
Only Apple knows and their first modern MBP revision was to spec bump and also "do something" about the 2017 vs 2016 keyboards (whatever the subtle 2016-2017 change was). For all we know, there is an issue and they don't want to admit to it (or perhaps can't do anything short of another major revision) and another fix may come yet again in 2018. All we can do is wait and see.
Is that fair?
Or for all we know there isn't an issue? Either way it doesn't matter without any sort of hard data. How do we know there isn't a huge issue with the Touch Bar? Or the GPU?
In my above post I offered what I thought the merits of both machines to be, it's ultimately up to OP to decide whether there's any deal breakers amongst those factors, and check out the machines for themself before deciding what to buy. Maybe the 2017 will ultimately prove to be more to OP's liking, but that decision should be reached after deliberation, not just a suggestion to go out and buy the shinier more expensive one.
