$340 to double up 512GB of storage. That is insane. I like my MBP but doubt I'll buy another one since basically nothing will ever be user replaceable again.
Yeah.... um that's the point. It's my opinion and all. Also quite a few people agree. People are allowed to have feelings and views of things that differ from you and others. If everyone just mimed the same things they were told to think and say then nothing would ever change. Open expression of ones personal needs and wants allows for healthy discussion and debate. Unfortunately the internet has become a block fest of echo chambers and hyper dramatic pearl clutching citizens. Too bad.all I heard here was "me, me, me, me" lol
I'd be fine with just a HDMI. Also the fact that the laptop won't launch if the battery is dead is VERY lame. Putting the charger in the usb-c port is meh. But making it have to have a battery charge to launch is questionable. I guess if your battery dies even if you have a power cord they want you to be screwed?Yes. I could do without the Touch Bar. I’d love more ram and cores too. But Apple, I still want to herald in the future so whatever you do, please don’t put all the old ports back in.
(Yes, I’m serious.)
OkI have zero interest in any of Apple's current MacBook or MacBook Pro options, regardless of any discounts. The $500 premium for the useless Touch Bar is my main reason, followed by the pointless elimination of essential ports and the ridiculously fragile and unreliable keyboard. This is coming from someone who last purchased a top of the line 2013 RMBP—someone who used to buy a new MacBook every two years or so.
Same goes for iPhones. I waited for hours in line to buy the first iPhone, and bought a new model every year until the 6S. I have not replaced it yet, and probably won't until my old one is no longer usable.
The Apple I used to love no longer exists. It has morphed into a luxury fashion/lifestyle brand that has lost touch with its core users.
I mean. Zoom out and you will find the YouTubed crowd and a small minority of people are still having issues.Haha, ok buddy. I think a few people disagree with you. Loads of people reporting failing third-gen "Butterfly" switch MacBook keyboards. But by all means, enjoy the kool-aid.
Literally everyone has been complaining at the lack of the SD card slot and HDMI port... except you, apparently.
Do not confuse the handful of users who post on MacRumors with the vast percentage of users who never use an SD card and a dongle if they need HDMI, which many probably never do use. I want them to return the slot for an SD card so I can use my mini drive to have a flush micro SD card in my system for backup; but I'd bet I am in a ver small percentage of the overall user base.
Regular users of forums fall prey to a common phenomena - they assume the views presented on the forums echo those of the majority when they really represent ta small fraction of the actual population.
And me. It's mostly the whiners who post in these forums. Those of us without issues just get on with things. If we do say nothing is wrong, then we are often vilified.
I work at an institution which uses a LOT of Mac systems and I hear every single day people upset that they have to use a dongle for everything. These are not technical folks but just every day users.
With something this expensive, I just can’t get my head around paying for something second hand. Paying £2,300 for something used that’s £2,700 new? Hadn’t you just as well pay the extra and get a fresh SSD with no write cycles on it? Knowing it’s fresh from the factory? I don’t doubt the rigorous refurbishment process, new battery, new casing, but just doesn’t feel right to me.
I’ve had 4 refurb products From Apple or the Apple store. Despite the sometimes meager savings, it’s generally enough to mostly cover paying for AppleCare (if you want it).
My iPad Mini, 27" iMac, 12.9" iPad Pro continue to work perfectly. I only anticipate replacing the iMac in a few years when it no longer supports required system software (iTunes in particular), I still run Adobe CS3 on it and a very old version of Microsoft office. I also run Afinity Photo and Designer on it very smoothly. Can’t wait for their Publisher program.
The fourth refurb was an iPhone 6s Plus. Went in to have battery replaced and after they did it they couldn’t make the phone work right. They gave me a refurb (new battery, no scratches, worked great (with twice as much storage as the one they broke, all for the $29 cost of the new battery). Again, worked flawlessly. Traded in for X’s Max (which paid almost all the AppleCare) which I do love especially for camera options and screen acreage, but still miss the 6s Plus, too.
Really, don’t overlook the Apple refurb store if they have what you want or close to it. I settled for a gold iPad 12.9" because of more storage. In the case you can’t even see the gold so no matter to me. And it’s my first white bezel which I have found I like.
Be sure to check and see if BH is collecting sales tax. They are starting to collect. At least for MD they are.
I was planning to wait for Black Friday to scoop up a 2018 model from somewhere, however, I find plenty of reports of keyboard problems STILL with the 2018 models. Sadly, I'm not sure I can risk spending $2k+ on refurbished or even new when there are reports of folks going through 3 or more replacements after only a couple weeks of usage. I'm sure I'd get used to the feel of the new keyboards, but I would be really REALLY upset with myself if I got a lemon. I think I may just go with a 2015 model despite the impressive benchmark improvements with the 6-core 2018 models. I'm currently using a 2011 MBP that is still impressively fast with just about every everyday task.
Do not confuse the handful of users who post on MacRumors with the vast percentage of users who never use an SD card and a dongle if they need HDMI, which many probably never do use. I want them to return the slot for an SD card so I can use my mini drive to have a flush micro SD card in my system for backup; but I'd bet I am in a ver small percentage of the overall user base.
Regular users of forums fall prey to a common phenomena - they assume the views presented on the forums echo those of the majority when they really represent ta small fraction of the actual population.
No, you're not in a very small percentage of the overall user base. You're in the vast majority.
all I heard here was "me, me, me, me" lol
You call that an update? Seriously?? All Apple did was put in 8th gen Intel chips SEVERAL MONTHS after windows notebooks upgraded. No change to the ancient graphics chip. Oh & a silicone membrane under their unreliable keyboard 'cause it was the "future" until the future included lawsuits.
On their web site they were quoting tax numbers for both New Jersey and New York as well. I picked up a mid-2015 yesterday and paid NY state tax on it (maybe they had been collecting in NY all along? I'm not sure)
I’m in MN and just got an email saying they’re collecting MN tax now.
I believe they’ve been collecting NY tax all along because that’s where they are located.
Sounds like we're in the same boat. I actually bought this 2011 used and it's been a beast with no problems and also feel like I don't REALLY need a new machine except that it's been excluded from Mojave. Decent deals os swappa for the 2015, so seems like that makes the most sense. I really like the 15" screen, so the MBP is my only option.Yea, I replaced a 2011--or, am in the process of replacing it--with a 2015. The performance of my 2011 is completely fine, and I really don't need anything better. However, the keyboard is starting to flake out on me, the screws are falling out, the battery health is fading, and, of course, the GPU is a ticking time bomb in a 2011 (I've already replaced the logic board twice). I felt like it was time to invest in a newer machine, and still have the possibility of upgrading the hard drive.
Sounds like we're in the same boat. I actually bought this 2011 used and it's been a beast with no problems and also feel like I don't REALLY need a new machine except that it's been excluded from Mojave. Decent deals os swappa for the 2015, so seems like that makes the most sense. I really like the 15" screen, so the MBP is my only option.
Welcome to the echo chamber...
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I am curious - what do you use that can't be connected with a USB-C or TB-3 cable? Or is it the organization justifiably doesn't want to spend more money on all new cables if dongles are cheaper?
The issue is not what do we use that can’t be connected. The issue is for three generations now apple has included USB-C only while removing every other type of port. This requires a multitude of dongles or a port replicator for just about anything you wish to connect because we simply do not live in a USB-C world.
In their quest for the thinnest possible laptop they have sacrificed standard ports that everyone still uses.
Sure USB-C is great, it offers a plethora of connectivity options and gobs of bandwidth, but it’s still a port that you have to have an adapter to use for 99% of devices.
I'd like to have more port options but it's not like you have to use dongles for most items, especially common use ones.
Personally, I'd like them to put a micro-SD slot in since it would not add much, if anything, to the Mac's thickness. Mini-DisplayPort would be nice as well as I have dongles for VGA and DVI in case that's wha a client uses for projection; although most lately have been HDMI.
Apple does tend to decide a technology is outdated before the rest of the industry. It is a pain to have to buy all new cables. I actually use some in my Kensington Dock which I bought to have a power supply at home so I can leave my other in my travel bag. I got it half off with a Kensington code at Amazon so it was cheaper than a second brick and had the added plus of ports.
I'm not sure about your adapter comment. The only devices I have that needs a dongle is my legacy Nikon Firewire scanner and VGA Projector. I have USB->C to USB MB (External Blu Ray Player and hard drive), USB B (Printer), and HDMI. I don't have a USB C -> Lightening since I mostly use a separate charger but that cable is available as well and wireless backup.
I agree it would have been nice for Apple to include one or two adaptors with each USB-C only Mac. Toshiba included a USB-C dongle with their external hard drive; which was a nice touch even though I use a USB C -> MB cable so I do not need a dongle.
So what common use items do you have in USB-C?
I have a SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD which is native USB-C and I use two different cables to move data back and forth with USB-A. I have a Transcend card reader with a removable USB 3.0 cable that I replaced with a USB-C version. I have another USB-C enclosure that I use for Time Machine backups. Are you specifically asking for USB-C native devices, because those are relatively far and few between right now, but if it has a removable cable, then It’s a simple cable switch and done.So what common use items do you have in USB-C?
Blu Ray Drive.Printer HD Dock HDMI External Backup HD -> all of which I can connect with no dongle using a USB C -> Device connector cable.I spent about $30 - 40 for all the cables I wanted.
As I said, except for a legacy Fire Wire scanner and VGA projector, that I rarely use, I have no need for dongles as I have a USB-C cable for all the devices I use frequently. That's why I questioned your 99% comment.