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Apple Obsoletes Mid 2010 15-Inch and 17-Inch MacBook Pros

Just one question. Apple does not service hardware after it went "obsolete", okay.
But in case of a battery replacement it does not make sense to offer a replacement for a MBP Early 2011 but not for a MBP 2009 or now 2010? It's the same battery.
What's the reason?
 
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dannys1 said:
I look forward to people pointing out how powerful their 2010 Macbook is they've owned for 5 years and there is no technical reason it couldn't run the latest OS X version and Tim Cook is too greedy and and and and...

Edit: And indeed they did - about 10 people quoted me to tell me how amazing their 2010 Macbook's are. Good for you guys....good for you!
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I have a 2010 MacBook Pro but it is absolutely obselete.
 
thisisnotmyname said:
Is that the last of the 17" laptops? Sorry big laptop fans.
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Dont fret there will be 17" iPad soon. My 17 is still working great as is the 15 MBP from 2008 the missus uses it for surfing and pages etc. For the heavy duty stuff i have the MP 2010 but i guess that will Obsolete soon if not already.
 
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This does not add up

From Apple's policy, linked in the article:
"Obsolete products are those that were discontinued more than 7 years ago."

The 2010 MBPs were discontinued on Feb 24, 2011, which is about 5 years ago. Far short of 7.

7 years ago, they hadn't even been released yet.
 
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ActionableMango said:
This does not add up

From Apple's policy, linked in the article:
"Obsolete products are those that were discontinued more than 7 years ago."

The 2010 MBPs were discontinued on Feb 24, 2011, which is about 5 years ago. Far short of 7.

7 years ago, they hadn't even been released yet.
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They are vintage in the US and Turkey(can still receive service at authorized Apple service providers), obsolete everywhere else.
 
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3 days ago I just upgraded my 15 inch mid 2010 MBP to 8 gigs and a 1 tb Samsung SSD. All I can say is that I'm impressed with it, and plan on keeping it for at least another 2-3 years. Good thing I opted for the fastest Core I7 processor when I bought it. I'm sure we won't be left out for at least the next two OSX releases. I'm totally holding out and getting my moneys worth on this.
 
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Sweet, my MBP is officially "vintage". Still runs really well though, after upgrading to an SSD and 8GB RAM.
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shanes71 said:
3 days ago I just upgraded my 15 inch mid 2010 MBP to 8 gigs and a 1 tb Samsung SSD. All I can say is that I'm impressed with it, and plan on keeping it for at least another 2-3 years. Good thing I opted for the fastest Core I7 processor when I bought it. I'm sure we won't be left out for at least the next two OSX releases. I'm totally holding out and getting my moneys worth on this.
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I have the same one, and did the same upgrade (Samsung SSD). One thing to watch out for is that our gen had problems with the GPU failing, since the GPU switching tech was still having kinks worked out. In order to help prevent this failure (mine had it as did a friend's), go to system preferences, energy saver, and un check graphics switching so that it only uses the hi performance chip at all times, that way it is less likely to fail.
 
This model had the GPU issue REP which I missed out on. Works ok as long as you don't engage the GPU.
 
I still use my mid-2010 17" MacBook pro every day. It has the SSD in it, and works just fine.

I just replaced the fans and cleaned out the air intake ports. I've replaced the battery too, although it turned out that it was the power adapter that went bad. Two of those have gone bad.

I figured that I would get 10 years out of it, and it would cost $300 a year if I used it that long.
 
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Yet more perfectly good Macs on the list of obsoletes. The mid-2010 Intel 2 Core Duo MacBook Pro maxed out to 8gb RAM and with an SSD is a super production machine.

This latest list goes further to suggest that OS X 10.12 will not be compatible with many older generation Macs.

I suppose at the end of the day what Apple considers old and what the consumer considers old are at odds.
 
MacRumors said:
The new additions come less than three months after Apple obsoleted select early 2008 to late 2009 Macs, including the iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009), iMac (27-inch, Late 2009), MacBook Air (Mid 2009), Mac Pro (Early 2009), MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008), MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008), and MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2008).
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And my early 2008 Mac Pro is on this vintage list! 'AM! :(

Is this simply to force people to part with their dollars?
 
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LogicalVue said:
But why are the 13" 2010 Macbook Pros not also made obsolete? There use the older Core 2 Duo rather than an i5/i7 CPU.
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Because you haven't been reading the thread (or the same thread that comes up every few months)...

Devices go on the Vintage list 5 years after the model was last manufactured. No exceptions. No judgements are being made about the components used in that model. The factory line stops moving, and the Vintage & Obsolete clock starts ticking.

It's not a judgement about the quality of the unit. It's simply the date after which Apple stops carrying replacement parts and stops offering repair service. It's an across-the-board policy.
 
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LogicalVue said:
But why are the 13" 2010 Macbook Pros not also made obsolete? There use the older Core 2 Duo rather than an i5/i7 CPU.
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As with the Intel i5/i7 the older Core 2 Duo found in the mid-2010 13" MacBook Pro is plenty capable for many tasks especially when the RAM is maxed out to 8gb along with the 5400rpm HDD swapped out for an SSD.
I am waiting for Apple to obsolete my mid-2011 Intel i5 (Sandy Bridge) 21.5" iMac. Will I be bothered? Thats an affirmative NO. Its a productivity powerhouse with 32gb RAM running OS X El Capitan from an external Thunderbolt SSD. Only I decide when its obsolete 'NOT APPLE' and that won't be any time soon.
 
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If we need to use our Macs for a particular job, we may need a particular OS so that we can meet the requirements necessary to upgrade the software. Older Macs may not be able to support (officially) the new software. We are then forced to upgrade the computer or even replace it ... even when it is capable of running OS X 10.11.n and has several SSDs internally and 16GB RAM. :cool:

Not all of the upgraded hardware will be usable in the newest Mac Pro. :(

ROCK :eek: HARD PLACE
 
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Zwhaler said:
Sweet, my MBP is officially "vintage". Still runs really well though, after upgrading to an SSD and 8GB RAM.
[doublepost=1457471605][/doublepost]

I have the same one, and did the same upgrade (Samsung SSD). One thing to watch out for is that our gen had problems with the GPU failing, since the GPU switching tech was still having kinks worked out. In order to help prevent this failure (mine had it as did a friend's), go to system preferences, energy saver, and un check graphics switching so that it only uses the hi performance chip at all times, that way it is less likely to fail.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this tidbit, I will be sure to do this.
 
while i cant speak to a specific processor, the reasons for longevity of certain machines over others frequently has to do with the production of parts associated to the machine. It may shock you to hear that Intel still makes LGA775 socket CPUs... but they do, in limited quantities. Processors like an i7-620M are low margin, low volume, high price items.... easily discontinued to make room for new production lines. Things like an ancient Core2Duo, while heinously obsolete, still get produced in quantity because its low cost/high volume, and has the inventory stock to back it up.

Think of it in terms like, a high end sports car that gets revised often, compared to a low cost economy vehicle which can go years at a time with no significant changes.
 
You know I realize we can't expect Apple to carry parts for all machines forever, but it seems like it would be reasonable to at least perform battery replacements for 10 years. This would be especially useful on newer machines that we can't just do it ourselves.
 
My 2010 MBP is well and truly used and abused. Served me well, and certainly had my money's worth. But, I'm holding out now for the next round of MacBook Pro updates, and will be upgrading this year.
 
boredandlonely said:
Ditto. That's the only reason I am still on my mid2010 17". Pricewise and screensize, I can go iMac, but not in terms of portability. =~(

My disc drive died twice, my fans got dust-clogged, and my Firewire recently died. Had the FW not been nearly irreparable, I would have upgraded to SSD.
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Apple, hear our cries. 17" MBP. Lighter and faster? Unless you're making fold-out screens in the next year or two, it's time.

If those who'd like a 17" haven't officially send in their suggestions to Apple, please do!
 
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MacRumors said:
Macs and other products on the vintage and obsolete list are generally no longer eligible for hardware service, but OS X El Capitan still supports many older Macs back to Mid 2007. Apple defines vintage products as those that have not been manufactured for more than five but less than seven years.
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I have a old mac mini that I never upgraded from Lion. I thought anything Lion was the final upgrade it could have.
It's 2007 mac mini core 2 dual and 4 gigs of ram and 320 gig storage (upgraded it to max it could handle) and it feels very long in the tooth and I want to upgrade but can't afford to because I want a mac book pro and that isn't anywhere near my price range.

So can my 2007 mini (which is on the Obsolete list ) be upgraded to something beyond Lion? Help , I always thought it was a fools errand to upgrade my mini. Should I bother or will it make my machine even slower ?
 
Dimwhit said:
Well, my early 2011 17" MacBook Pro will probably be on the list next time around. Still love this computer. 16GB RAM and a speedy 512MB SSD upgrade has done wonders for keeping it fast and able to handle the current OS.
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Interesting to hear how effective the SSD upgrade is for so many people.

I would suggest that the power of SSD has actually caused a regression in computer technology. Why? Because it is such a powerful and easy upgrade, that there is no advantage to be gained from tweaking the chips by a few percent each year. Therefore, there is little incentive for companies to bring out new models, and stagnation arises. Hence the lack of interesting developments in desktops and laptops for the past decade or so.
 
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