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Apple to Obsolete Select 2009 to 2011 Macs at End of Year

Spanky Deluxe said:
So... that Early 2011 MacBook Pro, that would be the 2.0/2.2 GHz quad-core i7 with 4-16GB of RAM and with a Radeon HD 6490M/6750M. Yeah, I can see how that would be out of date now. It's not like it's 50% more powerful than the current MacBook in multi-core apps and equally as powerful as the current MacBook in single-core apps. The GPU chips are about as powerful as the Intel HD Graphics 515 chip in the current MacBook too from what I can tell. Plus it can also handle twice as much RAM as the current MacBook.

Of course all of that is irrelevant. The early 2011 MacBook Pro may be faster than the 2016 MacBook but it is simply too old and slow to run new operating systems and software. Unlike the current 2016 Retina MacBook which is plenty fast for new software but is unfortunately slower than the early 2011 MacBook Pro that is being obsoleted.

My head hurts. :-/
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I think the telling spec comparisons there are the Multi-core ones - esp. the 2010 / 2012 Mac Pros. Nothing else new on offer that's really competing with those. Nothing new that is "Pro".
 
LEgregius said:
The CPU is fine, and the RAM really isn’t their fault. Both cases are pretty much Intel’s fault. They have pretty good explanation for those, but I’m not going to BUY an new one given the lack of progress on that front. The GPU’s have always been underpowered, and that annoys me to no end, but they have been updating them, at least. The Dongles, expensive drive space, and the fact that once the warranty is over the computer is basically unrepairable is really unacceptable to me. I could take or leave the touchbar since I plug my current one into an external monitor and use it closed.
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Faulty design and manufacturing issues for computers, smart phones, (really, ALL electronics) should be treated with the same recall systems employed by the CPSC and the NHTSA. And I do like the idea of UK's Sale of Goods Act.
 
zaaach48 said:
no, they dealt with the GPU issues like 3 years ago. there has been a free fix for quite some time now.
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It's false to say they fixed the issue. They just put defective refurbished logic boards in during the repair and the unit will fail again within a year if the laptop is pushed hard in discrete graphics mode. Additionally after they repaired it once under the program they will give you the runaround to fix it again. The program ends this December for most people.

https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/
 
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TimCookMustGo said:
I have an early 2011 15" MBP. I have yet to find a worthy replacement worth my money. Apple, this is a problem. I waited all this time to have the following:
  • Weak, under-powered machine
  • Dongles are required
  • Gimmicky Touchbar
  • $2,400 Starting Price
  • No Function Keys
  • 16gb RAM cap
Let's get Tim out of there. Please. Seriously.
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Yeah, it really sucks when you put it like that. Charging a lot for less. Hopefully next year, Apple reduces the prices on the Kaby Lake refresh by at least $300 which would bring it in line with other premium laptops.
 
Schizoid said:
Mac Pro will be the only computer soon to be obsolete before it's updated!
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Any computer, device, or software placed into an unsupported and/or obsolete category shall be considered Abandonware and it's specification and design shall immediately be made public in a readily-viewed format for 3rd party service and/or support. If I were president, that would be one of my first executive orders. Bam!
 
macduke said:
Somehow never heard of that term until now. In some ways Apple has really been pushing things forward, cutting down on materials that are bad for the environment and building robots like Liam to deconstruct iPhone for recycling. But on the other hand there's the issue at hand about obsoleting devices that work fine. Looking at the definition of greenwashing, I'd say out of all the companies out there, Apple is one of the lightest offenders. But they still have work to do. It's tricky to balance being environmentally friendly with making money. If they make their devices too well then they'll run forever. Having a fast machine that runs forever is the ultimate environmentally friendly thing to build, but it directly contradicts capitalism. On the other hand, capitalism and communism gone rampant has caused global warming. Many intelligent people would agree that we need a better system, but as flawed humans we're thus far incapable of creating such a society without killing off freedom and diversity.
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We have plenty of diversity and awareness, and Apple has plenty of money. Now it's time to get back to work and let the real engineers run wild and build some real machines that are made for tasks heavier than what you can do with the fanciest Chromebook. If a company really cares about the environment -and they don't, it's just politics- then they will start building machines that can be upgraded and serviced. Just like the auto repair industry: The "youngfolk" used to hotrod cars; now they build gaming PCs. Apple could get in on this and kick arse -if they wanted to...

Thicker, heavier, more ports, upgradable instead of disposable. Utility over fashion.

BCWorld said:
OKAY! Soooo, my late 2012 Quad Core i7 Mac Mini will be obsolete next year, yet the 2014 Mac Mini wasn't "Obsolete" when it was release?????? Classic Apple. SMH. :eek:
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As far as usefulness compared to the 2012 Mac Mini i7, the 2014 Mac Mini should have been obsolete 48 hours after its launch. :rolleyes:
 
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2011 year old Mac's.... i guess if u'r gonna obsolete products do it at the beginning of the new year as well Apple can even throw a mini New Years celebration for it :)
 
bladerunner2000 said:
2011 MBP can have 16gb and a SATA III SSD drive. So... it's close to being on par with the new MacBooks. I just rendered your argument moot.
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If all you can see are marketing numbers... still nope.

Care to elaborate on RAM type and RAM speeds, as well as I/o read and write speeds for that SSD...? Or what about energy usage? Heat dispersion? Size of parts? Yeaaaa they're not the same. Sorry to break it to you.
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Thunderhawks said:
Your examples don't really apply. Individual vs. large corporation.

And yes, IF I had a lot of money (like they do right now) I would be just fine,
not needing any support.
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So large corporations should be exempt from common sense behavior? Just like the rich, right? It's ok to steal their money because they have a lot, yea? I'm more than confident you have more money than I do, a lot more, so I should take some, because you not need it and you're richer than me...?
 
merkinmuffley said:
They can't get rid of the 2012 MBP's - they're still selling them in the refurbished store. Where are they finding them?
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The refurbished store is pretty much empty. ONE MBA and no MBPs.
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ladycsr said:
My 2009 MBP is literally more Pro and usable than the 2016.
I will wait till 2017 and see what apple presents before probably bailing to Windows land.
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Windows? I'll bail to Linux land. I get to see enough Windows at work.
 
Mac Towers ? 2009-2012 still going strong and being upgraded. wonder if those will be excepted for a while.....
 
MacRumors said:
The following Macs will be classified as either vintage or obsolete in the United States, Canada, Japan, Europe, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region:​

o MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011)
o MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011)
o Mac mini (Early 2009)
o MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2009)

The aforementioned Macs will no longer be eligible for hardware service or new parts from Apple or Apple Authorized Service Providers, except in Turkey and California, where Apple will continue to provide repairs and documentation for up to two years, or December 31, 2018 in this case, as required by local statutes.

Vintage products are those that have not been manufactured by Apple for between five and seven years. Obsolete products are those that were discontinued by Apple more than seven years ago. Apple and Authorized Service Providers make no distinction between obsolete and vintage products outside of Turkey and California.

Article Link: Apple to Obsolete Select 2009 to 2011 Macs at End of Year
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Hmmmm. I wonder how Apple will cope here in New Zealand. As far as I am aware, companies here have to supply parts for their products for ten years BY LAW.
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keysofanxiety said:
All the people moaning on this thread really need to get some perspective. Legacy hardware support from other OEMs is nothing short of horrendous.

Apple machines are a godsend if you're working in aftercare support.
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Really? My custom built Windows machine from 2011 runs the LATEST version of Windows 10, and it's not going to be made obsolete by Microsoft any time soon. I know people with much older machines, and they get ALL the latest updates without any problems at all. Legacy hardware support from other OEMs is nothing short of amazing, it's Apple's support for legacy hardware that is horrendous.

PS: That custom built Windows machine from 2011, is also the most powerful computer we have in our entire household (by a considerable margin), it is also the OLDEST.
 
Phoenixx said:
Really? My custom built Windows machine from 2011 runs the LATEST version of Windows 10, and it's not going to be made obsolete by Microsoft any time soon.
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You're talking about software support. I was talking about hardware support on portables, which is what this article is referring to anyway.

Neither of us are wrong, for what it's worth. :)
 
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