Apple's Last 17-Inch MacBook Pro Set to Become Obsolete

[MacRumors]

Apple will soon make the Mid-2011 MacBook Air and Late 2011 MacBook Pro obsolete, meaning the two models will no longer be accepted for official repair in Apple Stores from June 30.

The computers are about to be added to Apple's vintage and obsolete products document, according to 9to5Mac, indicating that Apple has discontinued hardware support for both MacBooks in all regions except for California and Turkey.

Also set to be included in the obsolescence list is the Mid-2009 17-inch MacBook Pro, which is the last 17-inch computer Apple has made.

The company's large form factor laptops first made an appearance in 2003 with the launch of the 17-inch G4 Powerbook, which cost $3299 and featured a 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, and a 60GB hard drive. A 17-inch MacBook Pro formed part of Apple's notebook lineup between April 2006 and June 2012. The last major update to Apple's 17-inch Pro machine came in January 2009, when a unibody variant was unveiled.

Apart from the computers, the iPhone 3GS and the first generation 802.11n AirPort Express will also be added to the list, as part of Apple's routine practice of making legacy devices obsolete. The company ended support for the polycarbonate MacBook and mid-2009 MacBook Pro models earlier this month.

Article Link: Apple's Last 17-Inch MacBook Pro Set to Become Obsolete

 

[b13o0r12e3]

no 17" MacBook, no Aperture.

 

[Kai Wang]

I wonder how long the 2012 first-gen Retina Macbook Pro will last. Maybe 2-3 more years before Apple obsoletes it?

 

[Twimfy]

Real shame. My 17" is my primary Mac and I love it. I really don't know what I'm going to go to next. I know a Retina 15" effectively offers more working space but it's just not the same as working on the 17" screen.

 

[Vjosullivan]

I had my Late 2011 17" MBP repaired earlier this year. Hopefully, it'll be good for a few years more. I'll really miss the big screen when I eventually downsize to a new model.

 

[Sunny1990]

Apple's 17" MacBook Pro was a incredible machine!

 

[mixel]

Aww. it might have been a niche product but it was a nice one. Imagine how sleek a modern one could have been too.

 

[Twimfy]

The 17" MacBook Pro was an extraordinary machine!

It still is an extraordinary machine. A 2011 with an SSD and 8-16gb of Ram is still a good workhorse. It's just finding one where the GPU hasn't cooked itself that's the only reason I don't recommend them to people.

 

[soupcan]

Better get a new one going.

 

[opeter]

I wonder how how long the 2012 first-gen Retina Macbook Pro will last. Maybe 2-3 more years before Apple obsoletes it?

I think next year or 2019. Most of these models are supported 5-7 years, not more.

 

[otternonsense]

You will be missed. No recent MacBook Pro could fill in those shoes, certainly not the 2016 sad excuse.

 

[Barry Marshall]

I bought one in 2007, then another one in 2010 and would have bought one on 2014 but Apple had stopped producing them by then and had to settle for a 15 inch. The 13" is to bloody small.

 

[Kabeyun]

Lapzilla is dead. Long live Lapzilla.

 

[asiga]

I think people are becoming to feel tired of too-small displays. I'm a big fan of lightness because I love to be able to hold my MBA with one hand (which proves useful and comfortable in the scenario I work), but on the other hand, I'm wondering that if the 12inch MacBook weighs 1Kg, Apple could release a 15inch MacBook at 1.4Kg, and such a big display with low weight could attract many users (I'd buy one). Then, I'll move the MacBook Pro to 15inch minimum and 17inch, which is the size they belong (bigger screens, with weight not so critical as in the MacBook).

 

[CmdrLaForge]

I always think Apple should do the 12" Macbook and a 14" and 16" Macbook Pro without bezels around the screen. Seems to me this would be the best sizes...

 

[A7ibaba]

I wonder how how long the 2012 first-gen Retina Macbook Pro will last. Maybe 2-3 more years before Apple obsoletes it?

Next year will be obsolete. All models from 2012 will end from support in 2018.

 

[JosephAW]

Wow! My brand new Mac Mini is only two years away from being obsolete!

 

[jonnysods]

Sad. My first Mac was a 2006 17" when apple went Intel.

 

[JosephAW]

Surprisingly my tricked out PowerBook G4 17" works quite well.

 

[MH01]

Damn , quick glance at the headline thought a rumour of the 17 returning ....
[doublepost=1496063376][/doublepost]

Next year will be obsolete. All models from 2012 will end from support in 2018.

Mac Pro will probably be obsolete before it's updated......

 

[Kajje]

Goodbye old friend.

 

[wtsitmn]

It still is an extraordinary machine. A 2011 with an SSD and 8-16gb of Ram is still a good workhorse. It's just finding one where the GPU hasn't cooked itself that's the only reason I don't recommend them to people.

That's only because Apple uses such crappy thermal compound, and it's just globbed on rather than applied properly. I replaced the compound in my 2011 MacBook Pro 17" as soon as I learned about that. The same with my then new MacBook Air when it overheated installing Lion. (Note to editor: 2011 was the last year for 17 inch MacBook Pros – next time try to get your facts straight.)

I don't care that Apple doesn't support my MacBooks anymore. I wouldn't trust them to repair them properly. The term "Apple Genius" is an oxymoron!
[doublepost=1496065352][/doublepost]

Damn , quick glance at the headline thought a rumour of the 17 returning ....
[doublepost=1496063376][/doublepost]

Mac Pro will probably be obsolete before it's updated......

The new MacBook Pros were obsolete before they hit store shelves. I wouldn't give two cents for their crappy keyboards.
[doublepost=1496065547][/doublepost]

Surprisingly my tricked out PowerBook G4 17" works quite well.

I'll bet it does indeed!

It's so nice to hear from someone else who soups-up their old stuff rather than throwing it away.

 

[Mr. Dee]

I think with the amount bezel in the previous generation 15 inch MacBook Pro, a 17 inch display could well be created from it without increasing the foot print.

 

[robeddie]

Also set to be included in the obsolescence list is the Mid-2009 17-inch MacBook Pro, which is the last 17-inch computer Apple has made.

Uh, except for the 2010 models, the early 2011 models, then the late 2011 models.

What the hell macrumors, you can't even do a simple fact check?

Tim Hardwick: There's even a nifty little program called Mactracker for these pesky articles where you have to find out about mac products from the ancient days of macs (2011) and even ones released before you were born (2001?). Use it.

 

[Music Ambulance]

Real shame. My 17" is my primary Mac and I love it. I really don't know what I'm going to go to next. I know a Retina 15" effectively offers more working space but it's just not the same as working on the 17" screen.

There's external monitors available at shops