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Besides the keyboard, are the 2017 MBP reliable?

Hi, I am a heavy user of keyboard (work in R&D Lab) and CPU intensive software. My MacBook Pro 15” 2017 is used +18hrs/day, I commute with it, I use it in typical office/hotel/airport locations but also in wastewater treatment lab.

After one year of heavy use I have zero issues.
 
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deeddawg said:
Sorry to be blunt, but it's foolish to count on being able to remove a drive to recover data.

If you're not performing adequate backups, solve that issue first. There are way too many scenarios where you can lose your data even from a perfectly functioning system. It's irrelevant whether the storage is soldered or removable.
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Foolish to count on a fully functional drive to be reused? I could have one of my users back to work in an hour by swapping their drive into a loaner machine. Instead, they have to use a loaner for a week while I order a whole new machine THEN image and provision it. If Apple is going to solder the SSD, the least they could offer is a comprehensive iCloud backup solution for the Mac, besides pitiful iCloud drive folder sync.
 
drewsof07 said:
Foolish to count on a fully functional drive to be reused? I could have one of my users back to work in an hour by swapping their drive into a loaner machine. Instead, they have to use a loaner for a week while I order a whole new machine THEN image and provision it. If Apple is going to solder the SSD, the least they could offer is a comprehensive iCloud backup solution for the Mac, besides pitiful iCloud drive folder sync.
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You're moving the goal posts.

Yes in a corporate desktop support/repair environment there certainly is an advantage to removable storage in terms of getting users up and running more quickly.

But that's not what you originally posted. My response to that stands as written. Relying on (i.e depending on as your primary means) removable storage to recover data is foolish, particularly in a single-user non-corporate situation which is the majority of instances folks tend to discuss here. Even while it is advantageous in providing a shorter RTO to your end-users in a corporate desktop support scenario.

drewsof07 said:
I don't think the concern with a soldered SSD is the drive itself, it's being unable to recover your data in the event another component fails, rendering the machine inoperable.
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If I go for a MBP 2017, which set of configurations (e.g. 13", 15", non-TB, TB, i5, i7) has the least problem?
 
hajime said:
If I go for a MBP 2017, which set of configurations (e.g. 13", 15", non-TB, TB, i5, i7) has the least problem?
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I don't think anyone would be able to answer that reliably. For me, I have ordered the 13" TB i5 16GB 512.
 
petestew said:
I wouldn't be surprised if this class action against Apple results in free repair support for broken keyboards beyond the lifespan of the warranty. Similar to the graphics issue with the 2011 Macbook Pro's, it wasn't a case of if, but when the component fails. Judging by the number of people who post on tech forums about faults with their keyboards, imagine the greater number of regular users with the same issues!
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Yeah, I am expected them to do the same with the keyboard issues. They extended the repair period for the graphics issues of 2011 MacBooks, and even added a four-year warranty on the anti-reflective coating of all retina monitors on of their Macbook/MacBook Pro models. Apple may be hard to convince there is an issue, but once it starts hurting their PR they'll take care of the customer to save grace.
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vseera said:
I don't think anyone would be able to answer that reliably. For me, I have ordered the 13" TB i5 16GB 512.
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I agree with this. I ordered a 13" TB i5 8GB 256GB. On hindsight I wish I upgraded the machine to 16GB RAM, because it won't be long before 8GB RAM won't be enough.
 
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petestew said:
I've had my 2017 15" MBP since last October and all has been good minus a few occasional hiccups.
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That's been mostly my story too, except I got the first batch of 2016's. A few keys would occasionally jam on me and they'd either right themselves after a while or a bit of jiggling as you did reset them. They jammed numerous times on me in the first year. At least in my case, it seems like the problem got better with age.

I do think the build of the keyboard is iffy though even though ours are working fine. I hope they do something to improve the design of them. The tbMBP is the best laptop I've ever owned, but also one of the more flawed ones at the same time.
 
smirking said:
That's been mostly my story too, except I got the first batch of 2016's. A few keys would occasionally jam on me and they'd either right themselves after a while or a bit of jiggling as you did reset them. They jammed numerous times on me in the first year. At least in my case, it seems like the problem got better with age.

I do think the build of the keyboard is iffy though even though ours are working fine. I hope they do something to improve the design of them. The tbMBP is the best laptop I've ever owned, but also one of the more flawed ones at the same time.
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I personally haven't had any issues with the keyboard on my 2017 MBP w/TB, and I am meticulous about trying to keep dust and crumbs off the keyboard. Having said that, I bought AppleCare+ because I am not taking a chance of having to foot the bill on a top case replacement on this machine.
 
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Painter2002 said:
I personally haven't had any issues with the keyboard on my 2017 MBP w/TB, and I am meticulous about trying to keep dust and crumbs off the keyboard. Having said that, I bought AppleCare+ because I am not taking a chance of having to foot the bill on a top case replacement on this machine.
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I second this. I haven't had really any issues with my 2017 which I've had since they launched basically. I am meticulous about keeping my laptop/keyboard in good shape (always have been) so that may be part of it. I also bought Applecare+ because of how expensive this machine was and how expensive the keyboard repairs are for some people out of warranty.

You know, I can see why there's so much dislike towards the new model, but it really is a solid machine. It's overpriced, which is why I think a lot of people are not a fan, but it really is solid. I use it with a TB3 dock and it's an awesome setup. I have no problem with the dongle approach, but many people do. Can't say it's the machine for everyone, especially in comparison to the very excellent previous model from 2012-2015, but I still think it's a solid offering for a lot of people (albeit overpriced).
 
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Painter2002 said:
I personally haven't had any issues with the keyboard on my 2017 MBP w/TB, and I am meticulous about trying to keep dust and crumbs off the keyboard. Having said that, I bought AppleCare+ because I am not taking a chance of having to foot the bill on a top case replacement on this machine.
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I haven't been so meticulous. I'm not careless, but I don't treat any of my gear like jewelry. I've even dropped it off of a bed by accident one time. It has no case and I don't take any precautions to avoid scratching the finish either.

You'd think my MBP would be a mess. It isn't. I don't even see any scratches though if you looked hard enough, I'm sure you'll find a few. I'm sure there are some lemons out there, but so far my copy of the MBP isn't as fragile as everyone fears it to be.
 
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Of major issues there seems to only be the keyboard, staingate (as with previous generations) and the casing making a loud ‘pop’ when heating and cooling. Screen uniformity seems to be mentioned more often with this gen, though difficult to say if that’s just because there are more being sold now so more machines to have the issue. I think the speaker issue was linked to a bad boot camp driver if I remember correctly?
 
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I tried the MBP in store and experienced ghost typing. I hit "n" and "nn" showed up on the screen.
 
hajime said:
I tried the MBP in store and experienced ghost typing. I hit "n" and "nn" showed up on the screen.
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The store machines take a TON of abuse. Not just the general daily typing on the keyboard kind of use, but a few people will just do things they would not normally do to their own devices. I have a friend that works at an Apple Store and generally people are good without products, but there are some that go that extra mile to test/evaluate something ;)
 
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socialwill said:
but a few people will just do things they would not normally do to their own devices... there are some that go that extra mile to test/evaluate something ;)
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Ah, so that explains the curious phenmenon of all these people eating giant bags of potato chips, flaky pastries, and onion rings while typing on the MBP laptops at the Apple Store! I thought it was just a fad. :p
 
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I had a 2017 nTB, base model for 8 months. It was dead reliable, keyboard never gave up after months of verbose legal writing. Battery would last the 10 hours if you were reasonable. Speakers were great too.

Actually, as I remember ir, one key or another may have sounded funny at some point - but that was mostly it.
 
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hajime said:
Any other reliability issues besides the keyboard?
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Isn't that enough?


Mark Holmes said:
Right?
Drives me crazy. And Cook was running much of the company in Jobs' last years even - more like 10 years he's been running things, during which Apple has become the most successful company on planet Earth... Give the guy some credit.
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[doublepost=1529641479][/doublepost]I appreciate what you're saying, but building a boat, putting an engine in it, and launching it into the water isn't the same as just steering as it's already floating down stream.
 
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groove-agent said:
Isn't that enough?
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I have talked to several people at Apple Store. Only one admitted that the keyboard has issues. The rest just pretended that there is nothing wrong with the keyboard. When I said many people complained about the keyboard, they usually replied by saying that "I actually like it".
[doublepost=1529642080][/doublepost]I tested a MBP 13" 2017 again. When my thumb was pressing down the trackpad while the index finger was moving to drag an object in Pages, my thumb sensed vibrations from the trackpad. What is that?
 
hajime said:
I have talked to several people at Apple Store. Only one admitted that the keyboard has issues. The rest just pretended that there is nothing wrong with the keyboard.
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I asked an Apple store salesperson the same question and he shyly looked at me and said "I haven't heard of any keyboard problems". There's no doubt he knew better. It felt really shady and I left feeling really disappointed in Apple as a company.

Their staff are probably told to deny any keyboard problems for damage control. Maybe in their minds only after a certain percentage would they constitute it as a failure.

Seriously I would wait until the 2018 and see what happens.
 
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