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Continue to be impressed - Apple hardware

elgrecomac

elgrecomac

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jan 15, 2008
1,163
162
San Diego
As I sit at home working remotely during these COVID-19 times and I looked at my desktop I see a seven-year-old MacBook Pro working flawlessly and also a 30 inch cinema display that is 12 years old also working flawlessly…
As a former PC owner I figure if I had a Lenovo, Dell or HP laptop computer of the same vintage I would already be on at least my second one and maybe even a third one.
Yes Apple products cost more but if they’re going to last as long is this, the total cost of ownership is much less than a PC. And of course let’s not forget the OS — X versus windows seven or 10.
 
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elgrecomac said:
As I sit at home working remotely during these COVID-19 times and I looked at my desktop I see a seven-year-old MacBook Pro working flawlessly and also a 30 inch cinema display that is 12 years old also working flawlessly…
As a former PC owner I figure if I had a Lenovo, Dell or HP laptop computer of the same vintage I would already be on at least my second one and maybe even a third one.
Yes Apple products cost more but if they’re going to last as long is this, the total cost of ownership is much less than a PC. And of course let’s not forget the OS — X versus windows seven or 10.
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Quality has been a problem more recently with the butterfly keyboard among other things. Older Business Laptops (ThinkPads, Latitudes) were excellent and very reliable, and when anything broke you could fix it. New ones are glorified consumer laptops as style is valued more than durability. Older Apple stuff, though, is great, and very reliable. It seems to be improving
 
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It's really a luck of the draw to be honest. It doesn't matter if your Dell, HP or Apple. Your sourcing your components from Foxconn and a laundry list of other third party suppliers. I've personally had a 2015 MacBook Air fry its logic board and a 2017 MacBook Pro with a dead display, meanwhile my work issued Thinkpad X1 has been rock solid these past 4 years.
 
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Apple has solid quality, I returned two dell XP’s 15s and their absolute trash.
microsoft Surface is the only brand In the same league as Apple, but overpriced for what you get, but not superior.

rather get an iPad + side load custom software, then a laptop.

Apple does it best despite their silly iCloud thats tied into everything without having a seamless option to substitute it for OneDrive, I do have a minor complaint about their screen, but it’s a similar trend in manufacturing today.
 
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Thinkpads from the 2000's are in use today. Half the /thinkpad is people using ancient Thinkpads. I'm using a Dell U2412M monitor from 2012 as well (one of the few 24" 16:10 monitors available so I have 2 at home and 2 at work).

Also, your 7 year old Macbook Pro is working flawlessly because you aren't pushing the limits of what can be computed today.
 
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I've got a 2012 Mac Pro that I use for work. I replaced the graphics card in it last year to upgrade to Mojave, and imported a VM that I built on a 16-inch MacBook Pro so that I can run Catalina in VMWare Fusion. This machine has been rock solid for the time I've used it, and I will hate to see it go one of these days.
 
elgrecomac said:
As I sit at home working remotely during these COVID-19 times and I looked at my desktop I see a seven-year-old MacBook Pro working flawlessly and also a 30 inch cinema display that is 12 years old also working flawlessly…
As a former PC owner I figure if I had a Lenovo, Dell or HP laptop computer of the same vintage I would already be on at least my second one and maybe even a third one.
Yes Apple products cost more but if they’re going to last as long is this, the total cost of ownership is much less than a PC. And of course let’s not forget the OS — X versus windows seven or 10.
Click to expand...
Apple builds a single high-priced class of machines. The likes of Dell builds from expensive to cheap stuff that breaks when you sneeze. It's because the latter is trying to hit every price point to fit every budget. Apple chases the dollars not the volume.
 
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I've bought several Dell computers over the years an all have broken within 5 years regardless of how expensive it cheap they were. As lovely as the new XPS 13" looks I wouldn't but another Dell.

Time will tell whether I have any more luck with Apple !
 
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I’d say the 2010-2015 MBAs were some of the most reliable laptops Apple made this century. My 2010 and 2012 airs are still used today.
 
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I know I won't be using this 2020 MBP 13 inch 7 years from now as its non upgradable. The best we can do as a consumer is open, clean, new thermal paste and new battery. That is if we could be bothered.
 
Got my ol' Mac Book Pro Out Mod 2010 and its beautiful. LOVE the Keyboard . Beautiful Hardware. Soft Touch and feel...

Its Too Bad Apple ****ed up hard NOT SUPPORTING these! I worry to use it as there hasn't been updates to the MacOs in years.

The whole thing so great about Apple is that they patch every week on the iPhone (Ive been told...) and not to have an update is elfin scary! Oh Well, I guess Ill be forced to buy a new one... Oh Well
 
dogslobber said:
Agreed. The 2010 MBA my inlaws use almost seem indestructible. I mean, my MIL who can make macOS kernel panic on command hasn't broken it yet.
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LOL, my wife has a tech black thumb as well. Hasn’t killed the 2012 Air yet; though not for a lack of trying. :)
 
I know the person who bought my Mac Mini 2012 i7 and MBP at that time is still using them, without issue, and neither have needed for anything!


I do wonder whether I should have sold that Mac Mini; the last of the best IMO, fully customisable!
 
Early 2011 13” MacBook Pro base model still running like a champ on High Sierra with upgraded 16g ram and SSD. Still on the original battery too. This had been my DAW computer for years until I finally bought the new 16” last year. Yes the 16” is a lot nicer and a whole lot more powerful, but it’s also running on Catalina which has it’s downsides. That 2011 couldn’t do too many tracks in the DAW but it was rock solid, and for regular tasks it was as snappy as a brand new computer. I love that thing. It’s been donated to a family member in need of a computer. I miss it.

2013 13” air base model also doing great on Mojave, it’s my travel computer. It only has 4g ram but never any issues. Obviously I’m only really doing basic stuff on that one, but I did do some logic sessions in it and it held its own. I debated giving this one away instead of the 2011, but they’re pretty evenly matched in benchmarks and I figured I should keep the more portable one for work while traveling. I love having a laptop I can drop on the couch, throw in a backpack with no case, and even walk around with it open in one hand like I’m holding a serving tray. It’s super durable, zero flex, and super light. I’ll keep it for as long as it functions.
 
fendushi said:
I know I won't be using this 2020 MBP 13 inch 7 years from now as its non upgradable. The best we can do as a consumer is open, clean, new thermal paste and new battery. That is if we could be bothered.
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Opening these computers up is no joke, what should be a 5 minute job on any other laptop can take an experienced user almost an hour just on newer Macs. Not only are they using delicate torx security screws but they are all different sizes and lengths, worst part is the entire logic board needs to be removed just to access the heatsink.
 
sub150 said:
Thinkpads from the 2000's are in use today. Half the /thinkpad is people using ancient Thinkpads. I'm using a Dell U2412M monitor from 2012 as well (one of the few 24" 16:10 monitors available so I have 2 at home and 2 at work).

Also, your 7 year old Macbook Pro is working flawlessly because you aren't pushing the limits of what can be computed today.
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I’m a software developer who DOES push the hardware....but regardless, I appreciate your point of view.
 
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