Did I make the wrong decision buying this MBP?

[MK25toLife]

Hello,

I have been using a MBP for work and home (both early-2015 retina) for the last few years and have gotten very comfortable with it. I had been using an iMac for 6-7 years before that.

Anyways, I just bought the MBP below for $2,500 mainly b/c it seemed to be an incredible deal and it was maxed out, particularly SSD @ 1TB.

I admit, I didn't do much research b/c I figured this would just be an upgrade in terms from what I'm already using at home/work. To my surprise, when searching the forum, I am seeing a lot of issues with keyboard, touch bar and battery life. I was originally fine with my current MBP except the SSD size is too small and I need 1 TB for all my pictures and music. I would have been happy to just replace the SSD but that's not really an option.

So I guess my question is what do you think of what I've ordered? I want this to last me 5-6 years if at all possible. With all the issues that people seem to have, is 5-6 years a even possible?

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

Mine's just as good as the day I brought it with zero issues so far after a year. Of course if you look on a MacBook Pro help forum you're more likely to find problems with it, depends on whether you believe Apple will fix any potential issues or not. Any computer can have potential issues though and anything can blow up after a year, it's the nature of complicated electronic devices.

And now let the floodgates of whingegate open up...

 

[Pangalactic]

What do you mean by last? I had a Sony Vaio that lasted over 5 years, custom built Clevo over 5 years, Lenovo w series over 5 years and so on. Unless you spill coke on them, most laptops last forever.

If you're talking about speed and performance - same thing, it will deteriorate over time equally for all laptops, there is very little difference for what you pick.

 

[Naimfan]

If you use anything that will heat it up, return it for a 2017.

Every 2016 I've had has had its keyboard fail; from what I've observed/read/heard it is most likely heat related.

 

[4RunnerHeaven]

I just bought the 2017 modem with the 560 and 512 gb ssd but same specs as yours for $2499 from BH. I personally would have stayed away from the 2016 with the keyboard issues.

 

[lambertjohn]

Hello,

I have been using a MBP for work and home (both early-2015 retina) for the last few years and have gotten very comfortable with it. I had been using an iMac for 6-7 years before that.

Anyways, I just bought the MBP below for $2,500 mainly b/c it seemed to be an incredible deal and it was maxed out, particularly SSD @ 1TB.

I admit, I didn't do much research b/c I figured this would just be an upgrade in terms from what I'm already using at home/work. To my surprise, when searching the forum, I am seeing a lot of issues with keyboard, touch bar and battery life. I was originally fine with my current MBP except the SSD size is too small and I need 1 TB for all my pictures and music. I would have been happy to just replace the SSD but that's not really an option.

So I guess my question is what do you think of what I've ordered? I want this to last me 5-6 years if at all possible. With all the issues that people seem to have, is 5-6 years a even possible?

Why buy a new MBP at all?? Why not just get 5-6 years out of your 2015 MBP?

 

[MK25toLife]

Why buy a new MBP at all?? Why not just get 5-6 years out of your 2015 MBP?

Main reason is because I need more SSD space, that’s pretty much it. I don’t want to hook up anything to it externally to get more space either.

I am now considering canceling my order and going for a 13” mid-2017 version w/no touch bar (see below). I am a little concerned about the late-2016 version having some issues that the 2017 version won’t have (keyboard and speed). Are these concerns legitimate or no? The price is pretty much identical.

 

[jerry70450]

Main reason is because I need more SSD space, that’s pretty much it. I don’t want to hook up anything to it externally to get more space either.

I am now considering canceling my order and going for a 13” mid-2017 version w/no touch bar (see below). I am a little concerned about the late-2016 version having some issues that the 2017 version won’t have (keyboard and speed). Are these concerns legitimate or no? The price is pretty much identical.

I'm not sure but I think you can upgrade SSDs on the rMBPs

 

[Ambrosia7177]

You just bought a MBP that cannot be upgraded. And your hard-drive is part of the logic board. (Hope you don't have any trade secrets on it when you go to sell it.)

I just bought a second refurbished early 2015 Retina from Macs4u.com for those very reasons!

The direction Apple is going is criminal... 😳

 

[jerry70450]

You might wanna consider adding apple care. Will save you $$ when they keyboard breaks. Or use a keyboard cover or something similar and protect it as much as you can. Everything else should be fine.

 

[Queen6]

Main reason is because I need more SSD space, that’s pretty much it. I don’t want to hook up anything to it externally to get more space either.

I am now considering canceling my order and going for a 13” mid-2017 version w/no touch bar (see below). I am a little concerned about the late-2016 version having some issues that the 2017 version won’t have (keyboard and speed). Are these concerns legitimate or no? The price is pretty much identical.

If upgrading the SSD is a priority then your looking at the wrong notebook and provider as nothing Apple currently produces is realistically upgradable...

Q-6

 

[sauria]

You can upgrade ssd in 2015 MBP.

 

[mj_]

If it helps you could in theory upgrade the SSD on your 2015 MacBook Pro for $700 (OWC Aura Pro X on macsales.com) instead. The biggest issue with the 2016 model is its incredibly unreliable keyboard. Personally, I think it's awesome to type on and I got used to it pretty fast. I am now typing faster on that new keyboard than on the old ones. The 2017 keyboard is supposed to be a bit better and a bit more reliable but it's not perfect just yet. I think the butterfly switches need two to three more revisions before they become usable.

Thus, depending on what you're doing with it you should expect to run into keyboard trouble sooner or later with this particular laptop.

 

[SteveJUAE]

This seems an expensive option just to upgrade a SSD and you have not had your norm 5 or 6 years out of your current rMBP that you could possibly upgrade

Personally I am all for replacing every 2 or 3 years especially with newer thiner breed of laptops 2 in 1s etc being even harder to repair or service

I think the odds are worse now in getting 5 or 6 years without some major issue and Macs fare no better than any other like for like premium brand in this respect. Given newer build techniques tighter design tolerances etc.

A.C. is also only going to cover half of your expected life and not where your risk is greatest especially with cost of repairs are more likely in the $700 range for the newer mbp vs $400 on your older one

Check that your also not over spending / specing as often there are many pro,s to getting 2 laptops over 6 years both in terms of staying current and with warranty

 

[Zigman]

Hello,

I have been using a MBP for work and home (both early-2015 retina) for the last few years and have gotten very comfortable with it. I had been using an iMac for 6-7 years before that.

Anyways, I just bought the MBP below for $2,500 mainly b/c it seemed to be an incredible deal and it was maxed out, particularly SSD @ 1TB.

I admit, I didn't do much research b/c I figured this would just be an upgrade in terms from what I'm already using at home/work. To my surprise, when searching the forum, I am seeing a lot of issues with keyboard, touch bar and battery life. I was originally fine with my current MBP except the SSD size is too small and I need 1 TB for all my pictures and music. I would have been happy to just replace the SSD but that's not really an option.

So I guess my question is what do you think of what I've ordered? I want this to last me 5-6 years if at all possible. With all the issues that people seem to have, is 5-6 years a even possible?

I have been using the 2016 MBP (full spec'd) since it came out. I would just get AppleCare and enjoy it, unless you can get a similarly spec'd 2017 model.

I had an issue with the caps lock key. I took it to the Apple store, they sent it in for repair, and they not only replaced the keyboard with the newer 2017 version they also replaced the battery (not sure exactly why but can't complain). Works like new.

 

[Naimfan]

Main reason is because I need more SSD space, that’s pretty much it. I don’t want to hook up anything to it externally to get more space either.

I am now considering canceling my order and going for a 13” mid-2017 version w/no touch bar (see below). I am a little concerned about the late-2016 version having some issues that the 2017 version won’t have (keyboard and speed). Are these concerns legitimate or no? The price is pretty much identical.

You know what? Keep your order. If the keyboard does become problematic, let Apple replace the top case/keyboard once, and if happens again, ask that they replace the machine - they'll swap it for a 2017. I had a Late 2016 that went through two top case/keyboard replacements, a cleaning, and remote Apple diagnostics before it was swapped out for a 3.1/16/1 TB/560 2017 model, which has been fine under the same workload that appears to have broken the 2016.

 

[leman]

To my surprise, when searching the forum, I am seeing a lot of issues with keyboard, touch bar and battery life.

What's relevant is your experience and not what people write on the forums 😉 Keyboard does seem to have a higher chance of failure, but we don't have numbers. Could be 100%, could 5%.

So I guess my question is what do you think of what I've ordered? I want this to last me 5-6 years if at all possible. With all the issues that people seem to have, is 5-6 years a even possible?

As with any other laptop, 5-6 years is a matter of luck. We can only confidently say that your laptop is definitely going to last as long as your warranty is valid. A chance of a modern, good quality laptop of lasting 5-6 yers is somewhere in the ballpark of 60%. My recommendation with this things is to do proper budgeting and look at these things as wearables.

 

[maflynn]

So I guess my question is what do you think of what I've ordered?

I recommend cancelling the order, continuing to use the 2015 MBP, and wait to see what Apple does to address the high failure rates of the keyboard.

You can upgrade the SSD internally, though its not really easy but it is possible. You can buy a Transcend Jet Drive and replace the SSD, or you can go the external drive and get a Samsung T5 USB, its small and light and should hold you over.

 

[mj_]

You know what? Keep your order. If the keyboard does become problematic, let Apple replace the top case/keyboard once, and if happens again, ask that they replace the machine - they'll swap it for a 2017. I had a Late 2016 that went through two top case/keyboard replacements, a cleaning, and remote Apple diagnostics before it was swapped out for a 3.1/16/1 TB/560 2017 model, which has been fine under the same workload that appears to have broken the 2016.

You can't just ask Apple to replace your MacBook Pro for a 2017 model. I mean you can, but it'll be pointless. They insist on three repair attempts before even considering to replace the unit so you might end up like me: purchased in early 2017, first top case replacement in July 2017 (to my surprise I received another 2016 keyboard), second repair attempt in December 2017 (to my surprise they didn't replace the keyboard this time but "reseated some keycaps" and "ran the hardware test"), third repair attempt in December 2017 (I'm sending it back in for a full top case replacement since the problem obviously hasn't been addressed by "running the hardware test"). And Apple still refuses to replace the unit or, what I would much rather prefer because I have at this point replaced this PoS with a 2015 model, take it back for a full refund.

What I'm saying is yes, you can always contact Apple but you absolutely HAVE to factor in the cost of AC+ or AC for this laptop because of the high keyboard failure probability. Out of warranty, a top case replacement will cost north of $700.