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How often do you upgrade your Macbook pro?

saxman211

saxman211

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 12, 2010
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How often do you guys upgrade your macbook pros? I just got a new one for the first time in 9 years and know I waited too long. On my old one, I can no longer check gmail, safari barely works, and it's just ULTRA, ULTRA slow. So I need good advice on how to do this better next time.. I definitely won't wait 9 yrs... That's for sure.. What's your advice?
 
Depends on the evolution of the MBP and processors and your needs.

I've just got a new MBP which is nearly 6 years to the day from my 2012 machine. The 2012 is going to the wife, its still feels quick (better than be current Lenovo works laptop), can cope with everything I throw at it and hasn't missed a beat once.

I might wait the same amount of time with this one who knows I don't have a fixed date just when I feel now is the time for me.
 
Bought my first one in 2010 and my current one in 2014. Might upgrade this year, not sure yet.
 
2011 here. Wanted to upgrade this year but I am waiting till all issues are resolved because I only have Authorized Service Centers where I live and I don’t want to be dealing with them in any sort of repairs.
 
I tend to go upgrade systems every 2-3 years. By then usually there has been enough change to warrant going through the hassles of upgrading.
 
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M.Rizk said:
2011 here. Wanted to upgrade this year but I am waiting till all issues are resolved because I only have Authorized Service Centers where I live and I don’t want to be dealing with them in any sort of repairs.
Click to expand...

Having just moved from the 2012 to a 2018 2.2 just do it, no whine here, no speaker problems absolutely stunning performance and the Touch Bar is great, really just do it.
 
I have a 2012 going strong. I expect another 5 years or so out of this machine, assuming the battery does not give up its ghost.
 
saxman211 said:
How often do you guys upgrade your macbook pros? I just got a new one for the first time in 9 years and know I waited too long. On my old one, I can no longer check gmail, safari barely works, and it's just ULTRA, ULTRA slow. So I need good advice on how to do this better next time.. I definitely won't wait 9 yrs... That's for sure.. What's your advice?
Click to expand...

Why can't you check your email?
 
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iKrivetko said:
Bought my first one in 2010 and my current one in 2014. Might upgrade this year, not sure yet.
Click to expand...

What is making you unsure? I also have a 2014 and its going strong so I'm having a hard time deciding as well.
 
I just bought my second MacBook Pro yesterday. I bought my previous machine in 2015. It's still going strong except for a couple minor issues with the screen (backlight bleed in the corner from dropping it one time, plus a small chip near the center of the screen from I don't know what). I didn't really need a new computer, but I was enticed by the new machines and got a pay raise at work so...
 
Depends I suppose. I had a 15 2010 MBP. Then upgraded in 2016 for the 13 touch bar MBP. And well... The display stopped working, and to fix it would be 600 bucks. So I figure, why not get an upgrade. Waiting on my 2018 2.2 MBP.
 
2009 iMac > 2013 MacBook Pro > 2018 MacBook Pro

Every 4/5 years for me. I just buy when the one I'm using can no longer take what I throw at it, which isn't much, fortunately.
 
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Upgraded from a mid-2009 13" MBP. It is suprisingly still very usable for tasks like browsing the web, using Microsoft Office or writing E-Mails (upgraded it to 8GB, replaced the DVD-Drive with an SSD and replaced the battery 2 years ago). The main reason for me to upgrade was photo editing which could be done (even in LR 6) but was becoming increasinly annyoing.

Had a 2006 MB before that where wifi wouldn't work anymore so I upgraded only 3 years later.
 
Since the future is uncertain, you'll have to determine yourself if:

- your machine still does everything you need it to do
- the new model is a big enough upgrade
- financial aspects make sense

My dad also used his MBP 15" for 8 years and upgraded today to the 2018 15". The old model has been "feeling too old" for over a year, but now that the keyboard gave problems (irony considering he's upgrading to a keyboard-gate era machine?) he was ultimately forced into buying a new one.
 
I aim to upgrade every 2.5 years, because that way I can sell it with 6 months AppleCare still on it and that helps me get a better price. However my current one is 4 years old because I didnt' want the 2016/2017 models at all.
 
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When 2 or 3 items in the specifications doubles from my current one - that's when I buy. e.g.:
  • 8Gb -> 16Gb RAM
  • 2 core -> 4 core
  • Hard Disk -> Solid State
  • 256Gb -> 512Gb
  • Normal LCD to Retina LCD (not technically doubled on MBP)
 
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I can't remember my entire purchase history but I was average 3 or 4 years between models, then I got the 2012 rMBP and that was the very best laptop I ever owned. I just replaced it for my 2018 model. I hope to get at least 5 years out of this bad boy.
 
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AdamSeen said:
When 2 or 3 items in the specifications doubles from my current one - that's when I buy. e.g.:
  • 8Gb -> 16Gb RAM
  • 2 core -> 4 core
  • Hard Disk -> Solid State
  • 256Gb -> 512Gb
  • Normal LCD to Retina LCD (not technically doubled on MBP)
Click to expand...

Same.
I started out with a 2006 MacBook, upgraded to a MacBook Pro in late 2008. Upgraded in 2011 with the jump to Quad Core and 16GB. So now's the time again to upgrade to 6 core and 32GB.
 
PBG3 ("Pismo"): Jan 2000
(PB12": October 2014 - sold since it was running too hot all the time)
PB17": April 2005 - still in used weekly
MBP17: April 2009 - still in used weekly
mba11": November 2014 - used daily
(used mac mini qc 2012 with 24" antiglare screen: August 2017 - used daily)

...and now? I will buy Apple stock instead, my needs are covered for the moment.
 
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I’d say, “Upgrade only as needed.” Does it do what you need it to? Is it stable? If yes to both, then don’t buy a new one unless you *really* want it. We pay a large premium for these machines, and your money can be used elsewhere, even if it’s for retirement.
 
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saxman211 said:
How often do you guys upgrade your macbook pros? I just got a new one for the first time in 9 years and know I waited too long. On my old one, I can no longer check gmail, safari barely works, and it's just ULTRA, ULTRA slow. So I need good advice on how to do this better next time.. I definitely won't wait 9 yrs... That's for sure.. What's your advice?
Click to expand...

I have a mid-2014 that I recently had the swollen battery replaced and doubled the SSD size using an OWC Aura Pro X. I'll be good for a while. It's running macOS Mojave beta 5.
 
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