Macbook Purchase Advice

[Clix Pix]

I went from the 2016 MacBook to the 2017 one, primarily because I could then get 16 GB RAM in it, and also because from everything I had heard, the keyboard was somewhat better. I definitely prefer the 2017 and am glad that I bought it! I had both of them in the house for a few days and was able to informally compare them, with the 2017 coming out ahead in my estimation. For me it was worth going with the 2017.

 

[Mohamed elnamoury]

Hi everybody, i need you advise to choose between these devices with nealry similar price
1)MacBook 2016 MLHF2 - Intel Core M5 1.2 GHz Dual Core, 12 Inch, 512GB SSD, 8GB RAM, English-Arabic Keyboard, macOS, Gold - Middle East Version
2)
Latest Apple MacBook MNYK2 - Intel Core m3, 1.2Ghz Dual Core, 12-Inch Retina, 256GB SSD, 8GB, English Keyboard, Mac OS Sierra, Gold - International Version.

 

[Mike Boreham]

If 256 GB is enough for you get the second one. Everything about the second one is better except 256GB vs 512 GB.

KabyLake M3 processor is faster than the Skylake M5, plus the second one has second generation butterfly keyboard.

256GB vs 512GB is the critical factor.

PS no idea if Midde East vs International, or English Arabic keyboard matters to you...might be important too.

 

[Mohamed elnamoury]

If 256 GB is enough for you get the second one. Everything about the second one is better except 256GB vs 512 GB.

KabyLake M3 processor is faster than the Skylake M5, plus the second one has second generation butterfly keyboard.

256GB vs 512GB is the critical factor.

PS no idea if Midde East vs International, or English Arabic keyboard matters to you...might be important too.

Cheers for your prompt reply.
Do you think the second generation butterfly keyboard has issues with keys replacement? And is there any difference between international verion and middle east one excpet the arabic keyboard??

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

Cheers for your prompt reply.
Do you think the second generation butterfly keyboard has issues with keys replacement? And is there any difference between international verion and middle east one excpet the arabic keyboard??

Hi Mohamed,
Go for the second one - the 2017 M3 - it's beautiful!
The MacBook is chic, stylish and incredible quality. The screen is superb.
For your uses 256GB will be amazing - heck, I had a MacBook for 6 years with 250GB and only filled it because of my large iTunes video library at 150GB. The other 100GB was photos, home videos, business, documents, software, apps etc.
Keyboard wise - Middle East will be arabic keyboard - it will explain all of that I believe on the Apple site when you press the order/buy button etc.
Best of luck with the order and have lots of fun. I'm sure that you'll love it.
My one recommendation would be to buy the 3 year AppleCare if you are offered it as an option.

 

[Mike Boreham]

Cheers for your prompt reply.
Do you think the second generation butterfly keyboard has issues with keys replacement? And is there any difference between international verion and middle east one excpet the arabic keyboard??

My impression is that the second generation keyboard does still have some problems in the MacBook Pros. I have not seen keyboard reliablity complaints about the second gen in 2017 MacBooks.

In general I have not seen many first generation keyboard reliability reports in the 2015/2016 MacBooks either, so it seems the Pros are more vulnerable to keyboard issues.

 

[EugW]

You mentioned getting the 16GB Ram in your 2017 MacBook, do you find it helps? My 2011 MacBook Pro has 8GB so just on ram alone the MacBook would beat it, do wonder how would compare on other specs tho as I brought the 15” Quad core version. With thinking of upgrading in the future I obviously want something faster and worth the investment.

For much of my usage on a laptop, 16 GB doesn't help me over 8 GB. However, if I'm on the road and need to do some more heavy duty work, having over 8 GB can help occasionally. Note though that my MacBook is not my primary machine. On my iMac which is my primary machine, 8 GB is not enough, so I added 16 GB there for a total of 24 GB.

For the MacBook, besides the occasional need for more RAM in 2018, the other reasons I got 16 GB is I didn't want to be stuck 5 years down the line with insufficient memory* (since I keep my laptops a long time), and because I considered using a Windows virtual machine too. If I did start using a Windows VM, I'd allocate 4 GB to the VM.

*For my 2009 MacBook Pro, it started life with 2 GB. It now has 8 GB RAM in it or four times as much! Truthfully, 2 GB back then was only just enough for lighter usage, sort of like 4-6 GB is now, so I might have been better off buying 4 GB up front. OTOH, even if I had gotten 4 GB up front back then, it still wouldn't be enough all these years later obviously. Right now, I'd consider 8 GB entry level, and I find it rather telling that Apple won't sell you any Mac laptop right now with less than 8 GB. Furthermore, nowadays the RAM is not upgradable after the fact.

 

[Mohamed elnamoury]

I am wondering about the intel core m3 dual core, is it good or should i look for quad core???

 

[EugW]

I am wondering about the intel core m3 dual core, is it good or should i look for quad core???

Quad core MacBook won’t come until 2019.

 

[Mohamed elnamoury]

Hi dears, i bought macbook latest version but when i checked the serial number for warranty on apple site, they repeatly said invalid number.
What does this mean??

 

[Mike Boreham]

Hi dears, i bought macbook latest version but when i checked the serial number for warranty on apple site, they repeatly said invalid number.
What does this mean??

Most likely possibilities based on my experience:

1. You are misreading one of the characters eg "0" for O" or "1" for"I"

2. The Apple Support site has misbehaved for me in the past (but not had that particular problem).

There are other places where you can check Apple serial numbers on line eg EveryMac. See what they say.

 

[Clix Pix]

Where did you buy the machine? Online, through eBay or locally in person at a retail store or through a Craigslist transaction? The source of the laptop may be problematic -- for instance, if the machine were actually stolen, that may have been reported to Apple.

 

[Mike Boreham]

Where are you reading the serial number from?

...on the back of the machine?

...from "About this Mac" ?

...maybe on the box?

Are these the same on your machine?

 

[Mohamed elnamoury]

Most likely possibilities based on my experience:

1. You are misreading one of the characters eg "0" for O" or "1" for"I"

2. The Apple Support site has misbehaved for me in the past (but not had that particular problem).

There are other places where you can check Apple serial numbers on line eg EveryMac. See what they say.

You are right, i was misreading the serial number O for 0

 

[Mohamed elnamoury]

Hi every body, what is the best case cover for macbook 12 in terms of protection and likely to be good looking???

 

[Mike Boreham]

Hi every body, what is the best case cover for macbook 12 in terms of protection and likely to be good looking???

Are you referring to a hardshell case?
Assuming yes, I have tried various of these in the past. Although still usable, they eventually all crack in the corners, but the best I have come across in terms of fit, finish and appearance is the Moshi.

Logic says that such cases should impact cooling, but my attempt as quantifying this by running the Cinebench test continuously with the Moshi on and off was not conclusive, so I think the effect is less than might be expected.

Some of the very small USB-C/USB-A adapters like this one foul on the bottom case, and I had to trim a bit of the case away to enable it to seat properly.

In the 20 months I owned my MacBook I mostly used it without the Moshi, due to concerns about cooling and because it reduces the aesthetic appeal. When I sold it after 20 months of daily use the machine was pristine, except for shine on the keyboard keys. I travelled quite a lot with it in a shoulder bag, but I took care to avoid contact with other objects.

 

[wowee]

Hi , many thanks for being in the forum.
I am willing to buy macbook 12 inch soon and i am undecided which is the best, 2015 model with 500 gb hard disk or 2017 new model with 256 gb.
Kind regards
Mohamed

Ive had both. 2015 model SUCKS. Night and day Difference.

 

[Mohamed elnamoury]

Ive had both. 2015 model SUCKS. Night and day Difference.

Excellent and what is your experience in hard shell case???

 

[Clix Pix]

I use a soft-sided InCase case for traveling and such, and I have a fairly largish messenger bag for carrying. Actually, if need be, my MacBook also will fit in the bag I use for my iPad, but the other solution provides better protection and is just as easy. I have never liked the idea of hard shell cases and having something on the computer all the time; they take away from the elegant, sleek looks that Apple designed and I always wonder about the possibility of scratching the computer when trying to put the hard case on or removing it. I also would be concerned about heat issues, too, especially with a fanless machine.

 

[Mohamed elnamoury]

Are you referring to a hardshell case?
Assuming yes, I have tried various of these in the past. Although still usable, they eventually all crack in the corners, but the best I have come across in terms of fit, finish and appearance is the Moshi.

Logic says that such cases should impact cooling, but my attempt as quantifying this by running the Cinebench test continuously with the Moshi on and off was not conclusive, so I think the effect is less than might be expected.

Some of the very small USB-C/USB-A adapters like this one foul on the bottom case, and I had to trim a bit of the case away to enable it to seat properly.

In the 20 months I owned my MacBook I mostly used it without the Moshi, due to concerns about cooling and because it reduces the aesthetic appeal. When I sold it after 20 months of daily use the machine was pristine, except for shine on the keyboard keys. I travelled quite a lot with it in a shoulder bag, but I took care to avoid contact with other objects.

Have you tried the armor case before,i think it got protection and fancy design at the same time, what do you think?

 

[EugW]

This is what I bought. CAD$15 on eBay.

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Rubberized-...-NEW-/391530043849?hash=item5b290259c9&_uhb=1

Works very well. Main downside is it adds a bit of weight, and I'm not a huge fan of space grey.

 

[c0ppo]

I dislike those armor cases, especially when we are talking about something like a thin and light Macbook. It defeats the purpose of rMB. I use my MB daily, and I really don't take any special care of it. So far 0 scratches, dents, or anything. Still looks like brand new.

Except for the keyboard, spacebar is starting to die on me. But Apple Care will take care of that.

 

[EugW]

I dislike those armor cases, especially when we are talking about something like a thin and light Macbook. It defeats the purpose of rMB. I use my MB daily, and I really don't take any special care of it. So far 0 scratches, dents, or anything. Still looks like brand new.

Except for the keyboard, spacebar is starting to die on me. But Apple Care will take care of that.

One big benefit of the 12" MacBook is that it has a small footprint. One of the biggest annoyances I had with my 13" MacBook Pro was the larger footprint, which made using it in economy class on the plane quite annoying.

With that armor case, the footprint of the 12" MacBook is unchanged.

 

[Mike Boreham]

Have you tried the armor case before,i think it got protection and fancy design at the same time, what do you think?

No, I haven't tried those.

Is this what you mean ? Looks hideous, but if you have to carry it around on a building site might be perfect!

 

[aleni]

Mohamed, please get yourself the 2016 macbook with core m5 at the minimum.

Don’t settle for the 2015 even though it’s got a big discount because it’s slow.

2016 core m5 at the bare minimum, or 2017 core m3 would be much better because the 2017 core m3 is faster than the 2016 core m7.