NEED ADVICE: How should I go about buying a 15" MacBook Pro?

[Hieveryone]

It’s always 15% off

So then my guess it will be $1999? From the new price of $2399?
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Maybe. The check may be cosmetic and cursory and not as detailed as an owner might make. I wouldn't bet on anything.


2017 refurb prices already dropped when the 2018s came out. Their pricing will remain below the 2018 refurb prices when those models hit the refurb store.




Consider that Apple will charge sales tax when ordering from the Apple refurb store. Alternately, you can order from Adorama or B&H at about $150 off retail at the moment, and not pay sales tax unless you're in NY or NJ or your state currently requires/enforces it. Alternately order from Apple's online education store at $150 off, and get free Beats headphones -- which you could resell if you didn't find value in them for yourself.

There's nothing wrong with Apple refurbs, but you have enough other options that IMHO there's not much reason to wait for the refurb store 2018s and zero reason to buy a 2016/2017 at this point.

Well here's the thing, I'm concerned what if it gives problems like the one I got from Best Buy and then what? Would rather stick with Apple directly (or Best Buy)

 

[maerz001]

So then my guess it will be $1999? From the new price of $2399?
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Well here's the thing, I'm concerned what if it gives problems like the one I got from Best Buy and then what? Would rather stick with Apple directly (or Best Buy)

The base model 2017 is now 1909$

 

[Clix Pix]

Why didn’t you go to the Apple store in the first place instead of messing around with Best Buy? Just go to the B&M Apple retail store in your area, buy the base model (or if you want/need something not available at the store, get on the computer and go to the Apple online store and do a CTO), and see how it all works out. If there are problems with the new machine, the one-year warranty, AppleCare and the Genius Bar will take care of the situation. If you are living in an apartment building or somewhere that there is concern about security of the product and a safe delivery of it, arrange to have it delivered to the retail store rather than your home, and you can pick it up there. Nothing complicated about that....

 

[deeddawg]

So then my guess it will be $1999? From the new price of $2399?

*Probably* more like $2039, but yes they tend to be 12-16% off of list price. YMMV, just because Apple did something in the past doesn't mean they necessarily will do the same in the future.

As for timing, it also can vary. A couple of quick search hits:

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...uch-bar-to-refurbished-store-updated.2036200/
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...book-pro-models-to-refurbished-store.2076925/

So March to October and June to October release to refurb timeframes. Maybe the 2018s will hit the refurb store in October, maybe November. Again, it's a guess.

Well here's the thing, I'm concerned what if it gives problems like the one I got from Best Buy and then what? Would rather stick with Apple directly (or Best Buy)

So go with the Apple EDU store as I suggested. $2249 ($150 off) and if you order while the promo is live you get a free pair of beats headphones which you should be able to easily sell for $100 in your pocket if not more. Plus the Apple EDU store has AppleCare+ at $303 ($76 savings). Puts you pretty close to a refurb and you can order it now. https://www.apple.com/us-hed/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro/15-inch
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The base model 2017 is now 1909$

Yes, 2017 refurb prices dropped in July when the 2018's were announced.

 

[nigelbb]

2013 base model on swappa eBay or Craigslist

+1
Until the latest 6-core 2018 MBP there had been no significant CPU performance increase since 2012. The Retina screen is the same for the last five years. I have a 2013 15" rMBP as my only laptop & see no reason to upgrade. It came with 16TB & I have upgraded the 512GB SSUAX to a 1TB SSUBX.

 

[maflynn]

Right now it's $2,399 for a new one I think.

I believe they reduce the price in the neighborhood of 12 to 14%. So a 2,400 dollar laptop will be in the refurb store for about 2,064 to the 2100 range.

 

[Painter2002]

Each to their own, but spending $1700 in 2018 for a three year old computer with a four year old / three-generations-behind 2014 CPU just doesn't make sense to me.

Ports? Depends on your usage and how long you're going to hang onto your old cables. Today it's simple just switch over.

Grab a USBC to microUSB cable for a whopping $7 from Amazon. Or grab a couple USBC to USBA adapters to stick on existing cables for a bank-balance-busting $7 for two from Amazon. USBC to HDMI cables are easy to get, same for USBC to Displayport/mDP cables. Convert the cables you use and you're done, no dongles necessary in your home environment.

Sure, someone who travels to client sites a lot might still need to carry a couple adapters just in case -- but that's no different with a 2015 since it doesn't provide ethernet or displayport or VGA connectors. even the 2015 has no ethernet port or VGA port or displayport -- so a field person would still be carrying dongles with a 2015 model if he or she were to be prepared.

On the flip side, with a 2018 you can do single-cable docking with a USBC or TB3 hub. Use your legacy cables with the dock and have all you stuff with one connector. Including power.

Just my thoughts on this whole ports / dongles stuff. Not the big deal it's made out to be IMHO, excepting perhaps some particular individual circumstances.

I've had a rMB12 for a couple years. I have a little USBC hub that I leave connected to power and a 24" 1080p display to dock with when I wish to. Rarely need USB, but have a little Nando adapter that stays attached to a card reader in my camera kit. While I'd rather the rMB have two USBC ports instead of one headphone and one USBC, the ports this has been a complete non-issue for *my* usage.

I have to agree with everything you have said. Buying a computer with hardware that is 3-4 years old, especially at $1700 ($2000 if you decide to get AppleCare+), isn't the best choice for a long term investment.

The debacle of the keyboards seems to have quieted down now that Apple offers a 4 year repair program for the models most effected by the issue (2016-17 MBPs, not 2018 though), and so far the newest 2018 models haven't had a lot of keyboard issue reports rolling in yet, at least not like the previous years.

Like many other Mac users I had to do a little investing in new USB-C cables and hard drive enclosures, but honestly it doesn't cost that much to convert most of your accessories over and the USB-C hub options are much more plentiful than before. In fact, my biggest complaint is there aren't enough (if any) USB-C hubs with multiple (like 4-5) USB-C female ports. Honestly this is something that is more of an issue to someone who isn't willing to accommodate for change (which respectfully includes a lot of people). Technology is always changing, and this isn't the first time, or the last time we have to change our peripheral accessories to accommodate newer, faster technology.

If I were in the market today for a new MacBook Pro, I'd buy a new 2018 MacBook Pro hands down. It will last plenty long enough, and besides a few software issues that Apple is working on to fix, it seems to be a pretty good machine.