Not happy with recent MBP build quality. Best practices for remote access instead?

[LarTeROn]

I'm not happy with the build quality of recent Macbooks. The TPS62180 is just unacceptable.

But I really want MacOS, so as a workaround I am looking at keeping my very old Macbook and connecting to a new M4 Macmini at home, perhaps via a KVM.

However, beside the obvious drawback of mobile internet lag, I wonder what else I need to think about?

 

[Michael0816]

What is a TPS62180 and why is it "unacceptable"? 🤔

 

[ChrisA]

I use remote access to a headless Mac Mini. The remote mini runs some server apps and I don't need to access it daily but when I do, even using a local wired Ethernet, the lag is very noticeable. This is unavoidable with network bandwidth.

But I'm not buying the build quality issue. You must have very unusual requirements

 

[ab22]

What is a TPS62180 and why is it "unacceptable"? 🤔

Presumably, a voltage regulator chip...

https://www.reddit.com/r/macbookpro/comments/1k30cdp/tps62180_in_macbook_pro_models

 

[BrianBaughn]

I got the memo about the TPS.

 

[LarTeROn]

What is a TPS62180 and why is it "unacceptable"? 🤔

It's a buck converter used in Macbooks.

1) There was a bad batch of them a while ago with lots of Macbooks failing

2) It's used in a way that causes the whole machine to be bricked if it fails

3) It's vulnerable to dust shorting to ground

4) It's vulnerable to humidity

The humidity is the worst one. I live in a very humid climate. I would prefer to have some protection circuits in place.

Edit: the reddit thread is misleading. Nearly always when this part fails it takes the entire logic board with it and all the data, frying the SSD and it's not economical to repair either.

It is not just a matter of one bad batch component, though that was a problem before due to a poor supplier. No, it's _also_ because of a poor design. That poor design is still there on m4.

 

[LarTeROn]

I use remote access to a headless Mac Mini. The remote mini runs some server apps and I don't need to access it daily but when I do, even using a local wired Ethernet, the lag is very noticeable. This is unavoidable with network bandwidth.

But I'm not buying the build quality issue. You must have very unusual requirements

Thanks. That's what I needed to hear.

I'll investigate taping an external drive to the lid of a MBP instead as an additional measure, buy a NAS for home and try to figure out location based automated backup.