Secondhand MacBook Pro 15" for basic everyday use - what year/model?

[JayM27]

So, I have a MacBook Pro 15" mid 2014 that I've had for a few years that I bought secondhand nearly 4 years ago for general everyday usage - whilst I'm a music producer, this is something that I can use for everything except music usage (i.e. Logic) apart from using it to reference mixes.

I've been experiencing keyboard issues as in some letters not being that responsive and the battery was replaced 16 months ago, but is running low and the speakers are being problematic, with not much sound on the right hand side and the left hand side sounding distorted.

Bottom line is that I think it's time to cut my losses and just get another "old" MacBook Pro. I did get this one with a view to running Logic on it so was mindful of enough USB ports etc., but I think I'll be replacing my main music computer soon (trash can Mac Pro) with something specifically for music usage.

What would people recommend as a cost effective successor to the general usage one I have, that will hopefully be a bit more durable than ths one?

 

[Bigwaff]

Has to be Intel Mac? If not, used M1/M2 MacBook Air. These blow your trash can MP out of the water.

 

[JayM27]

No requirement for it to be Intel Mac - just to stress that this will be replacing my mid 2014 MacBook and not the trash can Mac Pro.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Apple tends to vintage at about year 7... so buy accordingly. If you want about 4 more years of updates, focus on 2022 or newer. If you want 2 more years, you can step back to 2020.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Does it need to have a 15" screen?

And in terms of "more durable than this one", I think you're out of luck

The MBPs up to 2015, before the ill fated TouchBar/Butterfly redesign for 2016+, were some of the most durable MBPs ever

I still use my 2015 15" MBP for travel and it's a bloody tank - Love the thing

I see them for sale around me for literally $100
Personally I'd buy one of those -- pop an NVMe stick in and fire up OCLP and install Sequoia and soldier on

Screens on the mid 2010's MBPs are every bit as good as brand new MBA 15" screens
(I've had them side by side for weeks over this last Christmas)

 

[MajorFubar]

If you do replace with an M* computer (which I strongly advise, because there's no mileage in Intel Macs now) the dilema you will face is it will blow your mac pro out of the water.

 

[Fishrrman]

Apple Refurbished m1pro MacBook Pro 14" (or 16").

MacPro replacement?
Either:
m4pro Mini
or...
m4max Studio (as they say, "coming soon"...)

 

[MBAir2010]

I wanna type:
Buy an accordion, an 8Track mixer and just create your own music!
BUT
they would delete that.
Boy do i miss my Korg KM? from the 1990's that stored music via a midi.

Now fast froward to "5 seconds i loose focus only" life we live n now,
I'm currently using a macbook air 2010 for a freelance design project as they need
art rendered in CYMX and RGB ready files as this laptop will execute that work!
therefore JayM27, see what computer you cn find that will use your desired needs
these Intel  laptops will last and function as the owner allows.

seems to me the owner of the  laptop tends to give up on a device that can fulfill there needs
simply because they feel insecure as they HAFTA upgrade to a new commuter over an over-rated chip.

 

[Gravydog316]

I won a 2010 15" which was great, but then it got stupid with the restart issues. avoid those.

 

[Rusted Eyes]

I still use my 2015 15" MBP for travel and it's a bloody tank - Love the thing

Personally I'd buy one of those -- pop an NVMe stick in and fire up OCLP and install Sequoia and soldier on

turbineseaplane,

I have the same year // model and would like to do as you suggested above, but I'm not understanding what OCLP is. Also, would a NVMe fit without modification? Thanks!

 

[MacFarmer]

M1 or M2 Macbook air - no further questions.