should I re-buy MBP w/ touch bar 13" again!!?? (please I really need the advice)

[Alexfic]

I am a uni student (nursing), and my current laptop is a 2011 MacBook Pro 15 inch. It can no longer keep up with my uni workload. I bought a new MacBook Pro with touch bar 13-inch full spec; I was really happy with it except the battery life was highly variable and potentially unrliable. I refunded that new MBP to buy some time, now I will either buy a full spec MacBook air or I will buy the same MBP again (silly I know). I will not be using any intensive applications however I also hate anything like my current really slow old MBP. (I usually have a lot of internet tabs open). What do you suggest?? (please I really need the advice)

There are two arguments,
1-some people say MBA is already dead due to potentially closing the line
2- some say that as this new MBP is the 1st gen then there are some hardware issues which should be addressed in future series which cannot be solved by updates at the moment(kaby lake CPU, tailored battery to the bottom of the case, new energy efficient display )the problem is that I cannot wait for another 10 months as i need a device ASAP.
thanks for any replies

 

[agaskew]

Perhaps your 2011 MBP can be upgraded. In particular if it doesnt have an SSD installed, that would bring big benefits. Also adding RAM will help.

 

[maflynn]

buy a full spec MacBook air or I will buy the same MBP again (silly I know).

What demands are you putting on your 2011 MBP that is making it not work, by knowing what you run, and how you use it, then a recommendation on what will work, can be made more accurately.

I wouldn't buy an MBA at this point, partly, because it hasn't been upgraded and its not that powerful of a machine. Yes, there's also the rumors of Apple killing it off as well.

As for the new MBP, has the battery issue been sorted out? IF not, then you'd be back where you were when you returned it.

 

[tCC_]

Or buy the 13 inch pro without touch bar, I'm doing the same.

Using an 2012 air right now, returned the 13 inch pro with touch bar because of the keyboard problems and battery life, but I think I'm gonna buy the nTB, almost all the pro's of the 2016 lineup exept touch id and a slower cpu (=better battery life).

My 2012 air is still working great for the things I do, but I want a better screen, better sound, usb-c, a larger touchpad and space gray

O and the touch bar is useless for me and very annoying, I frequently hit the esc button when typing :S

 

[Alexfic]

What demands are you putting on your 2011 MBP that is making it not work, by knowing what you run, and how you use it, then a recommendation on what will work, can be made more accurately.

I wouldn't buy an MBA at this point, partly, because it hasn't been upgraded and its not that powerful of a machine. Yes, there's also the rumors of Apple killing it off as well.

As for the new MBP, has the battery issue been sorted out? IF not, then you'd be back where you were when you returned it.

firstly it has become really slow and secondly the battery life is even worse than the new MBP with touch bar ( if I upgrade it and all that then the battery life would be even worse, the other option would be changing the battery too, but then that would cost too much with the same old motherboard ; one of the other main problems is that this laptop weighs 2.7Kg which is horrible if you go to uni everyday!!) I would really hope apple making an announcement of whether they would put up an update which would fix the issues or they would have an early lunch of 2017 MBP (99.99% not the case

by the way thanks for all the responses
[doublepost=1483968072][/doublepost]what if I buy the 2015 MBP 13 inch , as it would be the middle world !!
it has the decent battery life of actual 10 hours, also it has the retina screen (better than MBA screen ) and the forced touch track pad (not on MBA) and the keyboard which I love. what do you think??

 

[k2743]

I am a uni student (nursing), and my current laptop is a 2011 MacBook Pro 15 inch. It can no longer keep up with my uni workload. I bought a new MacBook Pro with touch bar 13-inch full spec; I was really happy with it except the battery life was highly variable and potentially unrliable. I refunded that new MBP to buy some time, now I will either buy a full spec MacBook air or I will buy the same MBP again (silly I know). I will not be using any intensive applications however I also hate anything like my current really slow old MBP. (I usually have a lot of internet tabs open). What do you suggest?? (please I really need the advice)

There are two arguments,
1-some people say MBA is already dead due to potentially closing the line
2- some say that as this new MBP is the 1st gen then there are some hardware issues which should be addressed in future series which cannot be solved by updates at the moment(kaby lake CPU, tailored battery to the bottom of the case, new energy efficient display )the problem is that I cannot wait for another 10 months as i need a device ASAP.
thanks for any replies

I was in the same position as you- coming from a 2010 MacBook Pro 15 inch. Also a uni student. I could not wait until the next update for a new one so this wasn't an option for me either. I purchased a 13 inch touch bar as there was a good deal going, but this was a bit of a rushed decision. I started to read up about the terrible battery life, and also decided I'd prefer a traditional looking laptop and I find the touch bar a bit gimmicky. I also thought the 16GB RAM upgrade would be beneficial. So, I took this one back (never opened it or anything) and spend the next 2 weeks trying to decide what to do. I eventually settled on ordering the Non-touchbar 13 inch with 16GB of RAM, was considering the processor upgrade but from reading up it seemed like it was not worth it. I am already very happy that I didn't settle for the touch bar version, the battery life reports on it are awful whereas owners of the Non-touchbar model report getting around 10 hours. And as I said, not having the touch bar is actually a bonus to me! Should be receiving it some time next week. But I spent a long time deciding and I feel like this was the right decision.

If I were you I'd go for the same. nTB MBP 13 inch, 16GB RAM and whatever storage you want (I got 512GB). The MacBook Airs look so outdated next to the new MBP and will only get moreso. Once you see the beautiful new MBP screen the MBA one will look awful to you.

Another possible option would be to get a 2015 MBP. But I just love the sleek design of the new one, and space grey looks beautiful.

 

[capathy21]

Another possible option would be to get a 2015 MBP. But I just love the sleek design of the new one, and space grey looks beautiful.

This is what I was going to suggest too. If you are considering the Air, why not consider the 2015 rMBP? Far better display than the Air and cheaper than the 2016 models (by a lot if you find a refurb or used model).

 

[iasix]

I went from the nTB to the TB and back.

I loved the TB, but even after exchanging it, the battery life is max 6 hours with the same usage as the nTB (10+ hours for me). Typing this, happily, from my nTB without worrying about the battery life. No noticeable difference in performance.

 

[anthony13]

I would take 'what people are saying' out of it, and decide for your self. I'm sure a loaded 13 blew the pants off your 2011 in terms of performance. That being said if you're saying you don't need any intensive programs maybe a MacBook is enough for you. Maxing out a MacBook Pro for general internet use might be considered a bit extreme but I understand the need for a fast machine

 

[k2743]

This is what I was going to suggest too. If you are considering the Air, why not consider the 2015 rMBP? Far better display than the Air and cheaper than the 2016 models (by a lot if you find a refurb or used model).

Yes I would definitely recommend a 2015 MBP over the Air. So, whatever you do, don't get the Air (unless budget is a constraint, but I gathered it wasn't in your case). Either get a 2015 MBP or a 2016 MBP nTB (as a uni student like myself I'm sure you'll really appreciate the battery life compared to the TB model).

 

[Alexfic]

Yes I would definitely recommend a 2015 MBP over the Air. So, whatever you do, don't get the Air (unless budget is a constraint, but I gathered it wasn't in your case). Either get a 2015 MBP or a 2016 MBP nTB (as a uni student like myself I'm sure you'll really appreciate the battery life compared to the TB model).

actually I am leaning towards the 2015 MBP but I just couldn't find any forums about its battery life (just to confirm that i can actually get 10 hours out of it)
hey k2743 can I ask what makes you to be highly against the Macbook air ?? (just out of curiosity)

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"what if I buy the 2015 MBP 13 inch , as it would be the middle world !!"

Yes, that would be a good compromise.

The 2015 model MBPros remain highly viable laptops. They're still in the active product lineup (although Apple keeps them hidden until you hit the "buy" button).

I bought one myself. Works with all my stuff (withOUT dongles!), better keyboard, no battery problems, excellent price.

 

[k2743]

actually I am leaning towards the 2015 MBP but I just couldn't find any forums about its battery life (just to confirm that i can actually get 10 hours out of it)
hey k2743 can I ask what makes you to be highly against the Macbook air ?? (just out of curiosity)

Because they're less powerful, I've always hated the look of them and especially now they look terribly outdated, the screen is non-retina, and Apple are supposedly phasing them out. I'm not 'highly against' MBAs, it's just the MBP 2015 or 2016 are obviously much better alternatives if you can afford them, without question. MBAs are just more affordable. Go with a 2015 or 2016 pro. If I went from my 2010 15 inch MBP to a MBA I'd feel like I was going backwards. I can't wait to have a beautiful sharp retina screen.

Don't go back to the 2016 touch bar model; you had doubts and you took it back for a reason. Don't buy it again, the battery life will still be terrible.

 

[Naimfan]

Buy a 2015 and invest the savings in a retirement plan.

 

[bopajuice]

I am a uni student (nursing), and my current laptop is a 2011 MacBook Pro 15 inch. It can no longer keep up with my uni workload. I bought a new MacBook Pro with touch bar 13-inch full spec; I was really happy with it except the battery life was highly variable and potentially unrliable. I refunded that new MBP to buy some time, now I will either buy a full spec MacBook air or I will buy the same MBP again (silly I know). I will not be using any intensive applications however I also hate anything like my current really slow old MBP. (I usually have a lot of internet tabs open). What do you suggest?? (please I really need the advice)

There are two arguments,
1-some people say MBA is already dead due to potentially closing the line
2- some say that as this new MBP is the 1st gen then there are some hardware issues which should be addressed in future series which cannot be solved by updates at the moment(kaby lake CPU, tailored battery to the bottom of the case, new energy efficient display )the problem is that I cannot wait for another 10 months as i need a device ASAP.
thanks for any replies

I was going to say MPA until you commented it was DOA due to closing the line. I cant help but wonder why that would matter? Computers are always being updated or changed, even though in Apple's case it sometimes takes years.

I have an early 2015 MPA with the i5, 8gb of ram and a 256gb hard drive. I easily get 10 to 12 hours of battery life or more, each and every day. No issues at all. I don't even bother taking my charger with me in the field. I use it all day to write reports, edit video, check mail, upload video, conduct internet research, and respond to comments here! Never had a battery go dead on me.

The only thing I could say in defense of the MBP is the screen resolution is better and love the new keyboard, yet some hate it. I think the MPA keyboard works great, but who knows which is better. Again even if the MPA line is discontinued, it should not dissuade you from buying one, unless your main concern is resale. Sounds like you are more concerned with getting your work done and having enough battery life. Good luck in your decision.

 

[capathy21]

actually I am leaning towards the 2015 MBP but I just couldn't find any forums about its battery life (just to confirm that i can actually get 10 hours out of it)
hey k2743 can I ask what makes you to be highly against the Macbook air ?? (just out of curiosity)

I just picked up a 2015 13" retina MacBook Pro base model (2.7/8/128) used on my local Craigslist for $650 USD. It's probably the best deal I have ever scored on an electronic device. I had the 2013 MacBook Air 13" and also had a 2013 retina MacBook Pro and for me, the battery life of this 2015 pro is right on par with my 2013 13" Air. I don't take a charger with me when I leave the house. I charge it overnight and it last all day. Multiple browser tabs, music, videos, 5-7 programs open on average.

As far as why I don't recommend an Air.(I know you asked someone else but I'm butting in, sorry!) I'll start by saying that the MB Air was/is my favorite MacBook of all time. I loved the design, the weight, the battery life, the tapered front(some hate it). I loved everything about that machine except the display. It downright awful. Even compared to my old Dell bargain bin laptop from 2012, the display is horrible. Its not just the resolution, it's the TN panels they use. Bad viewing angles and color representation. Some people don't mind the display at all but as someone who has experienced a Retina display on a MacBook, I couldn't go back to the Air display.

Now that the 2016 MacBooks are out, you can get a 2015 for about the same price as an Air. If you aren't comfortable with buying used, try to find a refurb from Apple. With the battery improvements on the 2015 MacBook Pro, I don't see any real advantages left for the Air, especially considering the display quality. Oh and force touch is just awesome for me. Now that I am used to it, I'm really glad I didn't get a 2014 model.

 

[luminouslight]

I say go for the 13" tb. It's easily my favorite computer I've ever owned. The new screen is just gorgeous it's much brighter and has less glare which is a plus for me since I use it a lot out in the sun. The keyboard which felt weird at first, now I can't imagine using the old "spongey" kind on the older MacBooks. Just my 2 cents.

 

[montanaco]

If you don't need anything too taxing I'd recommend going with the nTB. If you want some extra bells and whistles, get the TB MBP again. Most battery issues seem software related as I'm getting pretty consistent battery life now on my 13" tbMBP.