Torn: 2017 MBpro 15" or 2015 MBPro 15"

[bohdanz]

I have a headache after looking at dozens of youtube reviews and comparisons...
hate the idea of a lot of usb-c connectors and no sd slot

Main uses: writing; photo editing; video editing

Can get B&H Photo's sale price on 2017 MBPro 15" that is about the same at the 2015 MBPro Retina 15".....

for Photoshop; Word; FCPX.... which would you go for?
Thanks

 

[rawweb]

I think it's a no brainer, I would personally go for the 2017. But it's just my opinion. If your digging for peoples opinions, it will be wide and varied. There are a lot of posts on this very topic if you do a little digging.

Let's try to stick to some facts:

- The 2015 15" model uses the same processor the 2014 15" models shipped with. The technology is rather dated to be spending 'new' prices, imo. Like you said, for about the same price, you could buy this year technology (the 2017).
- SSD speeds in the new 2017 are incredibly fast.
- TB3 can be turned into just about any port on the planet, if you're willing to deal with early adoption/adapters.
- The 2017 Retina p3 display is absolutely gorgeous. The 2015 was by no means bad, but the colors really shine on the 2017. This is a plus for photo/video editing.
- Video editing? The GPU/SSD/RAM on the 2017 is superior to the 2015.

Overall
The 2017 has a very different keyboard that honestly takes some getting used to. I adapted fine, but a lot of folks have trouble with it. Play with it in store to make sure this is something you can get used to.

 

[KGB7]

If you don’t need usb-c and you need SD slot, then the answer is simple.

 

[Naimfan]

No brainer - get the 2015.

No keyboard issues, no palm rejection issues from an absurdly oversized trackpad, no frivolous touch bar (just WAIT until they start failing!), ports that are usable today, Magsafe, etc.

You will never discern the slightly faster cpu, storage or graphics, based on your stated use case. So save your money and get one that will actually work years from now.

 

[silverlaker39]

Thanks to all... order my refurbished 2015 MacBook Pro 15" and picking it up Friday at the Apple Store near work!

 

[Denmac1]

Thanks to all... order my refurbished 2015 MacBook Pro 15" and picking it up Friday at the Apple Store near work!

I have had my rMBP 2015 refurb for nearly 2 weeks now. I feel it's one of the best decisions I have made, I've never been a trackpad fan, but this one is just great. I have mag safe, plenty of USB ports (no dongles) and a card slot.
The refurb I got looks and so far, preforms perfectly.

Enjoy!

 

[turbineseaplane]

2015's are holding value very very well.
There's a lesson there.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

The 2017 hammers the 2015 in in rendering and export times in FCPX it’s that simple if that is one of your main uses then it’s a no brainier really especially the one with the 460 dGPU.

Maybe one of these to solve all your connection worries

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072268Q68/ref=sr_ob_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1510739225&sr=8-3

2015's are holding value very very well.
There's a lesson there.

There is, many people don’t like change for unfathomable reasons, the 2017 is better in every way objectively.

 

[teohyc]

The 2017 hammers the 2015 in in rendering and export times in FCPX it’s that simple if that is one of your main uses then it’s a no brainier really especially the one with the 460 dGPU.

It's a fact that 2017 is faster than the 2015 model. But whether it is really worth the money will depend on the customer.

I create 4K videos almost daily and at no time do I think I will miss my deadline. I bought a refurbished 2015 quad 2.5Ghz a few months ago, and mine's the model with the Intel Iris Pro alone.

 

[green86]

The 2015s maybe holding their value now, but there will be a time when that changes quick. Would you use a computer without USB 3? I wouldn't. But I might use an older computer as long as I wasn't connecting peripherals using USB 2 speeds.

I think the true no brainer is to buy the fastest device you can. It is just a waste of money to buy a 2015

Plus you have to deal with that ugly rubberized black hinge running the length of the display. I couldn't do it.

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

2015's are holding their value because Apple are still selling them at a set price... So the second hand market will exist, when Apple stop selling them they'll go down in value as there is no 'new' price to compare it with.

Also it's only been 2 years, of course they still have value. But in 2020 it won't be as much as a 2017 as it's still regardless of peoples thoughts 2 years out of date compared to a 2017.

For the same price though the 2017 is a miles better machine assuming you have the confidence to not dictate your purchasing ability based on comments you read on the internet.

 

[Naimfan]

For the same price though the 2017 is a miles better machine assuming you have the confidence to not dictate your purchasing ability based on comments you read on the internet.

First, it is not the same price.

Second, no, it is not "miles better." Outside of graphics, it is no faster than a 2014 2.8, and as a bonus comes with a keyboard that is objectively the worst ever released by Apple.

Third, apparently you lack that confidence or you wouldn't be investing so much time and effort in justifying your purchase to yourself.

 

[green86]

First, it is not the same price.

Second, no, it is not "miles better." Outside of graphics, it is no faster than a 2014 2.8, and as a bonus comes with a keyboard that is objectively the worst ever released by Apple.

Third, apparently you lack that confidence or you wouldn't be investing so much time and effort in justifying your purchase to yourself.

Actually second hand they appear to be around same price. So your wrong there.

It is miles better. TB3 is the fastest connection on any MacBook Pro ever, SSD speeds are improved, as is the display and yes, the Kaby Lake processors are factually faster then the 2015s. So your wrong there too. Oh and the speakers are GREAT especially on the 15".

And it seems to be you that is trying to convince someone of buying an inferior machine. So your third point appears wrong as well.

Your quantifiably wrong.

 

[rutrack]

I have a headache after looking at dozens of youtube reviews and comparisons...
hate the idea of a lot of usb-c connectors and no sd slot

Main uses: writing; photo editing; video editing

Can get B&H Photo's sale price on 2017 MBPro 15" that is about the same at the 2015 MBPro Retina 15".....

for Photoshop; Word; FCPX.... which would you go for?
Thanks

Don't let the 2015 release year put you off, it is still the best balanced laptop in it's class, there really is nothing on the market that it can be replaced with. A combination of quad core cpu, excellent screen, a lot of memory, a keyboard with some key travel, large battery, ports etc etc. It really is a great laptop in this respect with very few and rare issues. The new one is also nice, if you can live with "unique" keyboard, lack of ports, and some other issues people are reporting, it's a more modern laptop, that is easier to travel with.

 

[MikeThicke]

Asking for purchasing advice on MacRumors is a bad idea. People here are are absurdly susceptible to groupthink (in either direction) so it's pretty much impossible to get an objective assessment. It's also interesting that poll results like this one: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/simple-solution-to-the-touch-bar-divide.2082969/#post-25355923 diverge significantly from the assessment you'd get from just reading the forum.

I have a MBP 2016 15" with touchbar. I think it's a great machine. I like the keyboard and it has never caused me problems. I think the touchbar is a significant improvement over physical keys, though it doesn't live up to Apple's hype. USB-C adoption by peripheral makers has been annoyingly slow and I think removing the SD slot was a terrible idea, but I'm not a photographer so it doesn't affect me much.

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

First, it is not the same price.

Second, no, it is not "miles better." Outside of graphics, it is no faster than a 2014 2.8, and as a bonus comes with a keyboard that is objectively the worst ever released by Apple.

Third, apparently you lack that confidence or you wouldn't be investing so much time and effort in justifying your purchase to yourself.

Firstly "Can get B&H Photo's sale price on 2017 MBPro 15" that is about the same at the 2015 MBPro Retina 15"....."

Secondly, yes it's exactly the same machine as a 2014, with exactly the same screen, CPU, RAM, SSD, everything bar that pesky keyboard.

Thirdly, come on, just because I don't hate something and jump on threads going "NOO! DON'T BUY!", which makes no sense to me, not my money! If you truly hate something, tell people to go buy it. If you don't care and would just rather people got a balanced opinion, then have one. 2017 MBP has some bad points, has some good points, as does every other MBP ever released...

 

[rutrack]

Actually second hand they appear to be around same price. So your wrong there.

It is miles better. TB3 is the fastest connection on any MacBook Pro ever, SSD speeds are improved, as is the display and yes, the Kaby Lake processors are factually faster then the 2015s. So your wrong there too. Oh and the speakers are GREAT especially on the 15".

And it seems to be you that is trying to convince someone of buying an inferior machine. So your third point appears wrong as well.

Your quantifiably wrong.

There we go again, I really thought the wave of delusional statements like this about " GREAT laptop speakers" and "factually faster processors" is already gone, but no, it is still here, kind of funny though

 

[turbineseaplane]

The 2015s maybe holding their value now, but there will be a time when that changes quick. Would you use a computer without USB 3? I wouldn't. But I might use an older computer as long as I wasn't connecting peripherals using USB 2 speeds.

I think the true no brainer is to buy the fastest device you can. It is just a waste of money to buy a 2015

Plus you have to deal with that ugly rubberized black hinge running the length of the display. I couldn't do it.

Do you mean USB-C?
The 2015 models have USB 3 ports (type A)
[doublepost=1510760574][/doublepost]

I have a MBP 2016 15" with touchbar. I think it's a great machine. I like the keyboard and it has never caused me problems.

Famous last words...
I hope you bought Applecare+

 

[green86]

Do you mean USB-C?
The 2015 models have USB 3 ports (type A)
[doublepost=1510760574][/doublepost]

It was an analogy.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It was an analogy.

I guess I don't understand the point of the analogy then.
You're right I would not want to computer without USB3 - luckily all of these options have it

Very little is that much newer or better on a 2017 versus the 2015 models, so tell me what exactly is going to expire technology-wise on those in such short order to make them a bad idea right now?

 

[green86]

There we go again, I really thought the wave of delusional statements like this about " GREAT laptop speakers" and "factually faster processors" is already gone, but no, it is still here, kind of funny though

They are great. Sorry you aren't able to experience them.

And my low-end 2017 MacBook Pro 15" is exactly as fast as the high-end on the previous generation:

(Geekbench scores)

MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Mid 2014)
Intel Core i7-4980HQ @ 2.8 GHz (4 cores)
4352

MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2017)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ @ 2.8 GHz (4 cores)
4352

So yes. Empirically they are faster.

 

[Falhófnir]

The 2015 is still a fine machine, on cpu power it’s about on par with the 2016 models, while the 2017 are a little ahead. Only major drawback is the lack of dGPU unless you can snag a refurbed one. Overall the 2017 will be the faster machine, and I don’t think that can be argued with, but I don’t think it’s an enormous, enormous difference given the mixed use you’ve suggested you’ll have for it. One of the uses you mentioned was writing, if you’re going to be doing a lot of typing, then the keyboard on the 2017 is ok, but not ideal, especially for longer bouts of typing (a lot of people report sore fingers) and there is the well documented reliability issue (keys sticking, double pressing or failing).

 

[green86]

I guess I don't understand the point of the analogy then.
You're right I would not want to computer without USB3 - luckily all of these options have it

Very little is that much newer or better on a 2017 versus the 2015 models, so tell me what exactly is going to expire technology-wise on those in such short order to make them a bad idea right now?

Just about everything is newer or better. You simply don't want to believe so, and it isn't my job to convince you. Short-list:

Much improved display (color/brightness)
Much better speakers
Faster graphics
Insane Storage speeds
Unbelievably fast connectivity options using Thunderbolt 3

And eventually you will be limited to what you can connect using USB-A. Eventually.

 

[Falhófnir]

And eventually you will be limited to what you can connect using USB-A. Eventually.

To be honest though, that’s still at least the best part of a machine’s usable life away for a computer purchased today. I really wouldn’t be all that worried about that aspect of it (unless you have a lot of usb peripherals and want to start transitioning over) - but then that’s the thing, transitioning is difficult when Apple offers only all A or all C connectors

 

[green86]

To be honest though, that’s still at least the best part of a machine’s usable life away for a computer purchased today. I really wouldn’t be all that worried about that aspect of it (unless you have a lot of usb peripherals and want to start transitioning over) - but then that’s the thing, transitioning is difficult when Apple offers only all A or all C connectors

With respect, it is impossible to speculate that it won’t be a necessity. I therefore think it is foolhardy to buy a machine today without USB-C unless you can’t afford it.