Upgrading to a 2017 MBP 15-inch + touch bar?

[TinaBelcher]

Hello.

I'm looking into upgrading my 2013 MBP 13-inch to a 2017 MBP 15-inch with the touch bar. Mistake? I'd appreciate if I could get some advice or feedback from users of the new MBP.

I currently own the 2013 MBP 13-inch (bought 3 years ago) and it works absolutely fine. I've only experienced software bugs at times, such as folder distortion (thanks, High Sierra!). I feel bad for considering to upgrade because of the scandalous price.

The 13-inch has become too cramped for my experience lately as I'm a student and want to have more screen while studying. I'm always using Google Doc (or Word) and another browser or pdf reader on in split mode. Macbooks continue to become thinner and lighter, so it will barely feel heavier than my current laptop - only wider. I went through the "replace MBP with iPad Pro 12.9" a few months ago and it backfired. For school, nothing is better and faster than a real laptop, unless you're a handwritten user and your school is in support of that. My university has very strict rules: we must have an online portfolio on our Google Drive and use Google Doc for notes. Lucky me...

 

[Macalicious2011]

I don't use a MBP TB but we have 4 of them amongst hundreds of other laptops. So far we have had a few MBP swapped out because of faulty keyboards or display failures.

I hope the woeful quality will be remedied by the 2018 models.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Hello.

I'm looking into upgrading my 2013 MBP 13-inch to a 2017 MBP 15-inch with the touch bar. Mistake? I'd appreciate if I could get some advice or feedback from users of the new MBP.

I currently own the 2013 MBP 13-inch (bought 3 years ago) and it works absolutely fine. I've only experienced software bugs at times, such as folder distortion (thanks, High Sierra!). I feel bad for considering to upgrade because of the scandalous price.

The 13-inch has become too cramped for my experience lately as I'm a student and want to have more screen while studying. I'm always using Google Doc (or Word) and another browser or pdf reader on in split mode. Macbooks continue to become thinner and lighter, so it will barely feel heavier than my current laptop - only wider. I went through the "replace MBP with iPad Pro 12.9" a few months ago and it backfired. For school, nothing is better and faster than a real laptop, unless you're a handwritten user and your school is in support of that. My university has very strict rules: we must have an online portfolio on our Google Drive and use Google Doc for notes. Lucky me...

Presumably a bigger screen when taking notes etc is unimportant, therefore you want it for working when at a desk for doing serious work. Why not just buy a screen and plug it into that when you need screen real estate.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Have you tried multiple desktops? You can maximize windows using the green button, then use 3-finger swipes to navigate between them.

 

[BenTrovato]

The 15" is a lot better to work on and the quad core makes a huge difference in my opinion. TouchBar is a cool gimmick but not a disaster. The 2016-2017 models feel super premium and look fantastic - zero regrets here. If component failure is a concern, just get AppleCare. Is it worth the pricetag? I don't think any product Apple makes is worth the pricetag. You definitely overpay for Apple. If money is tight I always say, go for something more economical until the budget allows for higher spending.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

The 15" is a lot better to work on and the quad core makes a huge difference in my opinion. TouchBar is a cool gimmick but not a disaster. The 2016-2017 models feel super premium and look fantastic - zero regrets here. If component failure is a concern, just get AppleCare. Is it worth the pricetag? I don't think any product Apple makes is worth the pricetag. You definitely overpay for Apple. If money is tight I always say, go for something more economical until the budget allows for higher spending.

That apple “overpayment” is what allows you to walk into any apple store worldwide and get your product serviced. After sales support and service is totally worth a premium in my book. Not to mention, the OS doesn’t have an ad platform built into it so you see ads while navigating your hard drive.

 

[Janichsan]

As someone who owns a 2016 15" rMBP with TouchBar, I wouldn't really recommend it (or it's successor), unless you really want one.

The performance is good, the screen is great, but the keyboard is simply terrible and the TouchBar mostly useless. USB-C could also be a problem depending on your expectations. The biggest problem is its price: for what it does and offers, it's just far too expensive, far more than most previous Apple products.

I personally would suggest you'd get a used, refurbished, or (if you are lucky to find one) new 2015 model.

 

[Naimfan]

Get the 2015 15".

Too many potential problems and too many poor choices to suggest a 2016 or 2017.

 

[BenTrovato]

That apple “overpayment” is what allows you to walk into any apple store worldwide and get your product serviced. After sales support and service is totally worth a premium in my book. Not to mention, the OS doesn’t have an ad platform built into it so you see ads while navigating your hard drive.

Hey.. however you want to justify it, you're not wrong but you're not right either. Apple's tech for the price remains horrendous. If service & ads are that important to you, there are many ways you can pay for it and still come out ahead with other vendors. Not really something to discuss, it's been hashed out forever on these forums. I buy Apple, but not close minded enough to understand there are better products & services out there.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Hey.. however you want to justify it, you're not wrong but you're not right either. Apple's tech for the price remains horrendous. If service & ads are that important to you, there are many ways you can pay for it and still come out ahead with other vendors. Not really something to discuss, it's been hashed out forever on these forums. I buy Apple, but not close minded enough to understand there are better products & services out there.

I have to disagree, apple make the best all round hardware I have used compared to anything else I have used. Does that mean that they are suitable for everyone?? Of course not. They also supply the best software I have used and a its all built in and updated for free until your model is no longer supported usually around 8 years, which is the upper end of electronics life expectancy. Is this what everyone wants or needs?? Of course not.

With apple you are buying a premium product with premium software and support if your use case fits with apple ethos they are pretty much perfect, if your use case doesn't fit with apples ethos then you are bang out of luck and have to take your chances with other OEMs and poor software implementations that's life.

Hey I think BMW's are pretty much perfect cars and so I own one, but if I needed a tractor I'd be bang out of luck.

 

[MikeThicke]

Obviously if you're just comparing specs, Apple's laptops are way overpriced. But how do you value design, build quality, etc? It's not like there's some objective way to do this. "Worth it" is always in the eye of the beholder. If all you care about is raw performance, and you're on a budget, get something else. If you care about the other stuff and can afford it, I think Apple makes the best laptops for any price.

 

[Macalicious2011]

I think the excellent customer service is worth a premium. How many PC manufacturers have store which you can walk into with a laptop bought elsewhere, get serviced in a matter of days or replaced on the spot?

 

[PBG4 Dude]

I think the excellent customer service is worth a premium. How many PC manufacturers have store which you can walk into with a laptop bought elsewhere, get serviced in a matter of days or replaced on the spot?

Just Microsoft comes to mind, and their Surface Books are priced on par with Apple’s MacBook Pro models.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"I currently own the 2013 MBP 13-inch (bought 3 years ago) and it works absolutely fine."

My opinion only, but there seem to be too many problems with the 2015/16 design MBPro's, particularly problems with the keyboard.

Since what you have now "works absolutely fine", I'd suggest you "hold off" until mid-2018 when the next iteration of the MacBook Pro is released.

I sense that it will be a significant improvement over what's available now.

OP also wrote:
"The 13-inch has become too cramped for my experience lately as I'm a student and want to have more screen while studying."

That's easily and cheaply fixed.
Get an EXTERNAL display to hook up.
A 27" display would give you plenty of "extra screen real estate", and you'll still have a very portable 13" laptop to carry around.
A good place to start looking is here:
Comprehensive List of S-IPS/H-IPS/e-IPS and other IPS Based LCD Monitors

 

[Macalicious2011]

Just Microsoft comes to mind, and their Surface Books are priced on par with Apple’s MacBook Pro models.

I have to confess that I had excellent customer service experience with my Dell owned before the MBP. They would basically come to my work or home to repair the laptop and often within 3-4 working days. It was great!

 

[Spudlicious]

Just Microsoft comes to mind, and their Surface Books are priced on par with Apple’s MacBook Pro models.

Don't know where the OP is located, but Microsoft are (almost) all in North America. Definitely agree Surface Books are priced at Apple levels, though I've seen reports they don't make Apple margins.

 

[leman]

Wait until next gen (2018), the performance step up will be substantial in comparison with the current generation. Also, they might improve the reliability of some parts that reportedly tend to somehow more often (e.g. the keyboard).

 

[Spudlicious]

Wait until next gen (2018), the performance step up will be substantial in comparison with the current generation. Also, they might improve the reliability of some parts that reportedly tend to somehow more often (e.g. the keyboard).

I wonder if there really is a sense at Apple that the current keyboard design is problematic, or are people there saying only 1.7% (by all means use another number) of product is returned for keyboard issues. Inside information would be welcome.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

I wonder if there really is a sense at Apple that the current keyboard design is problematic, or are people there saying only 1.7% (by all means use another number) of product is returned for keyboard issues. Inside information would be welcome.

Man, there’s a video on YouTube called I am pressing the space bar, and nothing is happening....

Gruder has mentioned it on daring fireball and Jason(?) Snell (ex-MacWorld magazine editor) has mentioned it. Marco Arment is complaining about it (among other things), and there’s a new keyboard thread started here around every 18 hours. I’d be hard pressed to believe they aren’t looking into the issue.

I have zero issues with mine so far but I’m an anecdote - party of one so that doesn’t really mean anything beyond me still being a happy customer.

 

[Spudlicious]

Man, there’s a video on YouTube called I am pressing the space bar, and nothing is happening....

Gruder has mentioned it on daring fireball and Jason(?) Snell (ex-MacWorld magazine editor) has mentioned it. Marco Arment is complaining about it (among other things), and there’s a new keyboard thread started here around every 18 hours. I’d be hard pressed to believe they aren’t looking into the issue.

I have zero issues with mine so far but I’m an anecdote - party of one so that doesn’t really mean anything beyond me still being a happy customer.

Ah, but can Apple take that little pain, anaesthetised as they are by the numbing pleasure of vast profits, and attribute the whole issue to normal failure rates aggravated by noisy malcontents and internet hysteria? Or is there a hardware team beavering away at an improved design? That's what I'd like to know, but I cannot imagine the Ives/Cook regime of slim is good would accept a thicker keyboard.