What are the disadvantages to waiting for a macbook pro upgrade?

[cubby208]

I was planning to buy a new MacBook this week until I heard about the potential upgrade that could happen during WWDC. I was just wondering, what are the disadvantages to waiting?

If the new MacBook does something I don't like such as removes the headphone jack, goes to a haptic feedback keyboard what are my options? Will they still sell the old models for a short while?

I am currently eyeing the 15-inch model with a 2.7Ghz processor, 512 GB SSD, Radeon Pro 460 and if they take the wrong direction with the new MacBook I would still like to be able to buy it.

Would it be crazy to buy one a few days before knowing I can return or cancel the order if they end up announcing a new one?

 

[Colin8]

There is absolutely no disadvantage, since retailers will always have stock of the previous model for a couple of weeks after the announcement. However, as I see you want a custom model, this may be much harder/impossible to get hold off after Apple releases a new model. So to be super safe, yes, you could buy a new model a week before WWDC and return it if you like the new models. But this seems unnecessary since the only upgrade we are rumoured to see is a new CPU - so you're really best just waiting.

 

[ZapNZs]

I was planning to buy a new MacBook this week until I heard about the potential upgrade that could happen during WWDC. I was just wondering, what are the disadvantages to waiting?

Sometime between now and WWDC there could be a Zombie apocalypse. If that happens and the grid goes down, without a solar charger, your beautiful 2017 MBP will just be a USB-C paperweight.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

I was planning to buy a new MacBook this week until I heard about the potential upgrade that could happen during WWDC. I was just wondering, what are the disadvantages to waiting?

If the new MacBook does something I don't like such as removes the headphone jack, goes to a haptic feedback keyboard what are my options? Will they still sell the old models for a short while?

I am currently eyeing the 15-inch model with a 2.7Ghz processor, 512 GB SSD, Radeon Pro 460 and if they take the wrong direction with the new MacBook I would still like to be able to buy it.

Would it be crazy to buy one a few days before knowing I can return or cancel the order if they end up announcing a new one?

They won't announce a new one at WWDC, it is a software developers conference with little history of product announcements especially not minor updates to computers, current rumours suggest a possible ipad announcement and that's about it. We are unlikely to see any MBP announcements before fall.

The main disadvantage of waiting are having a current computer that doesn't suit your needs and may be losing you money if used for work, where a new model will increase your productivity and hence profit. In that case waiting for anything new is false economy of the most silly type.

Waiting may be worth while if you are waiting for a needed upgrade (at this point that will only be a 32gb option that will make any real world difference to be honest) so if you don't need a 32gb option waiting seems a bit pointless. I highly doubt the MBP will change any ports or design features in the next iteration so I wouldn't worry about that at all.

 

[ilian92]

The main disadvantage of waiting are having a current computer that doesn't suit your needs and may be losing you money if used for work, where a new model will increase your productivity and hence profit. In that case waiting for anything new is false economy of the most silly type.

I never understood the argument about how a new computer makes you more productive and all of the sudden you make more profit. Like, people usually don't work on computers from 2005.

And on topic I'd say that unless your old computer broke or has something seriously wrong with it, wait a couple of weeks and see what/if they come up with. Either way it shouldn't be anything major, but maybe they will adjust the pricing slightly. It's what happened last time with the second iteration of a new design.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

I never understood the argument about how a new computer makes you more productive and all of the sudden you make more profit. Like, people usually don't work on computers from 2005.

And on topic I'd say that unless your old computer broke or has something seriously wrong with it, wait a couple of weeks and see what/if they come up with. Either way it shouldn't be anything major, but maybe they will adjust the pricing slightly. It's what happened last time with the second iteration of a new design.

Really?? You have never understood that a faster machine can increase productivity when compiling data or running excel spread sheets or editing video or photos?? Then you have a severe lack of understanding of productivity then. Just waiting a few seconds hundreds of times a day can lower productivity massively. I know this because my system and network where I work is currently a nightmare that can beachball for seconds to minutes currently and it is slowing down my productivity immensely.

I have only just seen the rumour that MBP's may get a WWDC update, lets just say I'll believe it when I see it and kabylake will be the only change, they won't even offer 32GB with kabylake I doubt. Although they may squeeze a bigger battery with terracing in to get better battery life.

 

[daflake]

You will die of old age....

 

[T-Bob]

Kaby Lake is probably the smallest upgrade Intel have ever done, difference will be minuscule in terms of performance.

 

[maflynn]

Really?? You have never understood that a faster machine can increase productivity when compiling data or running excel spread sheets or editing video or photos??

The last few iterations of CPU and by extension the MBP have only produced small incremental increases in performance so much so that the cost vs benefit is not there. That is, it would take a long time to have the performance increase pay for the cost of the machine. There are other factors in determining whether its time to buy a laptop but I think the idea that you'll be more efficient and thus more profitable is not enough to warrant paying 2 to 3k for a new machine - just my $.02

 

[Samuelsan2001]

The last few iterations of CPU and by extension the MBP have only produced small incremental increases in performance so much so that the cost vs benefit is not there. That is, it would take a long time to have the performance increase pay for the cost of the machine. There are other factors in determining whether its time to buy a laptop but I think the idea that you'll be more efficient and thus more profitable is not enough to warrant paying 2 to 3k for a new machine - just my $.02

It's not all about the CPU speed though architecture and software and instruction changes etc can have a massive effect, The 2016 15 inch MacBook pro for example screams in FCPX, almost 2x as fast as the previous generation.

I also questioned whether the OP was buying a new one because their current set up is not up to the tasks that they need to perform, that is the point here really, if your current set up is slowing you down then a new one will likely be an improvement, i.e. if you are using FCPX to edit and render 4K video even on a 2015 rMBP the new machine may well massively increase your productivity and profit.

Delaying that is not a great business idea simple as that really. Of course it's up to the buyer to do their research understand their software and work out the gains and whether they are worth the investment currently or whether anything on the possible update list is worth waiting for similar reasons. However it's often the case that buying now and having increased productivity for a few months is a better economic decision than waiting for what you say yourself is likely to be a very small spec bump. Of course if your work case will benefit hugely from a move to kabylake over skylake then by all means they should wait. But if they are editing 4K on a 2012 machine then buying now will most likely be a massive upgrade and a few more months of that could pay off a huge chunk of their investment.

 

[robvas]

It's not all about the CPU speed though architecture and software and instruction changes etc can have a massive effect, The 2016 15 inch MacBook pro for example screams in FCPX, almost 2x as fast as the previous generation.

Plus, some people wait a long, long time to upgrade. Co-worker was using a 2010 MacBook Pro and while it worked fine, the new machine was so much faster it wasn't even funny. Things he would wait 5-10 seconds for happen almost instantly on his new machine.

Even bigger jump if you are going from an old HD system to a SSD.

 

[Mr. Dee]

Really?? You have never understood that a faster machine can increase productivity when compiling data or running excel spread sheets or editing video or photos?? Then you have a severe lack of understanding of productivity then. Just waiting a few seconds hundreds of times a day can lower productivity massively. I know this because my system and network where I work is currently a nightmare that can beachball for seconds to minutes currently and it is slowing down my productivity immensely.

I have only just seen the rumour that MBP's may get a WWDC update, lets just say I'll believe it when I see it and kabylake will be the only change, they won't even offer 32GB with kabylake I doubt. Although they may squeeze a bigger battery with terracing in to get better battery life.

Humans have been productive without computers for over 300,000 years. If they weren't we wouldn't be here. Edison didn't need computers to create electricity, neither did Samuel Morse, Graham Bell or Einstein. The vast majority of us could probably get by on a 486 and Windows 95 with Word 6.0. What has occurred over the past 150 years is the system called globalism and free market/enterprise. It lets companies like Apple, Microsoft, Intel and so many others create artificial obsolescence for products. Look at the television, how often do you upgrade it? Steve Jobs original vision of the Mac is to be appliance based, just like your microwave, fridge, stove. The fact that you can go on YouTube and see old Macintosh 128's and iMac G3's still booting is a testament to how different technology was engineered back then.

These days, you are lucky if you go 2 years without needing a logic board replacement. My MacBook Pro already needs to have the screen replaced because the lamination is stripping off.

 

[ilian92]

Really?? You have never understood that a faster machine can increase productivity when compiling data or running excel spread sheets or editing video or photos??

Of course if your work case will benefit hugely from a move to kabylake over skylake then by all means they should wait. But if they are editing 4K on a 2012 machine then buying now will most likely be a massive upgrade and a few more months of that could pay off a huge chunk of their investment.

Plus, some people wait a long, long time to upgrade. Co-worker was using a 2010 MacBook Pro and while it worked fine, the new machine was so much faster it wasn't even funny. Things he would wait 5-10 seconds for happen almost instantly on his new machine.

Basically my point was that I'm assuming people do their work on a relatively capable machine for their respective needs. Which means that while a new one would be an upgrade, it wouldn't necessarily make such a huge difference when we're talking about simply waiting until the first week of June to find out if there's a new machine coming or not.

 

[Fishrrman]

Do you absolutely, positively HAVE to HAVE a "new one" now?

If not, why not just wait until the WWDC and see what happens?

 

[macduke]

They won't announce a new one at WWDC, it is a software developers conference with little history of product announcements especially not minor updates to computers, current rumours suggest a possible ipad announcement and that's about it. We are unlikely to see any MBP announcements before fall.

WWDC 2006: Mac Pro introduced
WWDC 2008: iPhone 3g
WWDC 2009: iPhone 3GS, 13" MBP, 15" MBP
WWDC 2010: iPhone 4
WWDC 2012: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, MacBook Pro with Retina Display
WWDC 2013: Mac Pro, MacBook Air

So you're not completely accurate. They've shied away from it in recent years, but they've also had a lot of crazy new initiatives with Apple Music, Watch Apps and other things to announce in recent years that has taken up a big chunk of the time. They also went without a spring event this year. I know my rMBP was purchased shortly after Apple showing it off at WWDC 2012. And in other busy years, like 2011, they introduced big things like iCloud and no hardware. There haven't been a lot of big rumored software things this year, so it's possible we'll see some hardware. After all, the developers use the hardware too, and I wouldn't be surprised if we get a version of Xcode for iPad at some point soon.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The main reason I wish Apple would update more often is that I *always* like to be in the Refurb or previous generation cycle to let someone else eat the largest depreciation (sort of like with new cars actually).

 

[ZapNZs]

The main reason I wish Apple would update more often is that I *always* like to be in the Refurb or previous generation cycle to let someone else eat the largest depreciation (sort of like with new cars actually).

I like refurbs because I think, with respectable brands such as Apple, that refurbs may actually be more consistent & reliable than brand new. Apple doesn't mess around when it comes to refurbs.

 

[duervo]

If you wait and they do something that makes you want to get that 512GB with the Radeon 460, you can get a refurbished one from Apple.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Humans have been productive without computers for over 300,000 years. If they weren't we wouldn't be here. Edison didn't need computers to create electricity, neither did Samuel Morse, Graham Bell or Einstein. The vast majority of us could probably get by on a 486 and Windows 95 with Word 6.0. What has occurred over the past 150 years is the system called globalism and free market/enterprise. It lets companies like Apple, Microsoft, Intel and so many others create artificial obsolescence for products. Look at the television, how often do you upgrade it? Steve Jobs original vision of the Mac is to be appliance based, just like your microwave, fridge, stove. The fact that you can go on YouTube and see old Macintosh 128's and iMac G3's still booting is a testament to how different technology was engineered back then.

These days, you are lucky if you go 2 years without needing a logic board replacement. My MacBook Pro already needs to have the screen replaced because the lamination is stripping off.

Firstly computers are just another form of improving technology, yes we have been productive without them for millions of years but we had constantly changing and improving technology for all that time becoming more efficient and better for productivity whether its improvements in flint knapping to make batter tools and so more efficient kills or chopping trees, on to discovery and improvement in architecture farming metallurgy etc etc.... Computers are just an extension of this and if you don't keep up your business can be left behind.

Secondly one of the main reasons I buy apple products is their fantastic lifespan for electronics. I have bought 2 computers, 2 ipads and 3 phones in the last 7 years every single one of them still works perfectly with no problems at all. Yes things have changed but so has the demands on devices, a 10 year old computer that boots is still bloody useless if it won't run any software or media any more because the hardware is not up to the job.

 

[leman]

A potential disadvantage is a likely price cut as well as possible GPU upgrade. Don't forget that Vega is coming out at the same time and its reporter to have little availability initially. Maybe it's because AMD has committed to supplying most of the initial batch to Apple?

As we are talking about waiting for 2-3 weeks, why not wait? Or, as others have suggested, get a refurb, it will save you some money.

 

[fokmik]

Vega is out of the question, next imacs will have it. Now, i guess for the 15" mbp apple will put amd 500 series

 

[leman]

Vega is out of the question, next imacs will have it. Now, i guess for the 15" mbp apple will put amd 500 series

You are most likely right, but I wouldn't totally discount the possibility. After all AMD already built custom Polaris for Apple, so maybe they would also build a custom-configure Vega? Don't forget that their recently announced mobile APU is vega-powered.