What should replace my Mid 2010?

[Thornblom]

The time has come to start thinking about a successor to my 15-inch mid 2010 Macbook Pro.
I'm still pretty happy with the performance (i7 2.66ghz dual core, 8gb of DDR3 ram and SSD), I mainly use it for programming. However, the 2010 is 8 years old, and starts to show signs of retirement.
The screen size is secondary, but I feel that a bump in performance would be nice when buying a computer 8 years newer, which I plan to use for another 6-8 years (my computer before this was last gen Powerbook G5).

Would the base line i5 be more powerful then my 2010 i7 2.66 dual core?
Is the RAM in the new MBP:s significantly faster then the 1067mhz RAM in my 2010? I find the need to bump the RAM up from stock configuration quite amusing, when coming from a 8 year old computer.
I couldn't care less about the new touch thingy above keyboard, to be honest.
What are your thoughts?

EDIT: Budget: As little as possible not being disappointed..

 

[Project Alice]

You seem pretty happy with your 2010. My main laptop is a mid 2009 MacBook with a C2D. It does everything I need it to do. I would wait a year or two and see if apples comes out with a better MBP. I think you'd be disappointed with the current one being as it has like no ports and is slower than the completion right now. You don't sound like you actually need the extra power. Even my C2D can play 1080 video. As you know software programming doesn't really use that much. Since you don't video edit or play games.
Upgrade the ram, and you already have an SSD.
I also have a Sony Vaio with a quad core i7 and 12gb of ram from like.. 2008? I think that still performs way faster than I ever need with it. I don't foresee myself needing a more powerful laptop than that.

btw.. you used to have a PowerBook G4. There were no PB G5s lol. Be cool if there was though.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

wait for the new amd/intel hybrid chips

 

[leman]

Would the base line i5 be more powerful then my 2010 i7 2.66 dual core?

...

Is the RAM in the new MBP:s significantly faster then the 1067mhz RAM in my 2010?

Yes and yes. All is going to be significantly faster (CPU/GPU/RAM/storage/WiFi)

I find the need to bump the RAM up from stock configuration quite amusing, when coming from a 8 year old computer.

The stock configuration comes with the max RAM that laptop can potentially support, so you don't have to ump anything up.

P.S. You are not talking about the "cheap" non-touchbar 15" that Apple still sells, do you? Its the 2015 (or even earlier?) model that they sell at a slightly discounted price. I would not recommend buying it in 2018.

 

[Thornblom]

You seem pretty happy with your 2010. My main laptop is a mid 2009 MacBook with a C2D. It does everything I need it to do. I would wait a year or two and see if apples comes out with a better MBP. I think you'd be disappointed with the current one being as it has like no ports and is slower than the completion right now. You don't sound like you actually need the extra power. Even my C2D can play 1080 video. As you know software programming doesn't really use that much. Since you don't video edit or play games.
Upgrade the ram, and you already have an SSD.
I also have a Sony Vaio with a quad core i7 and 12gb of ram from like.. 2008? I think that still performs way faster than I ever need with it. I don't foresee myself needing a more powerful laptop than that.

btw.. you used to have a PowerBook G4. There were no PB G5s lol. Be cool if there was though.

Lol yeah, G4!
I don't really need more power no. I like my 2010, but random restarts and a broken headphone jack is pretty annoying.

The thing is, I sometimes do .NET development on Windows under Bootcamp with Visual Studio, which, to be honest, stinks. VS eats my RAM and takes a lot more CPU then it should need.
That said, VS is slow even when using powerful desktops.

Also, do you really think you are fine with your Vaio in 8 years from now?

wait for the new amd/intel hybrid chips

What is that?

Yes and yes. All is going to be significantly faster (CPU/GPU/RAM/storage/WiFi)



The stock configuration comes with the max RAM that laptop can potentially support, so you don't have to ump anything up.

P.S. You are not talking about the "cheap" non-touchbar 15" that Apple still sells, do you? Its the 2015 (or even earlier?) model that they sell at a slightly discounted price. I would not recommend buying it in 2018.

No, but maybe the 13" without touch bar, which isn't old?

 

[leman]

No, but maybe the 13" without touch bar, which isn't old?

Ah, sure, it is still going to be a more then a decent upgrade to your 15". If you can wait for a few months though, do wait — there is the new generation of CPUs being rolled out this year, with possibility of quad core CPUs and improved graphics. Could be a nice upgrade and a shame to skip (especially if you are looking to keep the computer for a while).

 

[Thornblom]

Ah, sure, it is still going to be a more then a decent upgrade to your 15". If you can wait for a few months though, do wait — there is the new generation of CPUs being rolled out this year, with possibility of quad core CPUs and improved graphics. Could be a nice upgrade and a shame to skip (especially if you are looking to keep the computer for a while).

I can wait, if my 2010 holds up. I need to force the computer to use Intel graphics tho, otherwise it just crashes every 10 min or so. Which means that I can't use an external monitor any more. Also, the headphone jacks are broken, so I need to do my skype calls over phone. But sure, a couple of months more is OK

 

[leman]

I can wait, if my 2010 holds up. I need to force the computer to use Intel graphics tho, otherwise it just crashes every 10 min or so. Which means that I can't use an external monitor any more. Also, the headphone jacks are broken, so I need to do my skype calls over phone. But sure, a couple of months more is OK

We are with you in spirit

 

[ToroidalZeus]

What is that?

https://www.theverge.com/circuitbre...or-radeon-rx-vega-m-gpu-cpu-h-series-ces-2018

If you plan on buying a computer for 8yr then I would wait for this next-gen leap and also hopefully Apple will release 32Gb ram models.

 

[Naimfan]

If you want one now, get the base 15".

 

[utgjon]

In reality, you'll be happy with pretty much anything from the current macbook pro line-up, looking at where you're coming from. The rest is down to screen-size (not an issue if you're using an external monitor), number of cores and amount of ram you need.

The biggest upgrade will come courtesy of the SSD speeds these computers are achieving now, not necessarily from the # of cores/gb of ram.

Give the base 13" without touchbar a whirl... if not happy, return and upgrade. rinse and repeat until you hit the sweet spot!

 

[darngooddesign]

IF you are happy with the power of your 2010, consider a 2014 or 2015 with the MagSafe connector. The 16GB/512GB is a sweet combination and you can always upgrade the drive later. You'll save a ton of money not going for the, overpriced IMO, current generation MacBook Pros.

 

[Thornblom]

IF you are happy with the power of your 2010, consider a 2014 or 2015 with the MagSafe connector. The 16GB/512GB is a sweet combination and you can always upgrade the drive later. You'll save a ton of money not going for the, overpriced IMO, current generation MacBook Pros.

The question is, how does a maxed out 2015 (2 grand?) stand against a base 15 inch 2017?
It cant be so much of a difference?

 

[utgjon]

The question is, how does a maxed out 2015 (2 grand?) stand against a base 15 inch 2017?
It cant be so much of a difference?

Depends what you're doing with it ... the 2017 chips have hardware decode for h.265 - meaning they're significantly faster at doing that.

And, as said previously, faster SSDs.

EDIT:

Oh, and discrete GPU, whereas the 2015's are only available with iGPUs now.

 

[darngooddesign]

I would look at places other than Apple or get something lightly used; the 2015 15" MBP could be had with two GPUs. How maxed out do you need? Bearing in mind you can upgrade the drive later, would you be fine with a 16GB/256Gb machine now? Do you need a discrete GPU? You could easily save over a grand over an equivalent refurbed 2017 MBP from Apple. If you are looking at the 13", the 2014 and 2015s were basically the same and I just got a mid-2014 13" 16GB/512GB for $1000 from an Amazon seller; 17 cycles on the battery and it looks brand new. The equivalent 2016, while nice, is 900 more refurbed form Apple, is not significantly faster, and doesn't have an SD card slot or MagSafe.

I suppose decide which configuration you need at a minimum, and then see what you can get. I use MacTracker to research the specs of different machines

 

[Thornblom]

I would look at places other than Apple or get something lightly used; the 2015 15" MBP could be had with two GPUs. How maxed out do you need? Bearing in mind you can upgrade the drive later, would you be fine with a 16GB/256Gb machine now? Do you need a discrete GPU? You could easily save over a grand over an equivalent refurbed 2017 MBP from Apple. If you are looking at the 13", the 2014 and 2015s were basically the same and I just got a mid-2014 13" 16GB/512GB for $1000 from an Amazon seller; 17 cycles on the battery and it looks brand new. The equivalent 2016, while nice, is 900 more refurbed form Apple, is not significantly faster, and doesn't have an SD card slot or MagSafe.

I suppose decide which configuration you need at a minimum, and then see what you can get. I use MacTracker to research the specs of different machines

Good reply.
Fast SSD I/O speed, 16gb of RAM and a CPU which should be able to build large projects (100 files of code with a large amount of external libraries and some resources) pretty fast for decent amount of years ahead. I would really enjoy the 15 inch screen, but no requirement.

SSD speed and RAM is most limiting atm (700mb/s, 8gb ram).

RAM is mainly a problem in Bootcamp, using, SQL management studio, Visual Studio, SQL server, and 10+ Chrome tabs
[doublepost=1515449044][/doublepost]

Depends what you're doing with it ... the 2017 chips have hardware decode for h.265 - meaning they're significantly faster at doing that.

And, as said previously, faster SSDs.

EDIT:

Oh, and discrete GPU, whereas the 2015's are only available with iGPUs now.

Se my answer above for usage.
No video rendering

 

[utgjon]

Good reply.
Fast SSD I/O speed, 16gb of RAM and a CPU which should be able to build large projects (100 files of code with a large amount of external libraries and some resources) pretty fast for decent amount of years ahead. I would really enjoy the 15 inch screen, but no requirement.

SSD speed and RAM is most limiting atm (700mb/s, 8gb ram).

RAM is mainly a problem in Bootcamp, using, SQL management studio, Visual Studio, SQL server, and 10+ Chrome tabs
[doublepost=1515449044][/doublepost]

Se my answer above for usage.
No video rendering

GPU isn't just for graphics ... if you're playing with any significant form of data, you'll benefit from a better GPU

 

[Thornblom]

I have checked my budget a bit and it seems like the options for NEW Mac is 13" no touch bar 16/256 or 15" no touch bar 16/256. I know the 15" one is older, but has a i7 Quad core chip and a larger screen. SSD is still fast for my standards.
Both is same price.
[doublepost=1515513102][/doublepost]

GPU isn't just for graphics ... if you're playing with any significant form of data, you'll benefit from a better GPU

Never thought of that

 

[darngooddesign]

I have checked my budget a bit and it seems like the options for NEW Mac is 13" no touch bar 16/256 or 15" no touch bar 16/256. I know the 15" one is older, but has a i7 Quad core chip and a larger screen. SSD is still fast for my standards.
Both is same price.

Have you looked at the Apple refurbs?

 

[Fishrrman]

I know it's "a year later" now, but when I decided to replace my own 2010 MacBook Pro in December 2016... I bought one of the (still new, but just-discontinued) 2015 MacBook Pro's.

At the time, I preferred that it had a full complement of "legacy ports", and something about the keyboard on the [then-new] 2016's didn't impress me.
After all the problems others have had with the 2016/17 keyboards, I'm comfortable with that decision today.

You sound like you prefer the larger 15" display.
Be aware that the 2015-design 15" MacBook Pro is still being built "as new units", if you prefer the older keyboard design.

If you're wary of the 2017's (again, keyboard issues), and if the 2010 is still doing "well enough" to last another 6 months or so, you might consider holding out for the 2018 MacBook Pro's, probably coming out in July (or so).

 

[Thornblom]

Have you looked at the Apple refurbs?

Yeah that might be an option, but the price gap to a touch bar 15" is so huge, $2400 for base? Come on. However, I looked at the new Microsoft Surface Book just for curiosity, and holy crap, they cost even more! 1

I know it's "a year later" now, but when I decided to replace my own 2010 MacBook Pro in December 2016... I bought one of the (still new, but just-discontinued) 2015 MacBook Pro's.

At the time, I preferred that it had a full complement of "legacy ports", and something about the keyboard on the [then-new] 2016's didn't impress me.
After all the problems others have had with the 2016/17 keyboards, I'm comfortable with that decision today.

You sound like you prefer the larger 15" display.
Be aware that the 2015-design 15" MacBook Pro is still being built "as new units", if you prefer the older keyboard design.

If you're wary of the 2017's (again, keyboard issues), and if the 2010 is still doing "well enough" to last another 6 months or so, you might consider holding out for the 2018 MacBook Pro's, probably coming out in July (or so).

Right now my best option might be the "old" 15", but I can certainly wait another 6 months. I really hope they replace the legacy port 15" with a non touch bar 15" and integrated graphics only. I think that it would sell well, many casual customers would like a base 15" MBP for 2 grand.

 

[utgjon]

Right now my best option might be the "old" 15", but I can certainly wait another 6 months. I really hope they replace the legacy port 15" with a non touch bar 15" and integrated graphics only. I think that it would sell well, many casual customers would like a base 15" MBP for 2 grand.

Unfortunately, I don't think that will happen. Based on the fact that they kept the previous-gen MBP15 available throughout the whole of the retina generation.

 

[jerryk]

GPU isn't just for graphics ... if you're playing with any significant form of data, you'll benefit from a better GPU

Depends what you mean by playing with data. Most Machine Learning will not take advantage of an AMD GPU. The libraries will require NVidia's proprietary CUDA drivers which work with only their GPUs.

 

[Macbookprodude]

Yeah that might be an option, but the price gap to a touch bar 15" is so huge, $2400 for base? Come on. However, I looked at the new Microsoft Surface Book just for curiosity, and holy crap, they cost even more! 1



You can upgrade it to 16GB.

Here is proof.

 

[mvtm]

Yeah that might be an option, but the price gap to a touch bar 15" is so huge, $2400 for base? Come on. However, I looked at the new Microsoft Surface Book just for curiosity, and holy crap, they cost even more! 1

Right now my best option might be the "old" 15", but I can certainly wait another 6 months. I really hope they replace the legacy port 15" with a non touch bar 15" and integrated graphics only. I think that it would sell well, many casual customers would like a base 15" MBP for 2 grand.

Have you tried this one at B&H? It’s the 2016 15” Base MBP for $1800. It would certainly be better than what are you trying to grab such as 13” nTB.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1293726-REG/apple_mlh32ll_a_15_4_macbook_pro_with.html

2. Better Yet: You can even try get the 512GB space for $200 more! I would go for this model config instead of the 256GB.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1293727-REG/apple_mlh42ll_a_15_4_macbook_pro_with.html
————

So far these are the better sales i see live. I think you would like more the 15” for your work, as you benefit from the quadcore, RAM for your work.

If....

$1800 is too much on the budget. There is a third option:

3. $1300 2016 13” MBP Touchbar, Base.

This is a better deal yet if you can handle your work on 8GB RAM. Just put APINSIDER code on the checkout for the $500 off.

https://www.adorama.com/acmlh12lla.html

I wouldn’t even consider Apple Care for a $1300 laptop, if it brakes buy the new updated model, maybe on Apple refurb store when they stock it. $1300 is laptop disposable for me (ahem, that’s just me).

I hope you don’t have to settle for a bigger older machine not compliant with Thunderbolt 3, if i knew i could get by the 13” $1300 TB i would get option 3 out of those, but if i know that i require more power for professional use and do like larger screens, go with the $2,000 512GB MBP.

The other option is to wait out for the 2018 MBP but those will be until Oct, Nov they get some discount if they come out like in July.

Hope i helped!’
And if you are not sure wherever you can run your VMs on the cheap 13” Go to a Best Buy/Apple Store ask about, have them loaded in an pendrive/external drive and test it out before ordering as these third party sellers don’t allow returns! ^^