Which Macbook Pro?

[marydubois]

Hello, I am quite a newbie here so I do not know how things are really working out here but I have an question.

As I mentionend before long ago, I am doing a Art&Design study which requires programs such as Adobe Premier and stuff.

Now I want to get a Macbook Pro but my question is which one can last me for a longer time?

I want to choose between the Macbook Pro 2015 and 2017.
I do not like the Macbook pro 2017 due to it's non lightable apple logo and the lack of ports.

But I wonder is it worth to go for a 2015 MCB or just get the 2017?
And which can get longer on with me?

 

[Ma2k5]

Hello, I am quite a newbie here so I do not know how things are really working out here but I have an question.

As I mentionend before long ago, I am doing a Art&Design study which requires programs such as Adobe Premier and stuff.

Now I want to get a Macbook Pro but my question is which one can last me for a longer time?

I want to choose between the Macbook Pro 2015 and 2017.
I do not like the Macbook pro 2017 due to it's non lightable apple logo and the lack of ports.

But I wonder is it worth to go for a 2015 MCB or just get the 2017?
And which can get longer on with me?

If you are looking to use the Adobe suite, personally I think you are better off with Windows as it performs better and costs less (unless you are already accustomed to macOS and don't want to change).

As for which machine, be aware that the 2017 has the gen-2 butterfly keys which are likely to be more prone to failure than the gen-3 butterfly keys of the 2018. The 2015 is probably the most reliable of the machines (even when factoring the 2018 models), but it is also the oldest and has some aging parts. That is not to say it can't serve you for what you need to do, but you will need to look at the value proposition (a lot of the 2015''s are still relatively high priced in my opinion considering they are 3 years old).

 

[puma1552]

The 2017 is a significant power upgrade over the 2015, but the 2018 is probably even more so significant over the 2017, for what it's worth. But the 2018s have issues the 2017s don't have (crackling speakers and T2 kernel panics). The only issue with the 2017 is the keyboard, but Apple has you covered on that for four years. But if the keyboard fails after that? If you're planning on selling it before then, go ahead and get that one but you don't want a $700 repair bill for a new keyboard after that keyboard program is up.

All that said, I just bought a brand new 2015 that was manufactured in July, one of the last off the assembly line before Apple discontinued it and I am 1000% happy with my choice. There is a potential for the staingate issue, but I've seen no evidence Apple actually fixed this right through the 2018 models, I think the 2017s are still part of that program and it wouldn't surprise me if Apple adds the 2018 to it at some point. If Apple did actually fix it, you'd expect later model 2015s that were built in 2018 to have the fix applied on the assembly line from day 1. So I'd say we all are prone to staingate or none of us are for anything recently manufactured, so that's probably a moot point.

 

[marydubois]

So if I am getting a Macbook Pro 2015 with Mojave OS will it do the tasks I need?
And can it go along for 5 years?

 

[Ma2k5]

So if I am getting a Macbook Pro 2015 with Mojave OS will it do the tasks I need?
And can it go along for 5 years?

It can do the tasks you need yes, easily.

Will it last 5 years? Possibly, no guarantee of course with electronics. No real death issue on the machine that I know of.

 

[filmbuff]

So if I am getting a Macbook Pro 2015 with Mojave OS will it do the tasks I need?
And can it go along for 5 years?

5 years from now? That would make it over an 8 year old laptop. I don't care if you buy the new Vega 20 MBP for $5000, it's not gonna work well in 8 years. I mean it might still function, but it will be considerably obsolete. The 2017 will likely be getting to the tail end of its useful life in 5 years.

I would go with the 2017. Everybody is going to bring up the keyboard risk but I don't think it's that big a risk, not every single keyboard fails. Also it is warrantied for a while.

 

[puma1552]

5 years from now? That would make it over an 8 year old laptop. I don't care if you buy the new Vega 20 MBP for $5000, it's not gonna work well in 8 years. I mean it might still function, but it will be considerably obsolete. The 2017 will likely be getting to the tail end of its useful life in 5 years.

I would go with the 2017. Everybody is going to bring up the keyboard risk but I don't think it's that big a risk, not every single keyboard fails. Also it is warrantied for a while.

I just retired my 2010 and it worked just fine, and was supported through High Sierra which was eight years of OS updates. The 2015 may receive support for longer.

 

[filmbuff]

I just retired my 2010 and it worked just fine, and was supported through High Sierra which was eight years of OS updates. The 2015 may receive support for longer.

Or it might be unsupported in 3 years if they switch to ARM soon. 8 years is an eternity for a laptop.

By the way my mom uses a 10 year old one so I know they can last that long, but she's also using it for very basic stuff and also has constant problems with software. A design student is just not going to get that many years out of a laptop.

 

[puma1552]

Or it might be unsupported in 3 years if they switch to ARM soon. 8 years is an eternity for a laptop.

True, but then the '17 will be no better off but at a higher outlay of cash today with equally terrible resale.

Reality is either machine will likely be fine for the OP's needs over the next few years so he may as well just get the one he likes more.

 

[marydubois]

Or it might be unsupported in 3 years if they switch to ARM soon. 8 years is an eternity for a laptop.

By the way my mom uses a 10 year old one so I know they can last that long, but she's also using it for very basic stuff and also has constant problems with software. A design student is just not going to get that many years out of a laptop.

Well I met older students who have the old Macbook Pro from 2008 up until 2012 and they told me and even showed me that all programs and tasks are working very well.
But they claimed to have fixed their MacBooks due to some issues and I think that is also what I want. The older MacBooks can be openend up and can be repaired by yourself i think.
However I am not certain about the newer versions cause they can not be openend

 

[Jg75]

I would choose the 2015. We are at the end of the road already with semiconductors. It's not possible to make the OS's more heavy (both macOS and iOS). Thats the dilemma, but it's a good thing for the consumer (if you choose the right hardware that is).

 

[LogicalApex]

However I am not certain about the newer versions cause they can not be openend

I think the bigger issue with the newer soldered on models is more forced to pay the Apple tax at the start as you can't upgrade later than risk of the device failing prematurely.

Generally in computing, soldered parts are generally more reliable longterm than not.

 

[marydubois]

So if I am getting a MCB 2015, will it last me until 2025 then?
And a lot of people consider it is still a very strong laptop

 

[LogicalApex]

So if I am getting a MCB 2015, will it last me until 2025 then?
And a lot of people consider it is still a very strong laptop

No one here has a crystal ball so we can't say how long the hardware itself will last, but I won't count on a laptop lasting 10 years. I'd expect software to start fading in support by then.

 

[marydubois]

Thank you guys so much!
First I need to have the money LOL then I'll decide

 

[n3t_runn3r]

I disagree with buying the 2015. I had a 2015 for 2.5 years. I now have a 2018 MacbookPro 13" w/touchbar. For me Majave supplemental update has solved all my T2 panic issues 100%. This machine is far far better than the 2015. Much Faster, SSD speed much faster, thinner, lighter, TrueTone, love the touchbar, rock solid, like the thinner keyboard. I know you are looking at the 2018, but I'd spend a bit more and get 2018.

 

[VMMan]

My 2011 MBP 17” still works like a champ. The lack of USB-C or even USB 3 is an inconvenience though.