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Why is the MBP classic still so expensive?

A

addictive

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 6, 2008
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I'm still interested in buying a Macbook Pro classic and its last release was 2012. However, the price of these laptops are still staggeringly expensive. They are often as expensive as the Retina models which have the superior display, faster processors and graphics and more modern I/O ports.

How much would people recommend I should pay for a new MBP classic or one "like new" from a retailer.

I like the idea of being able to put in my current 1TB SSD and max out the RAM and use it as either a portable Mac Mini or a laptop when necessary.
 
addictive said:
I'm still interested in buying a Macbook Pro classic and its last release was 2012. However, the price of these laptops are still staggeringly expensive. They are often as expensive as the Retina models which have the superior display, faster processors and graphics and more modern I/O ports.

How much would people recommend I should pay for a new MBP classic or one "like new" from a retailer.

I like the idea of being able to put in my current 1TB SSD and max out the RAM and use it as either a portable Mac Mini or a laptop when necessary.
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They're literally 50% off RRP if you buy a used one (from eBay, etc.) They're really reliable as there's not much too them, so it's not too much of a gamble even though the tech is used.

Save yourself a fortune and get one half price.
 
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T5BRICK said:
Apple wouldn't be selling it if people didn't buy it.
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Sure, people that doesn't understand nothing about IT would still buy a heavy weight, 3 years old tech with a monstrous 1280x800 resolution for 3 times the price it's worth.

Only Apple can do that, no one else :)
 
JackieInCo said:
It is still their top selling MBP to date because it has a DVD drive and is cheaply priced compared to the other models.
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Has USB 3 Ports, Thunderbolt, Replaceable RAM, DVD Drive / Burner / CD Drive, Upgradable HDD/SSD, you can even fit it with 2 SSD's, and (gasp) a HEADPHONE JACK (which may not be in the new one).

People trash it - but you know what, if this laptop had a retina display I would still purchase it over the new ones.
 
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magicschoolbus said:
Has USB 3 Ports, Thunderbolt, Replaceable RAM, DVD Drive / Burner / CD Drive, Upgradable HDD/SSD, you can even fit it with 2 SSD's, and (gasp) a HEADPHONE JACK (which may not be in the new one).

People trash it - but you know what, if this laptop had a retina display I would still purchase it over the new ones.
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I bought one two months after buying my 15" 2015 16GB 512GB MBP last summer for all the reasons you mention. I did buy it at BestBuy in July 2015 when it was on sale for $799 and with my reward certificates from buying my 2015 MBP, I paid just over $700 for it. I upgraded the RAM to 16GB. I haven't replaced the HD in it and probably won't because I just use it for internet.

Also, it only has 2 USB ports, not three.
 
There is at least one source selling them new on ebay for about $793 (saw this yesterday at dealnews.com).

That's not a bad price.
(I have no affiliation with either the seller or dealnews)
 
Yeah, the biggest problem in my view is the screen resolution, it's just horrible. No retina would be needed for it to be a viable option for me, Macbook Air res would be enough: 1440x900.
 
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Also, for being a 2012 MBP, Apple is now shipping it with Sierra installed. Just like the 2015 MBPs, the 2012 always ships with the latest major OS.
 
They're easy to open up, replace a lot of parts yourself from whatever vendor you like, can be upgraded to carry two hard drives (if you swap the optical drive for another HD, or get a blu-ray burner instead.) More ports, plenty of power. Very versatile, so value is holding well. Two years ago I got a late 2011 model and gave it a huge SSD and 16GB memory. Makes me cry to use non-SSD computers now :)
 
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I still have my mid-2010 MacBook Pro and I absolutely love it. I recently purchased a rMBP mainly because of the Retina screen, but I could have upgraded the older MBP's specs to match and even top the new rMBP. Check craigslist and eBay for good offers and avoid buying it from Apple unless it's a refurb for a very good price.
 
magicschoolbus said:
Has USB 3 Ports, Thunderbolt, Replaceable RAM, DVD Drive / Burner / CD Drive, Upgradable HDD/SSD, you can even fit it with 2 SSD's, and (gasp) a HEADPHONE JACK (which may not be in the new one).

People trash it - but you know what, if this laptop had a retina display I would still purchase it over the new ones.
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If it were continually updated, I'd bet most people wouldn't trash it.

i5-6267, Iris Graphics, 250GB SATA SSD and 8GB RAM standard, and an IPS 1440X900 display would make this machine a winner.

In it's current form, there's no way I could recommend it over a 13" Air, which now comes with 8GB ram standard. It even looks worse when compared with the Blade Stealth. Unless you can get it for ultra cheap, not even the upgrade-ability makes up the price.
 
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The screen on the cMBP is quite decent. More than that, great—save only in comparison to a retina screen. And even then quite good.

As alluded to, one distinct advantage of the cMBP is being easily upgradeable. So no need to pay Apple's prices on RAM or SSD.

If, yes, the SSD in a cMPB will not be as fast as that in a 'Retina' model, if also not soldiered in. However the cMPB can be configured to be quite powerful.

As well as upgradeable, it is also downgrade-able—being a distinct plus. Purchased new, the cMPB comes with Apple's latest OS, and can handle as much. BUT—unlike its 'Retina' brethren—it can also run the OS it originally came with: Mountain Lion (10.8).

So if wishing to run the latest OS, fine. Or the option to restore it back—its hardware allowing as much—to what is arguably a better OS in many respects.
 
TechZeke said:
If it were continually updated, I'd bet most people wouldn't trash it.

i5-6267, Iris Graphics, 250GB SATA SSD and 8GB RAM standard, and an IPS 1440X900 display would make this machine a winner.

In it's current form, there's no way I could recommend it over a 13" Air, which now comes with 8GB ram standard. It even looks worse when compared with the Blade Stealth. Unless you can get it for ultra cheap, not even the upgrade-ability doesn't make up the price.
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I agree - I think it's funny that you say this. Because lets face it - the product that Apple has out now on their high end is just as expensive as a classic macbook pro. Retnia is outdated, classic is a dinosaur.

Both are over priced for what you're getting.
 
efegue said:
...resolution for 3 times the price it's worth.
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Basic economics, the "worth" of something is set by the buyer when they choose to buy (or not). It isn't set by random internet posts.

(shhh - trade secret but hi-spec models of cars cost nothing like the price difference to make compared to low-spec models in the same range...almost no-one knows this so don't put it on the internet...shhhh!)
 
@simonsi I am a much bigger fan of the automotive world than I am of the computer world, but how does that work exactly? A BMW with the basic package is very lacking compared to one with the luxury or tech package, for example, and I am sure there are a lot of manufacturing costs that take place because of the many extra features like navigation, bluetooth, parking sensors, rear view camera, bigger alloy wheels, and more expensive leather trims to mention a few.

If you take the cost of each feature/device independently, like the HD screen with nav, the combox in the trunk, the Bluetooth capability, etc. must add a lot to the production cost.
 
Its easy, all those additional items don't add proportionally to the cost, remember the base car includes all the expensive crash-testing development, noise evaluation, emissions etc etc etc. All models run down the same production line irrespective of the options fitted so cost of assembly is very similar.

In the volume manufacturers buy, the cost of a fancy 18" alloy is minimally different to a 16" alloy. So the high-end fully loaded model may cost 25% more than a base model, yet the price may easily be double.

In many instances an auto is actually cheaper to manufacture than a manual car yet most manufacturers charge a price premium for the auto (this depends a lot on market but was a big factor in the UK market until relatively recently)...
 
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