2015 MBP or 2017?

[iv3chem]

Hi all,

I am going to medical school soon and want to get a computer that will last me until, and after graduation. I really don't like the large trackpad of the 2017 15inch, and neither do I like the fact that I will have to purchase adapters and a usb-c hub for it to continue my scientific pursuits, as even brand-new 750,000$ machines we use are not thunderbolt 3 native.. The manufacturers recommend using nothing but native ports, so I worry about adapter use. Also, our department says our machines are optimized for apple, so no windows. I really like the 2015, as I had it before, and it was a wonderful computer, not as good as my 2012 mbp, but still amazing. I'm a sucker for ports. Any way, down to my real question...

I read several articles here, and on different forums mentioning the effective lifespan of a MBP, and it's apparently clocked at around 5 years, and apple considers it 3, apparently. So, my question is, if I buy the 2015 MBP new from B&H will it only last 3 years..? Will it last less time than the 2017? I'm very concerned about this, as when I graduate medical school, the debt free studying stops, and I have to pay nearly every paycheck as a resident for my loans... Residents make less than nurses, and that will last for 4 years. This means almost 8 years of life needed for this computer, not heavy use. Just word documents, and data crunching in the lab. TV shows at home, and in the summer, super8 and 16mm movie film processing. nothing longer than 2.5 hour videos.

So basically I'm asking if the 2015 will have a longer effective life, than the 2017.

Thanks a lot everyone!

Edit: Also, I really hate the touchbar....

 

[jerryk]

Any machine you buy could last 4 or 5 years. Apple only provides extended warranties out to 3 years in the US. So I expect that is why people are saying the lifespan is 3 years. But obviously on warranty + 1 day the machine does not die.

I am not surprised any machine you connect to does not directly support TB3. Usually any high speed interfacing is handled by some level of front end dedicated system and the data is feed external computers in a much lower speed over USB or heaven forbid RS-232. I am curious to know what type of machines your working with. My background is in biopharma with robots and large scale data processing and analysis. And some of these systems still run Windows XP (yes XP) as controllers.

 

[Rocko99991]

Both will last more than 3 years. The 2015 has the anti-glare coating issue but is covered under an extended 3 year warranty. I think the 2015 is the more durable laptop with the exception of the screen. I would chose that.

 

[iv3chem]

Any machine you buy could last 4 or 5 years. Apple only provides extended warranties out to 3 years in the US. So I expect that is why people are saying the lifespan is 3 years. But obviously on warranty + 1 day the machine does not die.

I am not surprised any machine you connect to does not directly support TB3. Usually any high speed interfacing is handled by some level of front end dedicated system and the data is feed external computers in a much lower speed over USB or heaven forbid RS-232. I am curious to know what type of machines your working with. My background is in biopharma with robots and large scale data processing and analysis. And some of these systems still run Windows XP (yes XP) as controllers.

Same boat as to windows xp being operated on some of the older tech. These are mainly cell sorters (most selective to type of cable), ESM and things of this nature. Sometimes flurometers. The problem is they only support their native (which is not TB3 on any of ours), and claim, that using non native products can damage the systems

If I may ask, it is the actual use of the computer that decreases it's serviceable life? As I was reading a thread just now actually about some people discussing upgrading their machines, and they had 2012, and 2010 MBPs. I am just concerned with the life of the product... If the 2015 will be miserable to use in 4 years, and the 2017 will still be going along fine, them by mere common logic I would have to choose the 2017. despite my detest for the trackpad and touch bar
[doublepost=1502147517][/doublepost]

Both will last more than 3 years. The 2015 has the anti-glare coating issue but is covered under an extended 3 year warranty. I think the 2015 is the more durable laptop with the exception of the screen. I would chose that.

Why do you consider it the more durable laptop?

So there is no difference between their lifespans? The fact that the 2015 has already been in existence for 2 years is meaningless?

Just after reading some threads here I just imagined that computers have some native senescence built in or something.

 

[Rocko99991]

Same boat as to windows xp being operated on some of the older tech. These are mainly cell sorters (most selective to type of cable), ESM and things of this nature. Sometimes flurometers. The problem is they only support their native (which is not TB3 on any of ours), and claim, that using non native products can damage the systems

If I may ask, it is the actual use of the computer that decreases it's serviceable life? As I was reading a thread just now actually about some people discussing upgrading their machines, and they had 2012, and 2010 MBPs. I am just concerned with the life of the product... If the 2015 will be miserable to use in 4 years, and the 2017 will still be going along fine, them by mere common logic I would have to choose the 2017. despite my detest for the trackpad and touch bar
[doublepost=1502147517][/doublepost]
Why do you consider it the more durable laptop?

So there is no difference between their lifespans? The fact that the 2015 has already been in existence for 2 years is meaningless?

Just after reading some threads here I just imagined that computers have some native senescence built in or something.

The 2015 IMO will be more durable. The keyboard is the classic longer press style that many prefer. There are people having issues with the 2016/17 shallow keyboards and stuck/repeating letters and noise. I think the tolerances are too tight. Hardware wise there is not a big difference and I don't see why the 2015 won't still be usable in 4 - 5 years.

 

[jerryk]

Same boat as to windows xp being operated on some of the older tech. These are mainly cell sorters (most selective to type of cable), ESM and things of this nature. Sometimes flurometers. The problem is they only support their native (which is not TB3 on any of ours), and claim, that using non native products can damage the systems

If I may ask, it is the actual use of the computer that decreases it's serviceable life? As I was reading a thread just now actually about some people discussing upgrading their machines, and they had 2012, and 2010 MBPs. I am just concerned with the life of the product... If the 2015 will be miserable to use in 4 years, and the 2017 will still be going along fine, them by mere common logic I would have to choose the 2017. despite my detest for the trackpad and touch bar

We had cell sorters in some of our labs. Kind of high maintenance. I definitely get what you mean about the connections.

As far as serviceable life, I see no reason to expect an issue. The 2015 is just a 15 is a solid machine and the processors is just a bit (10% slower) than the 2016/2017 systems. And having a bunch of native USB-A's is nice around the lab. And I would imagine that typing with gloves on (yeah, I know you are not supposed to, but everyone does) would with easier on the older keyboard.

I have my 2015 for a couple of years and it works as well as the day I got it. On caveat is that I don't do a lot lab work, mostly AI/ML with bio models sometimes (bio product inspection, thin section analysis and disease prediction, etc).