Still Worth Buying a 15" From 2015?

[andrew5494]

Hey everyone, Im trying to find a new laptop for college.
Im visually impaired so I love big screen sizes but Apples pricing is completely outrageous for its 2017 15" MacBook Pro models: $3000CAD+
I get that they're trying to market the 15" as a step above any of the 13 inch models but crap!!
Anyways, I see they left that old 2015 MacBook Pro still on their website to purchase... is it even still worth purchasing? It doesn't even have USB C and its design is really outdated.

What would you guys recommend?
Btw I'm using it mostly for programming and productivity with the occasional light games.
Thanks

 

[lympero]

It's a 2015 model with a 2013 CPU with no price drop since released. Greedy Tim.

 

[QueenTyrone]

Get a windows pc for programming and gaming. The mac won't do that great with gaming but it'll be ok. Well, you can have one but in my comp sci classes I was the laughing stock and some programs might not work on Mac so be prepared to have windows on it as well. But 15" 2015 is amazing and so I say get it

 

[andrew5494]

Get a windows pc for programming and gaming. The mac won't do that great with gaming but it'll be ok. Well, you can have one but in my comp sci classes I was the laughing stock and some programs might not work on Mac so be prepared to have windows on it as well. But 15" 2015 is amazing and so I say get it

The Dell XPS 15 was what I was looking at, but I heard that the real programmers need a Mac cause of unix and the ability to run both operating systems.

 

[rushmere]

I've recently bought a 2015 15" model, and it's just perfect for me. I couldn't justify the cost of the 2017 model, and I actually prefer the 2015 model anyway due to the better keyboard, function keys and wider range of ports.

Try checking out the Apple refurb models as well, you can get better value (but you might have to wait for the right model to be available). I got a higher spec model with faster processor, dedicated graphics card and 512GB SSD for about the same cost.

 

[QueenTyrone]

The Dell XPS 15 was what I was looking at, but I heard that the real programmers need a Mac cause of unix and the ability to run both operating systems.

The dell cost the same or more than that 15" if you get the older model with the 4k display (trust you want that its better and more powerful), either will do honestly but I'll always suggest the windows due to price. You can get a good gaming pc for half the price but mbps are just so awesome

 

[ZapNZs]

It is not a waste at all - it is a proven design that is still technically-relevant in 2017 (if you plan to work with 4k material, to a much lesser degree.) If you are going to use it for general coursework, this system will be far more power than you will need for many years.

You can get that model for $1,600-1,700 as a refurb (if available in CA?) For $2,000, you can get the 2015 refurb with the 2.5 GHz i7, a 512 SSD, and the Radeon discrete GPU - the gains current quad core laptop CPUs make over that 2.5 is not all that drastic compared to the improvements seen in lower power silicon. However, some of the other areas of improvement among the 2015 v. 2017 15-inch MBPs are more pronounced (like the GPU and SSD, for example.)

The lack of USB-C may be a limitation in the future depending how you use your system - it could also be of no consequence at all. The same goes for Thunderbolt 3. The display improvements and speaker gains of the 2017 may also be of greater/lesser benefit depending upon usage. The touchbar, larger trackpad, and keyboard changes are all subjective - some prefer the old over the new, some the new over the old.

 

[0922251]

The Dell XPS 15 was what I was looking at, but I heard that the real programmers need a Mac cause of unix and the ability to run both operating systems.

I have just switched from a Dell XPS 13 to a MBP 13 and I can tell you, the ease of having core programming languages such as C and compilers such as GCC ready to use out of the box is so handy! If I ever need Windows I can just run it in a VM or BootCamp

 

[_Kiki_]

yes, but not for retail price, you can find this model few hundreds bucks cheaper on eBay almost brand new with warranty

 

[joefoong79]

Go microcenter.com they sell it $1960 + tax as new, not refurbished. That is no wrong getting old model as long as you like it. Only thing very different compare both model is the newer version speaker is much better. The rest I will said same par.

 

[Fishrrman]

One other thought, not related:
Before you buy a 15", consider: are you really going to be happy toting that around school for four years, instead of a 13" ...?

 

[leman]

Only thing very different compare both model is the newer version speaker is much better. The rest I will said same par.

Thats not really true. The new laptops have better display, faster CPU (and much faster GPU), better connectivity options, and they are significantly more lightweight.

Is it worth the price premium? Its up for the individual to decide. But the "budget" 2015 15" from Apple is simply not a good purchase at this point.

 

[deany]

Costco UK have a cracking deal on the 13" http://m.costco.co.uk/view/p/macboo...-ram-128gb-solid-state-drive-in-silver-186522 two year warrantee included.
I wonder if Costco USA has the 15" 2015 on offer.

 

[PBz]

I would actually buy refurbished 2015 over new. New battery possibly sat for a while if inventory (less likely via Apple). Refurbished from Apple battery will be very new.

 

[smallcoffee]

Why does it cost this much? Taxes?

 

[Fancuku]

Why does it cost this much? Taxes?

OP is in Canada and the Canadian dollar is only worth 75 cents US right now.

 

[joefoong79]

Thats not really true. The new laptops have better display, faster CPU (and much faster GPU), better connectivity options, and they are significantly more lightweight.

Is it worth the price premium? Its up for the individual to decide. But the "budget" 2015 15" from Apple is simply not a good purchase at this point.

That just on the paper improvement. Put side by side the screen no different. CPU not even feeling too much different. Better connectivity?? You serious. Everyone complaint about this USB C connection and dongle life. I will rated it as buy if you not upgrade from 2015 Mbp.

 

[PBz]

That just on the paper improvement. Put side by side the screen no different. CPU not even feeling too much different. Better connectivity?? You serious. Everyone complaint about this USB C connection and dongle life. I will rated it as buy if you not upgrade from 2015 Mbp.

I agree. I have a 2015 15" and 2017 15" in my office right now. I put them side by side to compare screen in light, dark, videos, using the wallpapers, etc and it's so damn close. 2017 seems more warm. They are very close IMO. My 2017 15" is nice but so is the 2015. The 2015 seems more durable but is heavier. I still say if you are not doing 4K video the 2015 is plenty. 2015 will do 4K but just not as fast. Also, if you plan to run 4K external monitors that's a vote for 2017.

 

[andrew5494]

I agree. I have a 2015 15" and 2017 15" in my office right now. I put them side by side to compare screen in light, dark, videos, using the wallpapers, etc and it's so damn close. 2017 seems more warm. They are very close IMO. My 2017 15" is nice but so is the 2015. The 2015 seems more durable but is heavier. I still say if you are not doing 4K video the 2015 is plenty. 2015 will do 4K but just not as fast. Also, if you plan to run 4K external monitors that's a vote for 2017.

I have no plans to run 4k monitors so maybe I'll just get the 2015 model but the specs on the Dell XPS 15 are pretty tempting, GTX1050, 512GB, kaby lake i7, 4k screen....
And it's all for the same price as the old 2015 MacBook pro with have the storage.

 

[Fancuku]

I have no plans to run 4k monitors so maybe I'll just get the 2015 model but the specs on the Dell XPS 15 are pretty tempting, GTX1050, 512GB, kaby lake i7, 4k screen....
And it's all for the same price as the old 2015 MacBook pro with have the storage.

I have tried so many laptops over the last two years including the XPS 13 and 15 (last year's models) and always come back to MBPs. The retina screen, touchpad, macOS and integration with my iOS devices are what always bring me back.

Don't always look at the price and the specs. Macs would never sell if people only looked at price and specs. You need to look at the whole package.

 

[MrGuder]

I agree. I have a 2015 15" and 2017 15" in my office right now. I put them side by side to compare screen in light, dark, videos, using the wallpapers, etc and it's so damn close. 2017 seems more warm. They are very close IMO. My 2017 15" is nice but so is the 2015. The 2015 seems more durable but is heavier. I still say if you are not doing 4K video the 2015 is plenty. 2015 will do 4K but just not as fast. Also, if you plan to run 4K external monitors that's a vote for 2017.

I had almost the opposite experience...I had both the 2015 and 2016 MBP 15" for 2 weeks side by side I saw a big difference in screen. The contrast, colors and brightness were all better on the 2016. I would keep the 2016 at about 70-75% brightness which was perfect for me. The 2015 I had to notch it up to about 85-90 to get the same look. While the 2015 had a larger battery for my use it did worse by using more battery keeping it at a higher level to get a quality view.

The 2016 even at 70-75% still provides excellent battery and for me used less wattage. I watched the latest Star Wars movie on each and the colors and contrast was so much better on the 2016 than the 2015.

In the end I sent both back and waited for the 2017 which was the best decision I made. I am very happy with the 2017 MBP 15" the display, keyboard and battery have all been excellent.

 

[Queen6]

I agree. I have a 2015 15" and 2017 15" in my office right now. I put them side by side to compare screen in light, dark, videos, using the wallpapers, etc and it's so damn close. 2017 seems more warm. They are very close IMO. My 2017 15" is nice but so is the 2015. The 2015 seems more durable but is heavier. I still say if you are not doing 4K video the 2015 is plenty. 2015 will do 4K but just not as fast. Also, if you plan to run 4K external monitors that's a vote for 2017.

Tend to agree there should be a tangible reason to purchase the 2017 over the 2015 design, given the price differential. Personally I purchase what I need to accomplish the task. if the additional features and or performance isn't needed bette to save the money...

Q-6

 

[deany]

Yep, it really depends on what you want from this laptop.
I'm more than happy with 2015 Parallels XP, W7 and W10
Although fan does kick in under pressure (probably not good for gaming).

 

[Falhófnir]

I'm pretty sure that, outdated or no, CPU wise it's still the 3rd most powerful Apple laptop ever (behind its 2017 (and virtually tied with its 2016) successors). Graphics wise, I believe the iris pro 5200 is about on a par with what's now in the high end 13" MBP and by no means a slouch, though don't expect really great performance in tasks that are gpu heavy.

Given they're still selling it, I'd expect many years of OS updates to come, and given it's towards the upper end of the power scale, with a fast SSD they should run relatively smoothly. Can't promise that will come to fruition, but seems relatively straightforward logic.

Nice computer though it is, the price is perhaps a little on the steep side nowadays, if you can get a deal on one, or if you'd consider a refurb then that's probably the only drawback solved. I wouldn't say at this point there's anything about the 2017 for most people that would make it worth $700 more (that's a new iPhone!) unless they absolutely need a gpu/ the most possible power, or have need of the huge bandwidth of 4x Thunderbolt 3 ports (though I've only checked them out in store so far so I suppose YMMV if you've owned one and know better).

 

[deany]

I'm pretty sure that, outdated or no, CPU wise it's still the 3rd most powerful Apple laptop ever (behind its 2017 (and virtually tied with its 2016) successors). Graphics wise, I believe the iris pro 5200 is about on a par with what's now in the high end 13" MBP and by no means a slouch, though don't expect really great performance in tasks that are gpu heavy.

Given they're still selling it, I'd expect many years of OS updates to come, and given it's towards the upper end of the power scale, with a fast SSD they should run relatively smoothly. Can't promise that will come to fruition, but seems relatively straightforward logic.

Nice computer though it is, the price is perhaps a little on the steep side nowadays, if you can get a deal on one, or if you'd consider a refurb then that's probably the only drawback solved. I wouldn't say at this point there's anything about the 2017 for most people that would make it worth $700 more (that's a new iPhone!) unless they absolutely need a gpu/ the most possible power, or have need of the huge bandwidth of 4x Thunderbolt 3 ports (though I've only checked them out in store so far so I suppose YMMV if you've owned one and know better).

It appears apple have a "six year itch"
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/06/13/list-of-macos-sierra-compatible-macs/