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The "I just ordered / bought / got my new/refurb MBP" thread [Merged]
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I took the plunge this week! Found a 15" MBP with touch bar (the upgraded model) at Best Buy as an open box for $2600...not bad. It was about 25 miles away though, so I called them to make sure that they had the model. They assured me they had it. I took the drive only to find out that they had the base 15" in stock...and I really need the 512 SSD. SO...they gave me $100 off of a brand new one! I'll take that deal! So...I'm typing on my new MBP...LOVE it.
My last Mac was an early 2011 15" MBP...it's still running well...but was getting wonky with USB issues and stuff. 6 years on a laptop is pretty awesome, IMO. Nice to have a new one!
My last Mac was an early 2011 15" MBP...it's still running well...but was getting wonky with USB issues and stuff. 6 years on a laptop is pretty awesome, IMO. Nice to have a new one!
The last time I had a mac laptop was the 1st generation Pro in 2006. I traded that in for an iMac in 2011, and then needed a laptop. So while I kept the iMac(quad, 21.5, 2.5 ghz) my work found me more and more away from the house, and so I was forced at the time to go to a $100 12 inch Thinkpad core2duo 2.2 ghz x200, from 2007. It was upgraded to an SSD last September, but it still felt like the dark ages. So I upgraded to a late 2013 MBP, 2.6, quad, 16gb, 256gb(IG), benchmarking single/multiple at 4100/13000.(Of course before that I had a Cambridge Sinclair, Laser128(apple II clone), a mac plus, and an SE/30, a IIcx, a IIfx, a quadra 610, a blueberry iMac, a wallstreet laptop(borg model), and a Powerbook 800.)
I upgraded the arrival system from 10.9.5 to 10.12.3 yesterday, and migrated everything from the iMac off of the iMac's time capsule, too. Even my VirtualBox running windows xp works fine.
I upgraded the arrival system from 10.9.5 to 10.12.3 yesterday, and migrated everything from the iMac off of the iMac's time capsule, too. Even my VirtualBox running windows xp works fine.
Have my new 13" tbMBP in hand. After a 21 minute OS update I did some basic config and ran Geekbench:
3.1Ghz i5 / 16GB / 1TB: 4045 / 7962 CPU Score, 31902 OpenCL.
Also ran it on the machine I'm replacing, mid-2011 MBA:
1.7 i7 / 8gb / 1TB 2013 11-inch MBA 3374 / 6154 CPU score and a 16797 OpenCL.
So far I like the keyboard a lot. Typed on it only briefly at the Apple store a month ago. Feel like I have to use my fingers less to get the job done.
This thing feels quite heavy compared to my ol' 11-inch. I hope the 12" isn't massively updated, as I would have chosen something more portable. I just didn't feel like Apple was offering much in terms of performance over my MBA. I think the benchmarks above show those machines will hold up quite well.
On a performance / non-graphics consideration alone. I think there is a merit for price-conscious people to considering an 11-inch MBA 2015 MBA off ebay as I did. This new machine was incredibly expensive!
That said, the screen is dope and I am blessed to have such a quality tool.
I'm sure I'll have a lot more impressions I'll try to share.
3.1Ghz i5 / 16GB / 1TB: 4045 / 7962 CPU Score, 31902 OpenCL.
Also ran it on the machine I'm replacing, mid-2011 MBA:
1.7 i7 / 8gb / 1TB 2013 11-inch MBA 3374 / 6154 CPU score and a 16797 OpenCL.
So far I like the keyboard a lot. Typed on it only briefly at the Apple store a month ago. Feel like I have to use my fingers less to get the job done.
This thing feels quite heavy compared to my ol' 11-inch. I hope the 12" isn't massively updated, as I would have chosen something more portable. I just didn't feel like Apple was offering much in terms of performance over my MBA. I think the benchmarks above show those machines will hold up quite well.
On a performance / non-graphics consideration alone. I think there is a merit for price-conscious people to considering an 11-inch MBA 2015 MBA off ebay as I did. This new machine was incredibly expensive!
That said, the screen is dope and I am blessed to have such a quality tool.
I'm sure I'll have a lot more impressions I'll try to share.
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Update: Unboxed and started to use my new SG tb 13' MBP, 3.1 ghz, 256 gb internal and 16 gigs of ram. A very slight defect (less than a millimeter) of a small chip below the trackpad. Not really noticeable until you look pretty much a couple inches away. My OCD-ness would kill me, but as it's a uniquely specced laptop (and everything else being fine so far) I'll just learn to live with it. But then again, paying so much you'd expect 100% absolute perfection. Will do a battery test if possible and a short review a few weeks down the line in a separate forum post sharing my thoughts.
Just received my 15 inch 2.7 460 on Friday. It had the scratch under the speaker, so Apple is now expediting me another one. Fantastic...
This is my third replacement, (the previous 2 had scratches near the speaker grill and chip marks near the hinge). But I finally got a perfect one, only problem is it's making that noise. This is my first time hearing this, I can't find where it's coming from.
Ordered a 15" 2.7ghz/512gb/460 for $2799 on Sunday from Adorama, after a lot of back and forth in my head I emailed them and changed it to a 13" 2.9ghz/512gb/16gb RAM for $2149 and it's on the way now. Decided I didn't need all of that horsepower, I don't edit 4k videos (Just 1080p60 GoPro videos from my Autocross runs or track days using RaceRender) or photos and honestly most of my time is spent messing around in SSH to my home servers, working on stuff for our business (an Escape Room) or just pissing around on the internet. Hoping I made the right call.
My thought ordering the 15" initially was I occasionally may want to play Counterstrike Source, CS:GO, Team Fortress Classic or TF2 while at the Escape Room or traveling for my day job but then I realized that the 13" will play them just fine under Windows, I also have a Nintendo Switch preordered so I can just play that.
I currently use a 2015 base 15" MBP which is going to go to my wife. My previous one before that was a 2006 MacBook Black and I loved that thing, used it for almost 10 years.
My thought ordering the 15" initially was I occasionally may want to play Counterstrike Source, CS:GO, Team Fortress Classic or TF2 while at the Escape Room or traveling for my day job but then I realized that the 13" will play them just fine under Windows, I also have a Nintendo Switch preordered so I can just play that.
I currently use a 2015 base 15" MBP which is going to go to my wife. My previous one before that was a 2006 MacBook Black and I loved that thing, used it for almost 10 years.
Don't know if this is the right place to post (I didn't really feel the need to start a new thread) but does anyone know if Apple stores only do the base models? In the U.K. I mean, if I wanted to buy a MacBook Pro with Touch Bar later this year, but I wanted to get a higher spec, would I have to order online? Or do Apple stores stock different configurations?
I could be mistaken but the actual Apple Store locations only carry the base models. I am sure by later this year the demand won't be so great and you can get a configured one quite quickly. Also check your local electronic stores too as they have spec'd MBPs.
I'm waiting Apple to introduce Kaby Lake as it would be pointless to get one now when updates an price drops are probably not too far away. But it would be nice to be able to walk into and Apple Store and get the model I want later in the year.
I don't know if the UK is similar to the US in this regard, but in the US stores they quietly (as in, unadvertised) offer more popular online configs. I got a 2.9 GHz / Radeon 460 / 1TB from a physical Apple Store.
I didn't know that, i'm not sure if they do that also in the UK, i guess the only way to know is when i make a list to the Apple store later this year and ask. it would be nice if they did that as i would be able to buy one there in store.
They do that in the UK physical Apple Stores too. They can usually tell you if they have them in stock by their PDAs (or iPod Touch device things) but again, not advertised. They have popular BTO options such as @dotdotdot states above such as 1TB SSD... They've done it certainly since 2013...
That's great to know, I plan on going to the Birmingham Apple Store later this year to pick one up, but I want a higher storage of 1TB and possibly 16GB Ram in the 13" MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.
@Dave245 yes, there and Touchwood for sure. However for the 2016 ones, i'd ring up as they were out of stock when I last checked. The Apple guy said to phone to save a wasted journey. They didn't have the LG monitors in stock and said it would be a while before they come in (monitors).
I just purchased my first MacBook since the MacBook Air refresh back in 2010!
After weeks of deliberation and dozens of youtube videos about both the 2015 and 2016 MacBook Pro, I went ahead and got a refurbished 2015 13". My first foray into the refurbished market.
This is what I went with, ended up setting me back $1779AUD -
Released March 2015
13.3-inch (diagonal) Retina display; 2560-by-1600 resolution at 227 pixels per inch
8GB of 1866MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
256GB PCIe-based flash storage 1
720p FaceTime HD camera
Intel Iris Graphics 6100
After weeks of deliberation and dozens of youtube videos about both the 2015 and 2016 MacBook Pro, I went ahead and got a refurbished 2015 13". My first foray into the refurbished market.
This is what I went with, ended up setting me back $1779AUD -
Released March 2015
13.3-inch (diagonal) Retina display; 2560-by-1600 resolution at 227 pixels per inch
8GB of 1866MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
256GB PCIe-based flash storage 1
720p FaceTime HD camera
Intel Iris Graphics 6100
Just picked up my 13" ntb MBP 16/512 and couldn't be happier. The impressive specs Windows laptops are putting out lured me in, and I bought an XPS 13. Never again ... coil whine, horrific trackpad, bad customer service, and Windows is still, well, Windows.
Don't listen to the MBP hate. I'm not an Apple die hard, but when it comes to laptops, nothing competes.
Don't listen to the MBP hate. I'm not an Apple die hard, but when it comes to laptops, nothing competes.
I picked up a late 2016 MacBook Pro (i7 2.9Ghz Radeon Pro 460 1TB). I wanted to test drive how I felt about the keyboard and dongle situation and I wasn't too disappointed. I don't really like the keyboard but the weight saved its nice.
So far so good. Time to put my old 2015 15" rMBP 1TB m390x on Craigslist...
So far so good. Time to put my old 2015 15" rMBP 1TB m390x on Craigslist...
Got my fully maxed-out 15" 2016 tMBP last night. Updated to 10.12.3 and finished transferring everything over and am now in the process of nuking my 2012 rMBP to a clean Sierra install so the girlfriend can finally get on the MBP bus!
So far, so good, I like the new system. I haven't done anything 'crazy' with it, haven't sniffed it, haven't shaken it, haven't dropped it from any heights...
First impressions are largely positive.
Things I like:
- The CPU is a minimum of 20% faster than my 2012's 2.6 i7, the 460 graphics are a good 55-60% faster than my 2012's 650 GT and the SSD is blazing fast, at least as quick as the older one is, in real world use and significantly quicker when moving large files around. The added 1TB of space on the new unit is going to ensure this machine gives me a good few years' use, my 2012's 960GB SSD was very nearly full.
- The sound from the speakers is amazing for such a thin, light, thing!
- I like the keyboard, it makes my 2012's keys feel spongy and wobbly. (Funny how using something new can make something older feel instantly strange, even though you never thought anything wrong with it until the new system came along!). The slightly clickier sound from this keyboard does not bother me at all.
- The thing feels like it's absolutely solid in terms of build quality. The small changes in overall footprint, thinner bezels, slightly thinner and lighter body, together with the newer space grey colour gives it a very nice, premium 'feel'.
- It runs cool, a fair bit cooler than my 2012 when doing even moderately intense work.
- Touch ID is a nice feature to have.
Things that feel largely the same:
- The screen is nice and sharp and has a higher max brightness and a slightly warmer colour than my 2012's retina screen. Nothing to complain about here. It seems a little less reflective too, which is nice.
- The SSD, while clearly faster, does not 'feel' like it's 4-5x the performance of the older SSDs in the 2012 MBP.
- The touch bar has worked just fine for me so far, no real quibbles with it and no glaring bugs like on-screen touch bar graphics etc
Things I'm not a fan of:
- Battery life has definitely gone down. It currently lasts around as long as my 2012 does, which isn't great, given that it has a brand new battery and the 2012 is coming up on 5 years old. This isn't that big a deal to me, because I don't do heavy CPU or GPU work on the road very often.
- The lack of legacy ports is an annoyance. I've got all the necessary adapters to ensure my work is uninterrupted, but using all these dongles is not ideal.
- Absolutely no way to upgrade anything on this model now. This is Apple's planned obsolescence hitting full steam.
- I've hit the Siri 'button' on the touch bar at least 3 or 4 times already today when trying to hit delete. This is annoying.
- The price is unreasonable, given that you have to fork-out for several accessories in addition to paying the Apple tax for upgrade options.
- No MagSafe with the built-in charge indicator.
Things I'd have liked:
- I'd have been just fine with a 2012-2015 style body, with a larger battery, at least one USB-A port, MagSafe, and an SD-card slot.
- In the absence of the older body style, I feel Apple should have at least included a USB-A to Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C adapter with each unit. As an aside, I got an adapter extension cable with my MBP. I had ordered one, thinking I wouldn't get one with my adapter, so now I have two! Dunno how that happened.
- Haptic feedback on the touch bar would have been nice. I'm sure this is gonna be added along the way over the next few years.
Overall:
All-in-all I'm happy with the thing, having had it for just under 24 hours! Hopefully it will be reliable and the software will continue to improve things like battery life and touch bar utility. Is it perfect? No, it's not, there's room for improvement here and Apple will improve it bit by bit. The battery will get larger, the lack of legacy ports will be less important as time goes on, it will get faster and further improved with things like haptic feedback on the touch bar. I think the long-time fans' concerns will be addressed in subsequent iterations, so if you can wait for the 2017 or 2018 upgrades, that may not be a bad idea.As is, though, it is a very capable, if slightly flawed and definitely pricey, high end device.
So far, so good, I like the new system. I haven't done anything 'crazy' with it, haven't sniffed it, haven't shaken it, haven't dropped it from any heights...
First impressions are largely positive.
Things I like:
- The CPU is a minimum of 20% faster than my 2012's 2.6 i7, the 460 graphics are a good 55-60% faster than my 2012's 650 GT and the SSD is blazing fast, at least as quick as the older one is, in real world use and significantly quicker when moving large files around. The added 1TB of space on the new unit is going to ensure this machine gives me a good few years' use, my 2012's 960GB SSD was very nearly full.
- The sound from the speakers is amazing for such a thin, light, thing!
- I like the keyboard, it makes my 2012's keys feel spongy and wobbly. (Funny how using something new can make something older feel instantly strange, even though you never thought anything wrong with it until the new system came along!). The slightly clickier sound from this keyboard does not bother me at all.
- The thing feels like it's absolutely solid in terms of build quality. The small changes in overall footprint, thinner bezels, slightly thinner and lighter body, together with the newer space grey colour gives it a very nice, premium 'feel'.
- It runs cool, a fair bit cooler than my 2012 when doing even moderately intense work.
- Touch ID is a nice feature to have.
Things that feel largely the same:
- The screen is nice and sharp and has a higher max brightness and a slightly warmer colour than my 2012's retina screen. Nothing to complain about here. It seems a little less reflective too, which is nice.
- The SSD, while clearly faster, does not 'feel' like it's 4-5x the performance of the older SSDs in the 2012 MBP.
- The touch bar has worked just fine for me so far, no real quibbles with it and no glaring bugs like on-screen touch bar graphics etc
Things I'm not a fan of:
- Battery life has definitely gone down. It currently lasts around as long as my 2012 does, which isn't great, given that it has a brand new battery and the 2012 is coming up on 5 years old. This isn't that big a deal to me, because I don't do heavy CPU or GPU work on the road very often.
- The lack of legacy ports is an annoyance. I've got all the necessary adapters to ensure my work is uninterrupted, but using all these dongles is not ideal.
- Absolutely no way to upgrade anything on this model now. This is Apple's planned obsolescence hitting full steam.
- I've hit the Siri 'button' on the touch bar at least 3 or 4 times already today when trying to hit delete. This is annoying.
- The price is unreasonable, given that you have to fork-out for several accessories in addition to paying the Apple tax for upgrade options.
- No MagSafe with the built-in charge indicator.
Things I'd have liked:
- I'd have been just fine with a 2012-2015 style body, with a larger battery, at least one USB-A port, MagSafe, and an SD-card slot.
- In the absence of the older body style, I feel Apple should have at least included a USB-A to Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C adapter with each unit. As an aside, I got an adapter extension cable with my MBP. I had ordered one, thinking I wouldn't get one with my adapter, so now I have two! Dunno how that happened.
- Haptic feedback on the touch bar would have been nice. I'm sure this is gonna be added along the way over the next few years.
Overall:
All-in-all I'm happy with the thing, having had it for just under 24 hours! Hopefully it will be reliable and the software will continue to improve things like battery life and touch bar utility. Is it perfect? No, it's not, there's room for improvement here and Apple will improve it bit by bit. The battery will get larger, the lack of legacy ports will be less important as time goes on, it will get faster and further improved with things like haptic feedback on the touch bar. I think the long-time fans' concerns will be addressed in subsequent iterations, so if you can wait for the 2017 or 2018 upgrades, that may not be a bad idea.As is, though, it is a very capable, if slightly flawed and definitely pricey, high end device.
Just ordered a 2015 rMBP 15" 512GB hard drive to replace my current 2013 13" 256gb rMBP.
Not refurb, brand new. Here in a week.
Not refurb, brand new. Here in a week.
Hey mate,
I am looking at this exact model as well from Australia.
Just wondering the model is holding up? Any comments? Do you love it?
It's a hefty discount from a. Rand new with same specs...would be cool if it was a 512gb!
Thank you for your thoughts and advise!
I've managed to get top spec'd models at Apple Stores in Australia too. I think they carry limited quantities of higher configurations for each model. They're aware some people need more storage.
It makes sense for them if someone walks in wanting a particular configuration that they can offer them something very close and send them away with a sale, rather than telling them they have to order online and wait a week.
[doublepost=1486217508][/doublepost]
I'm considering the base 13" too. Let us know how you go!
PS, did you change your handle/nick after the purchase or has it always been that way! Haha
I've managed to get top spec'd models at Apple Stores in Australia too. I think they carry limited quantities of higher configurations for each model. They're aware some people need more storage.
It makes sense for them if someone walks in wanting a particular configuration that they can offer them something very close and send them away with a sale, rather than telling them they have to order online and wait a week.
[doublepost=1486217508][/doublepost]
I'm considering the base 13" too. Let us know how you go!
PS, did you change your handle/nick after the purchase or has it always been that way! Haha
I had difficulties getting used to a Mac. used windows my whole life.
but I'm all caught up now. apple stores in my country (netherlands) don't carry sleeves for this device yet. so I'm still looking for a sleeve that fits perfectly. other than that everything good
you mean my username right? I made this account right after I purchased the laptop haha. I am indeed a broke boi now