Also, for existing models with the third-generation keyboard — last year’s new MacBook Pros and the new MacBook Air — if they require a keyboard replacement, they’ll get the new tweaked keyboard with the purportedly more durable mechanism.
Makes me feel a little more comfortable with this new machine.
I’m using an early 2011 15 inch MacBook Pro. Still! It’s now almost eight years old. And it’s plagued by that issue with its discrete graphics card. After Apple replaced the logic board twice – for free – I got it repaired late last year again (by a third party), and then a couple of days ago another time (under warranty). Before going with the repair, I thought about getting a newer model. It remained being just a thought.
Apart from being a waste of otherwise still very capable hardware, there are three main reasons for this:
The new unreliable keyboard.
Apple’s ridiculous high prices for SSD storage.
The Touch Bar.
I’ve heard and read about too many instances where keys on the new keyboards would stop working properly – even on their latest iteration – that I’m very hesitant to buy one with those in them.
Then there is the price for SSD storage. I want a 1TB configuration, so I can comfortably fit everything I need internally. I don’t want to deal with external drives and all the complexity that comes with that. Annoyingly, upgrading a current MacBook Pro configuration to feature a 1TB SSD instead of the 512GB version costs an additional €500. Which I feel is a rip-off!
And I’m sceptical of the Touch Bar, too. I use the Esc key a lot, and think I would miss having a hardware key for its functionality. So, I’d much prefer a row of function keys.
And that’s why I’ll keep using my trusty old 2011 model. It still performs well with its quad-core CPU, all-SDD storage and a renewed battery. I’m still hoping Apple will get its act together again soon.
The United States government has demanded that Apple take an unprecedented step which threatens the security of our customers. We oppose this order, which has implications far beyond the legal case at hand.
This moment calls for public discussion, and we want our customers and people around the country to understand what is at stake.
I hope most tech companies will finally back Apple in this fight for privacy and freedom!
300/365: So, I had to go to the Apple Store this morning, because my MacBook Pro crashed again and wasn’t booting up at all. This is very likely to the graphics card issue with 2011 15″ MBPs. I’ve had the same issue pretty much exactly one year ago. I got a new logic board back then (for free), but now the problem returned.
Luckily, I got a spontaneous appointment at the store in the early afternoon. So they checked it, and now my laptop is in repair with them. I signed up for a “business-membership” for a year, mainly to get priority-repair and a replacement-machine in the meantime.
And now I have to deal with a German kezboard layout for at least a week.
Jeff Keller’s photo editing software history seems to be pretty close to my experience. He’s not going to use the new Photos app:
Given everything that I’ve said above, you can probably tell that I’m not enthused about Photos. Not just because of the loss of features from Aperture, but also the software’s incredibly dumbed down interface, which feels a bit like someone stuffed an iPad into my MacBook Pro.
Currently reading through this. I’d like to replace Aperture, but the new Photos app doesn’t (yet) seem to be a drop-in replacement. The things I’d definitely be missing would be geotagging and Automator/AppleScript support and maybe third-party adjustments/presets.
Apple has launched a repair program to fix MacBook Pro machines sold between February 2011 and February 2013 that have problems with distorted video, no video, or unexpected system restarts.
As of February 20 in the United States and Canada (February 27 in other countries), users with affected machines will be able to visit an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider to receive repairs for their MacBook Pros at no charge. Customers will be able to bring their MacBook Pro to an Apple Store or service provider or send it in via mail for repairs.
That makes me very happy (if I really get reimbursed).
