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MacBook Pro 16" 2019 Teardown

ifixit.com

61–70 of 520 posts

Re: MacBook Pro 16" 2019 Teardown

#61
post #24

I can't find any information on the SSD flash chips; does anyone have any info on if they're MLC or 3D Nand? That would impact the wear of the drives considerably.

Which ones last longer?

MLC would last longer than 3D NAND, SLC would last significantly longer than both; but nobody is shipping SLC for at least 5 years now it seems :(

Re: MacBook Pro 16" 2019 Teardown

#63
post #11

It‘s not a very professional device if you can‘t upgrade the storage and the memory. The Mac Pro will feature modular SSDs (and they aren‘t even super fast). I wonder if Apple will use something proprietary or standard M.2 NVMe modules. They probably can‘t offer PCIe 4.0 slots since they‘re using Intel which is trailing behind.

Whether something you purchase can be upgraded depends on a lot of things.

We don't expect to be able to upgrade lots of things that are tools used by professionals, including the engine and transmission of a truck used for deliveries, or a hammer. And yet, those things can clearly be intended for professional sales based on capabilities and reliability at the time of sale.

With laptops, some laptops really can be upgraded - especially larger, heavier ones. Ironically, sometimes heavier ones that have easy to access panels for upgrades are cheaper. But as a provider of laptops, there would be a balance between allowing those upgrades, and guaranteeing levels of performance and reliability.

Personally, I won't buy a desktop - I'll buy parts (with options for later upgrades) and I'll build it. But I won't claim that it's therefore a device for professionals. Rather, it's a device specifically for me! With a laptop, which is increasingly the tool of choice for many professionals, being able to upgrade does tend to mean you'll get a longer life out of it. That's a good thing, but it's only one of many ways to measure whether a laptop is good for your professional needs. My employer provided me with a Macbook Pro, and it works well for my tasks as is, without needing upgrades. But in the past, I've had computers that slowed my performance down, and had to be upgraded or replaced. And in each case, the time savings multiplied by my hourly rate made replacing the hardware trivial in comparison.

So does that mean Apple is taking advantage of businesses by selling a professional tool that cannot be upgraded? Maybe. Maybe that was your point all along? But it's not an uncommon practice, and our best option to get around this is to choose an alternative device that better fits what we value. (That's why people love Windows and Linux - lots more choice!)

Re: MacBook Pro 16" 2019 Teardown

#64
post #11

It‘s not a very professional device if you can‘t upgrade the storage and the memory. The Mac Pro will feature modular SSDs (and they aren‘t even super fast). I wonder if Apple will use something proprietary or standard M.2 NVMe modules. They probably can‘t offer PCIe 4.0 slots since they‘re using Intel which is trailing behind.

Im so tired of these comments on HN. Some people want a laptop they can pull apart and fix themselves. Those people should buy something else. when I was younger and had more time than money, I used to upgrade RAM and the SSD myself. Then I started making money. Then it became seriously dumb to spend 2 hours doing all that nonsense when I can just pay upfront to get a maxed out RAM and Hard drive. Can’t afford it? Then buy something else! I honestly don’t underatand this constant complaining about repairing laptops yourselves. What a waste of time! Leave it to the Apple store techs to do it for you.

Re: MacBook Pro 16" 2019 Teardown

#65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Magic Keyboard design is not the 2012-2015 MBP keyboard design, it's the design from their line of external keyboards. iFixit's jokey intro is misleading in this regard.

This is correct. The Magic keyboard has been beloved for several years, and it is not a keyboard that has ever been in a laptop before.

Ugh. I despise the "magic" keyboard as there's way too little travel. I always found the whole thing a bit physically painful.

It's never going to happen but I'd love to see a return of the Aluminum / Titanium PowerBook keyboard.

Re: MacBook Pro 16" 2019 Teardown

#66
post #50

Call me crazy but I must be the only person who enjoys typing on the old butterfly keyboard. Yes I was one of those people who originally thought the travel was too small but after using it for a couple hours I found the low travel was a huge relief to Carpal Tunnel and I also typed much faster. Maybe I have the only keyboard that “works” but I love me some butterfly keyboards.

I enjoy the butterfly keyboard, but once the keys started putting two spaces in when I said one, or putting two of other letters, or none of yet other letters, it got old really fast.

Still like my keyboard, and would be happy to have it back if Apple fixed the reliability issues.

FWIW, I like the iPad keyboard feel, too.

Re: MacBook Pro 16" 2019 Teardown

#67
As I have already said in https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21524049:

> I hate the wobbly feeling that the scissor mechanism produces. Apple didn't need to return to the scissor mechanism, it should have reiterated the design. I'm very disappointed that Apple just gave up & used the safe way of regressing back.

> It feels like Apple is losing the spirit of doing things itself, whether other people dislikes it. Apple is more and more becoming a usual company that just does what consumers demands. And I'm sad with that.

Re: MacBook Pro 16" 2019 Teardown

#68
post #50

Call me crazy but I must be the only person who enjoys typing on the old butterfly keyboard. Yes I was one of those people who originally thought the travel was too small but after using it for a couple hours I found the low travel was a huge relief to Carpal Tunnel and I also typed much faster. Maybe I have the only keyboard that “works” but I love me some butterfly keyboards.

I felt the same way until my butterfly keyboard gradually stopped working and I went back to my old 2014 MBP keyboard, and realized I had developed Stockholm Syndrome. If you haven't already, try switching back to the old (or new) scissor keys and see if you still feel the same.

Re: MacBook Pro 16" 2019 Teardown

#69
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple will never give you a modular, easy to repair system. It just isn't going to happen, time to move on.

While you make a solid point about likely behavior, I'm sure there are those that said Microsoft will never cooperate with Linux. "Never" is a bold word, and it's worth highlighting things like a hard-to-replace/repair keyboard to keep on that tiny bit of pressure to change (how often have you been in a meeting where "customers aren't asking for this" came up as a justification to not make a change?). Also, just to l…

That's fair, but it would take a massive change in both consumer behavior and Apple's target audience to make something like this come about. But hey, ya never know.

Re: MacBook Pro 16" 2019 Teardown

#70

Repairability 1/10

Some people don't mind throwing a few grand every couple of years on a new machine. You see the same with the phones, they cost a fair bit but people just buy them anyway. A little annoying that certain things aren't simple a socket that can be replaced though.

That's an interesting point.

I'm one of those people who pays ~$60/month on Apple's 0% iPhone loan plan. When my phone is paid off in a couple of months I would gladly pay $100/month for a 0% Apple loan on a low- to mid-range MacBook. I wonder if this will ever become an option.

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