Fixing the MacBook Pro
marco.org
Fixing the MacBook Pro
1–10 of 132 posts
Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro
#2Surprises me that a 2015 MBP is still passable for him cpu-wise.
I briefly replaced my 2014 MBP with a 2017 iMac, citing the 16GB ram ceiling as my primary issue. I ordered the iMac from Apple with 8GB of ram and ordered an additional 16GB from OWC b/c it was way cheaper.
The iMac arrived over two weeks before the OWC ram arrived, so I had 2 weeks using the 8GB iMac in it's ram-starved state. In short: I never once noticed the new iMac with just 8GB to be memory-starved. Never.
I don't really know what this is owing to — I assume Kaby Lake has a lot to do with it. I feel like if they could just update the 2015 MBP to the new chips, we'd be all set again for many years. That's my wish anyway.
For clarity: I returned the iMac after the 15 day trial period b/c I still use a laptop a lot of the time and didn't want to be managing two computers. I think I could have used this iMac with just 8GB of ram indefinitely. It was literally a non-issue for two full weeks of normal, daily working use.
Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro
#3Got a 2015 Macbook Pro. As of today, the E, R, and T keys have all stopped working. Apple wants $500 for a logic board replacement.
It was fine when it was just the R key. Sort of. I set up bash scripts to copy-paste "r" to my clipboard, and just pressed command-V instead of "r". But then the T key went out.
The other day, I was using my MacBook with an external keyboard sitting on top, and then the whole thing shut off. The keyboard had been pressing the power button.
Also ran across someone with a similar story: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15701331 MBP rendered unusable by faulty X key. Apple wanted $400, he paid, then the G key went out. They wanted another $400.
Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro
#4* A choice of Apple ARM CPU(s) or Intel
* Ditch the keyboard and expand the Touch Bar to become a touchpad: an entire customizable keyboard / input pad
Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro
#5I agree that the cable-management flaps on the power bricks need to come back. They were an excellent design and the current bricks could clearly accommodate them.
Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro
#6* A choice of Apple ARM CPU(s) or Intel * Ditch the keyboard and expand the Touch Bar to become a touchpad: an entire customizable keyboard / input pad
Interesting. The virtual click of an apple touchpad would provide some tactical feedback to recognize "clicking" on individual keys on a flat surface. The next problem to solve is how to simulate the tactile separation between keys when you're typing, but not when you're mousing around.
Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro
#7I would add: the trackpad is way too big. I accidentally touch it all the time when I am typing, which causes my cursor to move.
Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro
#8It's a slow ass piece of crap that costs way too much.
Apple used to make a solid computer. I have a 2015 MBP issued to me by work, and I used to be excited about it, but I realized it's mostly overpriced garbage.
OSX provides a very nice desktop experience. But the rest of the operating system is completely useless for professional programming use.
Homebrew is trash. Mac OS is Unix, but it certainly does not have any of the features that Linux has (containerization, a good init system, package managers...).
Oh and the new ones with the stupid butterfly switch and no ESC key... kill me now.
Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro
#9related -- they would do well to add an escape key to the iPad pro hardware keyboard as well.
Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro
#10I agree that the cable-management flaps on the power bricks need to come back. They were an excellent design and the current bricks could clearly accommodate them.
I've heard several Apple 'Geniuses' say that if you wrap the cables around these flaps then the cable will eventually get damaged. Customers routinely reply: "why do you put the flaps there if using them will damage the cables?". Perhaps Apple has removed them because they end up damaging the cables. I've also noticed that the USB-C charge cable seems to be thicker/more rigid than the magsafe 2 charge cable.