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When did Mac laptops get bad? Is 2015 safe for a used machine? #245

Open scripting opened 1 year ago

scripting commented 1 year ago

I'm thinking about getting a refurbished (used) Mac laptop.

I seem to remember there was a point at which Mac laptops started sucking.

Is it safe to buy a 2015 Powerbook?

I need to be able to run Frontier on it, that's why I can't buy a new one.

dw808303 commented 1 year ago

The (butterfly) keyboard was the problem. The first ones shipped in 2015.

Luckily, though, the model you linked to has a scissor-switch keyboard. I owned a version of this laptop for years. It served me well. Be forewarned, though -- it's hot and loud, which was more Intel's fault than Apple's, probably.

sdevore commented 1 year ago

A refurb on this laptop I still have in use, I do open it and clean the fan and dust out and it runs much cooler and quieter that way, it is a bit of dust magnet inside. Drives decent size monitors with no issue as well. Just make sure it is before the butterfly keyboard. Used Mini would probably also run Frontier

MBranzen commented 1 year ago

I have the model you linked as a backup for my M1 MBA, it's still a nice model, but the speed difference in noticeable.

Saved this from somewhere:

"Ye oldie MacBook buyers guide



List of newer MacBooks that are fine to buy, new or used


MacBook Pro 16" from 2019 MacBook Pro 13" from 2020 
MacBook Air 13" from 2020

List of older, used devices that are fine to buy, but not great for long-term use:


MacBook Pro 13" from 2015 
MacBook Pro 15" from 2015
 MacBook Air 13" from 2015 to 2017 (8GB RAM minimum)



List of MacBooks that are not recommended to buy, due to various reasons:


Mainly due to keyboard reliability issues, expensive repairs after repair program ends, plus other issues.


MacBook Pro 13" from 2016 to 2019 MacBook Pro 15" from 2016 to 2019 MacBook Air 13" from 2018 and 2019 MacBook 12" from 2015 to 2017


Devices older than 2015 models are not worth buying and should be avoided, these are not good purchases in 2020."

MBranzen commented 1 year ago

The right-to-repair activist Louis Rossmann has a fast paced video buyers guide about reliable Mac machines that has been transcribed in this article: https://thehouseofmoth.com/louis-rossmanns-macbook-buyers-guide-in-plain-english-and-with-my-take-on-it/

I had to switch out the 1 TB SSD in MBP 2015 after a few years of heavy use, to a model from an earlier generation MBP – so with an example of one it seems to track:

"Not recommended

2015-2016 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro – faster SSD’s but unreliable SSD’s. Louis mentions this is the Samsung controller at fault. The same controller that was used in 2017 MacBook Pro’s that had a repair program for it."

fuzzygroup commented 1 year ago

Do NOT buy a used Mac laptop unless it has at least an M1 processor. There is such a difference that it actually matters.

scripting commented 1 year ago

@fuzzygroup -- I have to buy an old laptop, it's explained in the initial post.

scripting commented 1 year ago

I went ahead and ordered the 15 inch 2015 PowerBook.

https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Macbook-MJLQ2LL-15-inch-Processor/dp/B07ZFZ33SK/ref=sr_1_3?crid=Z9YH82KC98CP&keywords=mac%2Blaptop%2B2015&qid=1672943328&sprefix=mac%2Blaptop%2B2015%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-3&th=1

scripting commented 1 year ago

Happy to report I have the new 2015 macbook pro working, typing this message from the machine.

MBranzen commented 1 year ago

Happy to report I have the new 2015 macbook pro working, typing this message from the machine.

You'll be happy with it, as I've been. Main points of failure for the model from repair shop experiences: