Personally, if you're going to buy in the Macbook ecosphere, I'd recommend avoiding the MBAs and aiming for the MBPs. Everymac is a good resource for comparing the specs of different year model Macs. Ebay sales for a 2015 model seem to be running around $500-$600. So while I would recommend upgrading from the 2010 Macbook, if you have your eye on the Macbook Air line I'd suggest just buying a 2015 or older model used instead of a "new 2017" model. But since it's Apple and a large portion of their userbase is not technically knowledgable and trusts Apple to watch out for them, Apple can rip them off this way. Any other company which tried to pull this off would see its sales evaporate to zero. Apple didn't even bother to upgrade it to a 2016 or 2017 CPU. CPU (2.5 GHz to 2.7 GHz with turbo boost). It's basically a minor refresh on the 2015 MBA, and not a very good one at that. The "2017" Macbook Air is also a poor choice. If you do decide to upgrade the drive to a SSD, be aware that the interface is only SATA 2, and you need to be running El Capitan to have TRIM support. OS X support for it ended with El Capitan (2015). They were decent in their time, but are horribly outdated today. Ken Colburn is founder and CEO of Data Doctors Computer Services, . Ask any tech question at facebook.The 2010 Macbook is the last of the plastic Macs.
Not only can you save money over a brand new unit, but you can specifically seek out models that you know are upgradeable down the road. Refurbished options: I’m typically not a big fan of refurbished computers, but when it comes to MacBooks, I make an exception, as long as it's been refurbished by an Apple Authorized Service Center.
MacBook Pros: Both 13-inch and 15-inch models 2015 and older can be upgraded. Non-Retina MacBook Pro units up to late 2016 may also have an option, but most units from 2016 on are very limited on both upgrades and replacement options. MacBook Air: Most models from 2017 or older have hard drive upgrade options.
Make note of the model - for example: MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) - and the serial number. The serial number will help the repair shop or online parts reseller determine your exact options when the time comes. To do this, click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner, then on "About This Mac." Your exact model will determine whether you have any upgrade options, so start by determining what you have. If you think you may need more memory in the future, consider upgrading at the time of purchase. If you try to order a new MacBook from the Apple website, they specifically warn you: MacBook Pro memory is not user-accessible. This means that the newer your MacBook is, the more likely it can’t be upgraded or easily repaired. Locking the hardware down has proven to boost sales of new devices because there are no upgrade options and they slowly started moving towards this approach on MacBooks a few years back. If you’ve been an iPhone user for a while, you already know that if you want more storage, you have to buy a new device. Knowing what’s possible or in your case, what’s not possible before you make a purchasing decision is the best way to avoid a disheartening surprise down the road.
Upgrading can generally extend the life of an older computer for years since most users spend most of their time on the Internet. Not only can it increase the amount of storage you’ll have available, but it can also significantly improve the speed, especially on older units that have older hard drive technology. The single most important device that you want to be able to upgrade is the hard drive, preferably with a Solid State Drive (SSD). No matter what you think you need today, it’s very likely you’ll need more in the future. I recently wrote about this issue when it comes to All-In-One computers ( 4 Reasons to Avoid All-In-One PCs.) When a hardware component fails, if you can’t cost-effectively replace that specific component, you’re faced with a repair bill that can be close to buying a new computer. Question: I just found out that my MacBook Pro’s hard drive can’t be upgraded because it’s soldered in! When did this change happen on Macs?Īnswer: A couple of things everyone buying a new computer should always consider is both the upgradeability and reparability of the unit.