21/01/2016
MacBook Pro 2012 still Apple's best laptop
Whoever wants to buy a new Apple laptop nowadays often has the choice between a slim MacBook Air and the slightly thicker MacBook Pros with a Retina display. And then there's also that “thicker” MacBook Pro MD101 of medium size with technology from 2012. Yet, for many, this last one is still the best choice.
That's the point: you need to be willing to make a few adjustments. But it’s also the only Apple computer that you can still modify. Where every bit of space is optimized in the 2015 MacBook, as well as in the MacBook Air and the Retina MacBook Pros, the older MacBook Pro, on the other hand, has more than enough room to tinker with. This also means that this laptop is much easier to repair than Apple’s other models.
To start with, this MacBook Pro is the only Apple computer with a DVD player, a network connection, and Firewire. These options are becoming less commonly used these days, but they’re still worth mentioning.
If, like most users, you don’t care much about the DVD player, you can replace it with an extra hard drive. Many users replace the DVD player with flash storage. It’s quite affordable to install a regular 1TB hard drive together with a 240GB flash storage. The computer also uses removable memory modules, so for relatively little money, you can install 16GB of RAM. You’ll have a super-fast computer. If OS X is the only reason you're buying an Apple, and you don't necessarily want a super-thin laptop, there's really no better choice.
The idea that the MacBook Pro from 2012 is still a good computer remains. At iUsed, we see that this computer still surprisingly sells well. As Macs become thinner and lighter, they've also become significantly worse when it comes to upgrades, versatility, and price. You have a lot of Macs to choose from, but in a way, the choices have gotten worse. Now, you're forced to decide in advance what you'll be doing with your Mac for the next ten years because upgrading is hardly possible anymore.
Apple has always been very secretive about sharing specific sales figures for individual products, so we can’t say how many of these computers are still being sold. But for a company so focused on making everything lighter and thinner, it seems that this model is still worth it. The fact that this MacBook Pro is still being sold new is also a sign that not everyone agrees with the direction Apple’s computers are heading. There are apparently customers who miss the time when they could buy a laptop that they could upgrade over time, when something broke or when faster components became cheaper.
Apple doesn’t seem too happy with the popularity of the old MacBook Pro. Information about the computer is hidden on a page full of specifications, and if you want to see pictures of it, you’ll even see images of the new MacBook Pro.
If you want a laptop that will last for a few years, you could do worse. Apple laptop batteries (and actually all brands) tend to break after a few years. Fortunately, the old MacBook Pro is the only Apple laptop where you can replace the battery yourself.
Update 7-12-2020: Unfortunately, we no longer sell the MacBook Pro from 2012. This model has become too old and is no longer supported by Apple. However, if you’re still interested in a refurbished MacBook Pro, we still sell models from 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. On all our refurbished MacBook Pros you get a standard two-year warranty!
MacBook Pro 2012
This MacBook Pro from 2012 is interesting for several reasons. It might even be the best choice. Although the battery doesn’t last as long as that of newer laptops, and it’s far from the thinnest or most beautiful, with a few relatively simple adjustments, it can become the most powerful.That's the point: you need to be willing to make a few adjustments. But it’s also the only Apple computer that you can still modify. Where every bit of space is optimized in the 2015 MacBook, as well as in the MacBook Air and the Retina MacBook Pros, the older MacBook Pro, on the other hand, has more than enough room to tinker with. This also means that this laptop is much easier to repair than Apple’s other models.
To start with, this MacBook Pro is the only Apple computer with a DVD player, a network connection, and Firewire. These options are becoming less commonly used these days, but they’re still worth mentioning.
If, like most users, you don’t care much about the DVD player, you can replace it with an extra hard drive. Many users replace the DVD player with flash storage. It’s quite affordable to install a regular 1TB hard drive together with a 240GB flash storage. The computer also uses removable memory modules, so for relatively little money, you can install 16GB of RAM. You’ll have a super-fast computer. If OS X is the only reason you're buying an Apple, and you don't necessarily want a super-thin laptop, there's really no better choice.
The idea that the MacBook Pro from 2012 is still a good computer remains. At iUsed, we see that this computer still surprisingly sells well. As Macs become thinner and lighter, they've also become significantly worse when it comes to upgrades, versatility, and price. You have a lot of Macs to choose from, but in a way, the choices have gotten worse. Now, you're forced to decide in advance what you'll be doing with your Mac for the next ten years because upgrading is hardly possible anymore.
Apple has always been very secretive about sharing specific sales figures for individual products, so we can’t say how many of these computers are still being sold. But for a company so focused on making everything lighter and thinner, it seems that this model is still worth it. The fact that this MacBook Pro is still being sold new is also a sign that not everyone agrees with the direction Apple’s computers are heading. There are apparently customers who miss the time when they could buy a laptop that they could upgrade over time, when something broke or when faster components became cheaper.
Apple doesn’t seem too happy with the popularity of the old MacBook Pro. Information about the computer is hidden on a page full of specifications, and if you want to see pictures of it, you’ll even see images of the new MacBook Pro.
If you want a laptop that will last for a few years, you could do worse. Apple laptop batteries (and actually all brands) tend to break after a few years. Fortunately, the old MacBook Pro is the only Apple laptop where you can replace the battery yourself.
Update 7-12-2020: Unfortunately, we no longer sell the MacBook Pro from 2012. This model has become too old and is no longer supported by Apple. However, if you’re still interested in a refurbished MacBook Pro, we still sell models from 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. On all our refurbished MacBook Pros you get a standard two-year warranty!