I was thinking about this recently. The most recent macbooks are great. But they are increasingly expensive and increasingly hard to repair or upgrade, and the keybaord is a love or hate thing. For example RAM, SSD and even the battery are now non-removable (or very, very hard to replace due to the battery being glued). But older macbooks allowed you to upgrade these (I upgraded the RAM on my 2009 MBP 13) and the battery could be replaced by someone following a youtube guide (MB Air's still have batteries that are screwed in and so are simple to replace). Yet the older macbooks don't have as good screens, slower processors or USBC.
I can live with not being ablre to upgrade the RAM. I can also live with not being able to upgrade the SSD. Both are negatives but I can live with them. But one of my biggest concerns about getting a newer, modern, macbook is that it will be a dead brick in a few years once the battery gets old and can't be replaced. Even if you plan to sell it in a year or two this iwll be in the mind of the next buyer so could affect resale value (?). I have similar concerns about the way some Windows laptops are going (e.g. the Surface Pro and Surface Book) so this isn't Apple specific.
So what do you think was the best era for macbooks? Personally I think around 2015 was good; a replaceable battery (with a bit of effort and technical knowledge), a decent keyboard, some models could have their SSD upgraded. Of these I would probably lean towards an MBP13 Retina as personally I don't need the power of the 15" and portability is important. The MBA is still interesting but has a poor screen in comparison.
I can live with not being ablre to upgrade the RAM. I can also live with not being able to upgrade the SSD. Both are negatives but I can live with them. But one of my biggest concerns about getting a newer, modern, macbook is that it will be a dead brick in a few years once the battery gets old and can't be replaced. Even if you plan to sell it in a year or two this iwll be in the mind of the next buyer so could affect resale value (?). I have similar concerns about the way some Windows laptops are going (e.g. the Surface Pro and Surface Book) so this isn't Apple specific.
So what do you think was the best era for macbooks? Personally I think around 2015 was good; a replaceable battery (with a bit of effort and technical knowledge), a decent keyboard, some models could have their SSD upgraded. Of these I would probably lean towards an MBP13 Retina as personally I don't need the power of the 15" and portability is important. The MBA is still interesting but has a poor screen in comparison.