Sitting on a ledge in my garage is a 2012 13 - in MacBook Pro . I keep it around because it has an optical drive – it was the last Apple laptop computer with the feature . Since I ’m the go - to tech support guy in the phratry , I ’ve used that laptop more than I expected to get data point fromoldvintage disk . ( For you young’uns , anoptical driveis used to register data point from things called CDs , DVDs , and in some instances ( but not this one ) , Blu - ray record . )
However , that 2012 MacBook Pro is now dead to Apple . Asspotted by Ars Technica , the ship’s company formally put it on its disused inclination , which means that “ all hardware service ” has end and that “ service providers can not order part for disused product , ” according toApple ’s bread and butter document about vintage and obsolete products .
An Apple merchandise is regard “ vintage ” between 5 and 7 age after it has end being available for sales agreement . “ Service and component may be obtained for longer , as required by law or for up to 7 years , capable to parts availability , ” accord to Apple . After that , a product can be declared “ obsolete . ” If you have an obsolete product , you ca n’t take it to an Apple Store for repair . you may prove to take it to a third - political party fix shop , but that shop will have to find other mean value besides Apple to get parts .
This specific MacBook Pro fashion model was introduce in June 2012 and really stayed in Apple ’s lineup for a long time despite being put back by an optical drive - innocent framework in late 2012 . Apple bid the 13 - column inch MacBook Pro with an optical drive until October 2016 as a loud option , allot toMactracker , which also posit that its marketing tagline was , “ We put more into it . So you’re able to get more out of it . ” Appleended macOS supportfor this model when Big Sur come 2020 .
Apple prognosticate its optical thrust the “ SuperDrive , ” and it was able to sting atomic number 48 and DVDs . Apple still sell an extraneous USB SuperDrive for$79/£79(in the U.S. it ’s acouple of bucks cheaper on Amazon ) , but it uses a USB - A connection , so you ’ll need a USB - A to USB - C adapter to habituate the drive on a advanced Mac . Third - party ocular effort that are much cheaper are also available .
