Help deciding between a M1 Air ($819w/AC+) or a M2 Air ($950w/AC+) for a high schooler?

[BrightCanon]

I'm trying to figure out for my son who's going into eighth grade if it's worth the cost picking up a M2 base MacBook Air over the M1?

I know they're similar, but I'm looking at it hopefully making it through his senior year. I can't afford upgrade ram and such.

The M1 is the Walmart deal. The M2 is currently on sale at Costco.

Really appreciate any advice.

 

[ab22]

I might go to the Apple .edu store & buy the M2 for $899 : https://www.apple.com/us-edu/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air?bfil=1&product=MLY33LL/A&step=attach

& after purchase, go back & use the $150 gift card to get AC+ for $139

you'll have $11 left over & 14 days return / exchange by mail or in-store.

 

[BrightCanon]

I might go to the Apple .edu store & buy the M2 for $899 : https://www.apple.com/us-edu/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air?bfil=1&product=MLY33LL/A&step=attach

& after purchase, go back & use the $150 gift card to get AC+ for $139

you'll have $11 left over & 14 days return / exchange by mail or in-store.

Thank you.

I actually chatted with Apple about that and they said that I have to purchase the AppleCare at the discounted price at the time of purchase. If I try to buy at a later date, the AppleCare will be full price if I use the gift card.

 

[padams35]

M1 for an 8th grader, and at that a new MBA is mighty generous of you. My kids are either going to get my old stuff or used. Also AppleCare+ for something as cheap as a baseline M1 also seems overkill. I usually only recommend AC+ when AC+ is less than 15% the cost of the laptop being protected. Maybe consider getting a Walmart store protection plan instead?

(Now, if this was a 12th grader taking the laptop to college then for a $130 difference I'd say M2.)

 

[BrightCanon]

M1 for an 8th grader, and at that a new MBA is mighty generous of you. My kids are either going to get my old stuff or used. Also AppleCare+ for something as cheap as a baseline M1 also seems overkill. I usually only recommend AC+ when AC+ is less than 15% the cost of the laptop being protected. Maybe consider getting a Walmart store protection plan instead?

(Now, if this was a 12th grader taking the laptop to college then for a $130 difference I'd say M2.)

Good advice. Thank you.

 

[ab22]

Thank you.

I actually chatted with Apple about that and they said that I have to purchase the AppleCare at the discounted price at the time of purchase. If I try to buy at a later date, the AppleCare will be full price if I use the gift card.

I've seen people buy it in a store & online using the giftcard & with the 20%.

 

[anakin44011]

FWIW - I agree that AppleCare is overkill for this level of a purchase. And the M1 at WalMart is such a great deal.

You'll get normal wear and tear, but the likelihood of a warranty issue is low. I think the biggest risk with my kids was the keyboard (food and drinks around the laptop). Amazon sells inexpensive keyboard covers (skins) that work well and can easily be replaced. My daughter also bought a new cover for the entire laptop, so it kept the laptop in pristine condition. Those are, again, very inexpensive...and it allows them to show off their individuality.

Depending on their usage, you may want to use the extra money that you save for an external monitor, mouse, keyboard so they can have better ergonomics for extensive projects -- but only after you see their use cases.

And buy a cheap thumb drive for backing up files! Alas, most people learn that lesson the hard way.

 

[BrightCanon]

I've seen people buy it in a store & online using the giftcard & with the 20%.

I’ll see if I can give it a shot

 

[ab22]

If online or on-device (Settings - General) don't : in store they just check education ID & 20% off AC is automatic in the bag; at least round here.

 

[ChrisA]

Do buy the AC. I kid that age and a notebook computer, with that combination, you will use it.

I used to teach 9th grade bio. We used Chromebooks and they were fine for what the kids needed. Either of the Macs is MUCH nicer.

 

[Isamilis]

FWIW - I agree that AppleCare is overkill for this level of a purchase. And the M1 at WalMart is such a great deal.

You'll get normal wear and tear, but the likelihood of a warranty issue is low. I think the biggest risk with my kids was the keyboard (food and drinks around the laptop). Amazon sells inexpensive keyboard covers (skins) that work well and can easily be replaced. My daughter also bought a new cover for the entire laptop, so it kept the laptop in pristine condition. Those are, again, very inexpensive...and it allows them to show off their individuality.

Depending on their usage, you may want to use the extra money that you save for an external monitor, mouse, keyboard so they can have better ergonomics for extensive projects -- but only after you see their use cases.

And buy a cheap thumb drive for backing up files! Alas, most people learn that lesson the hard way.

Second this. But it also depends on how will you use the laptop. I would consider AC if it is for iPhone.

 

[Alameda]

Thank you.

I actually chatted with Apple about that and they said that I have to purchase the AppleCare at the discounted price at the time of purchase. If I try to buy at a later date, the AppleCare will be full price if I use the gift card.

If you buy the computer with a Chase Visa card, you will automatically get another year of warranty coverage.

But not all Chase cards offer this; you can all them and ask. I’ve used this warranty (not with an Apple product; they hardly ever break) and it was easy to use.

 

[smirking]

If you buy the computer with a Chase Visa card, you will automatically get another year of warranty coverage.

Costco electronics purchases also include 2 years of warranty. That said, I don't know anyone who've had to make good on the warranty with an Apple product so I don't know if that 2 year warranty is equivalent to Applecare or not.

 

[Alameda]

Costco electronics purchases also include 2 years of warranty. That said, I don't know anyone who've had to make good on the warranty with an Apple product so I don't know if that 2 year warranty is equivalent to Applecare or not.

I think the AppleCare+, which adds damage protection, is not worthwhile. You have to pay for the AppleCare+ itself and then you have to pay a deductible to get your now old-generation equipment repaired if you damaged it. And it’s not as though you’re likely to damage your equipment.

 

[Alameda]

I'm trying to figure out for my son who's going into eighth grade if it's worth the cost picking up a M2 base MacBook Air over the M1?

I know they're similar, but I'm looking at it hopefully making it through his senior year. I can't afford upgrade ram and such.

The M1 is the Walmart deal. The M2 is currently on sale at Costco.

Really appreciate any advice.

I think you should take your time and consider whether it’s a good idea to make the purchase at all.

I don’t know you or your children at all; I am not making a judgement by any means. But a lot of eighth graders and high schoolers get themselves into quite a bit of trouble with social media. You don’t know what they’re reading or who they’re taking to about anything. It’s a highly unsupervised environment. There are predators and people with some very extreme ideas who prey on children.

I bought my children computers when they were quite young, and I wish I had not. They get home from school at 3 and you have no ability to know what they’re up to online.

On the good side: The Mac is not a great video game platform. Millions of teens waste dozens of hours a week playing online games. In these games, you join with a team of other players, and if you pause or stop playing, you lose tons of points and reputation, so it sucks you into three and four hour nonstop games.

 

[smirking]

I think the AppleCare+, which adds damage protection, is not worthwhile.

There are some things that AppleCare+ covers that a traditional warranty wouldn't, but the single most attractive benefit for me is no longer valid since Apple moved to power efficient Silicon processors. If you have AppleCare, you can get your battery replaced if it falls below 70% and I was a battery killer on my Intel machines. I almost never got to 3 years before my battery needed to be serviced so it was worthwhile to get AppleCare.

Ever since Apple Silicon, I haven't had a problem with destroying my batteries by running my laptops too hard. I didn't get AC when I bought my current 16" M1 Pro and I'm not sure if I will when it's time to upgrade.

 

[BrightCanon]

I think you should take your time and consider whether it’s a good idea to make the purchase at all.

I don’t know you or your children at all; I am not making a judgement by any means. But a lot of eighth graders and high schoolers get themselves into quite a bit of trouble with social media. You don’t know what they’re reading or who they’re taking to about anything. It’s a highly unsupervised environment. There are predators and people with some very extreme ideas who prey on children.

I bought my children computers when they were quite young, and I wish I had not. They get home from school at 3 and you have no ability to know what they’re up to online.

On the good side: The Mac is not a great video game platform. Millions of teens waste dozens of hours a week playing online games. In these games, you join with a team of other players, and if you pause or stop playing, you lose tons of points and reputation, so it sucks you into three and four hour nonstop games.

I completely understand your viewpoint. He goes to a private school and basically all of his schooling is done on the computer so I don’t really have a choice. He had a Microsoft surface last year but it was a few years old and has so many issues it was a frustration all year long.

 

[Alameda]

I completely understand your viewpoint. He goes to a private school and basically all of his schooling is done on the computer so I don’t really have a choice. He had a Microsoft surface last year but it was a few years old and has so many issues it was a frustration all year long.

The Mac and iPhone both have some strong parental controls features which let you limit viewing some web content, hours of use, and more.

Set up content and privacy restrictions in Screen Time on Mac

In Screen Time on your Mac, restrict explicit content, purchases, apps, and downloads.

support.apple.com

 

[BrightCanon]

Thanks everyone. I ended up going with the M2. Mainly because of the MagSafe charger and slightly larger screen. Numerous kids have had their computers messed up by people tripping over their chargers. I figured the MagSafe option would be a safer bet.

I appreciate all your help.