Recommendations on which MacBook to buy

[MmkLucario]

As the title suggests, I’m looking for recommendations. I currently have my eyes on an Amazon deal, a M2 MacBook Air 8GB 512GB for $1300, but am waiting for my mom to contact our charter school advisor to see if we can be reimbursed up to $1000 for a laptop. I’m paying for the rest, and hopefully that’ll make me take care of my computer. If it’s $500, I’m most certainly getting a Windows computer, which I can cope with, since I’m using Windows 10 right now.

I prefer not to have the M1 Air, as I like flat stuff and having the MagSafe port will free up a USB-C port, but I know that is much cheaper than the M2 Air.

I currently don’t do much on a computer, just typing up papers, watching videos, and downloading small files. I don’t have much cloud storage, and I like to keep everything local anyway.

I might try a Lego CAD application, and possibly put Minecraft on there, but I don’t think I’ll be pushing the computer much.

Also, how is buying Apple stuff on Amazon, and on Swappa?

Thanks

 

[tstafford]

Based on what you are saying, I like the Amazon deal quite a bit. It's not cheap but it will be a very nice machine at a "reasonable" price. If I was buying an M2 MBA I would for sure want the 512K drive and if forced to by budget would choose that over upgrading to 16GB RAM (which I would also want).

I'd suggest checking out the Apple refurb store. I don't think you're going to find anything that beats the Amazon deal for your needs, but you might.

 

[MBAir2010]

The  refurbished store might be what you need, as tstafford suggested.

and perhaps a $329 iPad will do all those tasks you mentioned instead of a notebook.
you can always get a MacBook Air or Pro later in your life.

My MacBook Pro and air from 2012 have the mag-safe and I prefer the MBAirM1 usb c port instead
due to accuracy of a stringer connection and
there is enough battery to use both ports which are th seam number as most laptops made today.

 

[maflynn]

Personally, I think the 16gb/512MBA gives you the best bang, as 8GB may be too limiting as is 256GB. However with that said, your needs are not extensive and if you can find a good deal on the base model, that may very well suit your needs.

 

[MmkLucario]

Based on what you are saying, I like the Amazon deal quite a bit. It's not cheap but it will be a very nice machine at a "reasonable" price. If I was buying an M2 MBA I would for sure want the 512K drive and if forced to by budget would choose that over upgrading to 16GB RAM (which I would also want).

I'd suggest checking out the Apple refurb store. I don't think you're going to find anything that beats the Amazon deal for your needs, but you might.

I checked the Apple refurbished section, and the M2 Air 8GB 512GB SSD is listed at $1,349.00. I did find a 16GB RAM 512GB SSD there, but it’s $100 more.

 

[MmkLucario]

The  refurbished store might be what you need, as tstafford suggested.

and perhaps a $329 iPad will do all those tasks you mentioned instead of a notebook.
you can always get a MacBook Air or Pro later in your life.

My MacBook Pro and air from 2012 have the mag-safe and I prefer the MBAirM1 usb c port instead
due to accuracy of a stringer connection and
there is enough battery to use both ports which are th seam number as most laptops made today.

True, but I like a computer more because the software isn’t as restricted, and I don’t have to buy accessories, which kills the price point of an iPad when you start adding accessories.

 

[MBAir2010]

True, but I like a computer more because the software isn’t as restricted, and I don’t have to buy accessories, which kills the price point of an iPad when you start adding accessories.

my iPad costs $329 in 2017 and I might get another one n 2023 for $329.
I did spend some money on a cover, $19 and 128GB thing drive, $24

I can't computer without a computer so the MacBook Air is my main thing,
the 2021 MBA are worth every penny!

 

[jamface]

I prefer not to have the M1 Air, as I like flat stuff

🤣 what more reason do you need

bear in mind the M2 Ait isn’t flat either. It has a little curve around each edge, there’s four feet on the underside and the sides all have a narrow gap running along their lengths.

 

[MmkLucario]

🤣 what more reason do you need

bear in mind the M2 Ait isn’t flat either. It has a little curve around each edge, there’s four feet on the underside and the sides all have a narrow gap running along their lengths.

That’s fine. I’m a little bothered by the aesthetic of the wedge shape of the M1 Air. The M2 Air looks much more even.

 

[Pilot Jones]

When choosing between RAM and Storage, always choose RAM, unless you have some very specific data requirements.

You can always buy more external storage later, but you're stuck with whatever RAM you get.

 

[MmkLucario]

When choosing between RAM and Storage, always choose RAM, unless you have some very specific data requirements.

You can always buy more external storage later, but you're stuck with whatever RAM you get.

True, but they are hard to find on Amazon or Costco, and you would have to go to either go to the Apple refurbished store, or places like Swappa. Plus they are expensive, and when you couple the external drives, which are expensive as well, as well as the hassle of managing those drives, you might as well just go find a 16GB RAM 512GB SSD laptop and pay extra.

 

[wilberforce]

Although I usually advocate 16GB and 512GB minimum, for a student on limited funds (perhaps an unwarranted assumption?) and needing a computer for basic usage, I would suggest get the the cheapest base M1 Air, get over that it is not flat, and save your money for other fun things.
The base M1 Air is still an awesome machine, for $850 from Apple:

Refurbished 13.3-inch MacBook Air Apple M1 Chip with 8‑Core CPU and 7‑Core GPU - Silver

Originally released November 2020|13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2560-by-1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch|8GB unified memory|256GB SSD1|Touch ID sensor|720p FaceTime HD Camera

www.apple.com

 

[MmkLucario]

Although I usually advocate 16GB and 512GB minimum, for a student on limited funds (perhaps an unwarranted assumption?) and needing a computer for basic usage, I would suggest get the the cheapest base M1 Air, get over that it is not flat, and save your money for other fun things.
The base M1 Air is still an awesome machine.

I might be able to reimbursed up to $1000 and I’m willing to pay a little more to get the computer I want, but you’re right. I should save some money for other things.

 

[wilberforce]

I might be able to reimbursed up to $1000 and I’m willing to pay a little more to get the computer I want, but you’re right. I should save some money for other things.

Check out the Apple refurb site. This is the gold standard for refurb. They are indistinguishable from new, have full year warranty, 14-day return period if you don't like it for any reason, and zero buyer's risk.

Refurbished Mac Deals - Apple

Save up to 15% on a refurbished Mac. Tested and certified by Apple including a 1-year warranty. Free delivery and returns.

www.apple.com

 

[MmkLucario]

Check out the Apple refurb site. This is the gold standard for refurb. They are indistinguishable from new, have full year warranty, 14-day return period if you don't like it for any reason, and zero buyer's risk.

Refurbished Mac Deals - Apple

Save up to 15% on a refurbished Mac. Tested and certified by Apple including a 1-year warranty. Free delivery and returns.

www.apple.com

Thanks! If I miss the sales on Amazon or Costco, I’ll definitely check it out!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Check out the Apple refurb site. This is the gold standard for refurb. They are indistinguishable from new, have full year warranty, 14-day return period if you don't like it for any reason, and zero buyer's risk.

Refurbished Mac Deals - Apple

Save up to 15% on a refurbished Mac. Tested and certified by Apple including a 1-year warranty. Free delivery and returns.

www.apple.com

Excellent suggestion, and I agree completely.

I will also second this suggestion, and can attest, from personal experience, that it works very well: The refurb section (often to be found in tiny, microscopic, letters at the bottom of a page - in other words, you may have to look, and look closely, for it) is excellent, and well worth exploring.

Basically, you can obtain a computer - with all of the warranties and guarantees of a brand new model - at a considerable discount.

 

[wilberforce]

nvm

 

[MmkLucario]

nvm

What were you going to say?

 

[wilberforce]

What were you going to say?

something about Apple education pricing, but not sure if it applies.

Education Pricing and Student Discounts

Receive a discount on a new Mac or iPad for your studies with Apple Education Pricing. Available for students, teachers and staff.

www.apple.com

 

[MmkLucario]

something about Apple education pricing, but not sure if it applies.

Education Pricing and Student Discounts

Receive a discount on a new Mac or iPad for your studies with Apple Education Pricing. Available for students, teachers and staff.

www.apple.com

I don’t think I can use that pricing, because I’m not in college, nor are my parents teachers.