Question for the Apple Guys

[Brians Evil Twin]

I need to buy my daughter a Mac, and I have about $1,000 to spend.

I'm a PC guy all the way, but it's what college-age kids, especially girls, want.

Any recommendations? I'm thinking this Macbook Air:

Apple 13.3" MacBook Air Notebook Computer MJVG2LL/A B&H

 

[Scooter2112]

That's what I'm using to post this response right now. This is a 2007 model. Has been on 24 hrs a day since I bought it.

Great workhorse.

 

[C_Becker]

Apple offers refurbished Devices with the same warranty as new. A good way to save some money IMHO.
I needed a new Laptop 2 months ago, I went for a refurbished MB Pro. Not much more than a MB Air, more computing Power and better Display.

 

[Pal]

If she isn't going to college to be a graphic designer, yes that is the model you want.

If she has designs on being a designer spend $100 more on the MacBook Pro.

 

[wizard1183]

I have a MBPro and I wouldn't dream of going back to PC. After buying an $800 Sony Vaio for work and it lasted just a yr because Hd issues? I said time to go with something worth the money. Great company, great products. Can't beat it!

 

[Meepers]

I would personally go with this:
Configure - Apple

I don't like the Air models. They feel cheap, and slow.

 

[wizard1183]

I would personally go with this:
Configure - Apple

I don't like the Air models. They feel cheap, and slow.

That's what I have. Great comp! Solid state drive. Fast reliable

 

[Brians Evil Twin]

I would personally go with this:
Configure - Apple

I don't like the Air models. They feel cheap, and slow.

I would too, but college age kids all want light & small. Some are even taking 11" Air to class now because it lightens their backpack.

Remember when you had good eyesight?

 

[Gmal]

That's what I have. Great comp! Solid state drive. Fast reliable

Don`t get her some SS POS! Tubes FTW

 

[Brians Evil Twin]

Don`t get her some SS POS! Tubes FTW

Got it, done!

 

[Meepers]

I would too, but college age kids all want light & small. Some are even taking 11" Air to class now because it lightens their backpack.

Remember when you had good eyesight?

Good eye sight! I started wearing glasses in the 4th grade. I wish I could see a whiteboard/blackboard from the front row.

I used a 13" PowerBook G4 in college. That thing was small and weighed a ton. But it took one hell of a beating and still works to this day. Can't do anything on it, as the OS is so outdated even browsing the internet is slow. But my "newer" macbook pros both have died.

 

[kevinpaul]

I started to read about Apple products just after my Android tablet took it's madden flight in to a wall. I bought us both IPads, these have become our full time computers. I still need my Sony lap top to wright because Oxford Press only works with Windows.
I will buy a 12" or 13" Mac Book of some sort. The size is perfect for my crappy vision, I can hold it near my face. The Mac seem easier to operate.

 

[wizard1183]

Don`t get her some SS POS! Tubes FTW

Haha I agree with you! But I've not seen any Macs OR PCs these days with tubes running them. So I think she'll be safe with SS on her Mac. Now if we talking amps? Gotta burn some glass!

 

[SWeAT hOg]

2010 MacBook Pro. If it had an odometer, my family and I would have rolled it over, twice.

 

[Fracture]

 

[Gloveberg]

Please don't take this as an insult because I love Apple products but is she wanting a laptop for school or a fashion accessory? If all she's going to do is take notes and surf the 'net then I don't see paying Apple's prices for that. If she needs the Mac for it's graphic abilities then fine I get it but only if she truly needs it.

Again, I'm not being an ass or trying to offend you whatsoever.

 

[Kamen_Kaiju]

I love how, "it works" is a selling point.

I had a $300. eMachines PC that was on and running and never broke down for years and years. I only turned it off when I moved.


Apple makes cool stuff, not denying it. Just find it funny that, "it works" is a selling point.

It's supposed to work.


Sucks about that Sony VAIO,....I've heard the bigger name brand PC's have issues like that. Sony and such. I remember my Compaq laptop took a sh*t after a couple years.

Hopefully Dell is better (since I got one a few months ago.)

Apple is cool but I'm glad that the PC companies are starting to copy their designs and offer slim metal laptops too.

My Laptop looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro,..but cost half as much as one.


End of the day a computer is a computer. PC or Mac doesn't really matter much unless you absolutely NEED to have one or the other. (Mac for design or PC for games.)

 

[Razzle]

Anything Apple: good move.

MacBook Air, fine machine. But the new MacBook Pros are pretty airy. Look for Apple to drop the air soon. I'd get a MacBook Pro. But I would definately not get it from B&H.

A VERY important point: memory. Don't fool around with 4GB, get 8GB min. It's important to know the Airs can't be upgraded yourself, you gotta get 'em that way. The Pros can, 5 min job. So buy the machine with minimal memory, and install it yourself.

I'd go through pricing here.

 

[sk8rat]

That's what I have. Great comp! Solid state drive. Fast reliable

solid state...gross, I want a tube driven computer.

 

[Brians Evil Twin]

B E T, I have a 2010 MacBook Pro 17" that has sat idle for over a year not a mark, always used a mouse so trackpad is perfect

That would be great, but I'm buying this through my company's pre-tax technology purchase program so I have to buy retail.

Please don't take this as an insult because I love Apple products but is she wanting a laptop for school or a fashion accessory?

Fashion accessory, duh!

I love how, "it works" is a selling point.

Well that's because PCs don't just work.

MacBook Air, fine machine. But the new MacBook Pros are pretty airy. Look for Apple to drop the air soon. I'd get a MacBook Pro. But I would definately not get it from B&H.

A VERY important point: memory. Don't fool around with 4GB, get 8GB min. It's important to know the Airs can't be upgraded yourself, you gotta get 'em that way. The Pros can, 5 min job. So buy the machine with minimal memory, and install it yourself.

It's OK, she's a lightweight user. 256GB flash is more important, she's a heavy iTunes user.

Here's what I got:
Apple 13.3" MacBook Air

• 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5 (Broadwell)
• 4GB of 1600 MHz LPDDR3 RAM
• 256GB PCIe-Based Flash Storage
• Integrated Intel HD Graphics 6000
• Apple Magic Mouse 2
• MS Home Office for Mac
• Apple 2-year warranty extension

The price for this brand new was only $20 more than a refurb when PA tax was added in (no tax from B&H Photo).

Thanks everyone for the help!