Hi all,
Bit of a dilemma choosing computer for my kid…
High School has recommended:
MacBook Air 13-inch / Apple M1 Chip / 8GB / 256GB / Space Grey - $1,356
There is another what is slightly more expensive:
Apple MacBook Air 13.6-inch M2/8GB/256GB SSD - Space Grey (2022) - $1709
Which one shall I go for?
Thanks
RS
Yes I do! The display on the m2 is 🔥.
are they really?
Rich people problems 🤦
When the school is not paying its fine to recommend THE BEST
But realistically any MacBook with a Core i 5 processor and 4GB RAM is all thats required.
The hard disk space depends and how much data they are required to store on the PC but I doubt that is very much.
Probably a 128GB or 256GB SSD is all thats required.
The exceptions:
a) working with huge and complex databases with tens of thousands of entires - which I doubt very much
b) using/producing very high end graphics and videos which I also doubt
Mostly these laptops are used for watching online lessons, preparing asignments (Word documents) and for research on the internet (Safari)
For this any MacBook that meets or exceeds the specs I have given will do fine.
These sell second hand for $150 to $350 depending where you get them
eBay seems to be the cheapest place to buy them
If you are not sure DO NOT ask for computer specs…
Ask for what puposes/tasks these computers are required
Then come back here and ask
I need a computer to do x, y, z and you will get the xorrect answer
This is true; school work on BYODs are never very intensive. Unless your kid is doing some IST subject in their senior years, you don't need a very high end laptop.
M1 with 16gb ram. thank me later!
Not necessary. IMO
You can get the M1 for $1295 from education stores.
This pricing is from JB hi-fi's education portal.
If you are going to take care of it and plan on using it for many years, the M2 is worth a look.
Hopefully, it will be used for many years.
The M2 should get OS updates for 1-2 years more from now since it's newer.
Having MagSafe on the M2 will mean there are 2 Thunderbolt ports available instead of 1 if you're charging at the same time and have peripherals like an external monitor connected. With only 2 ports on the M1 means without a hub of some kind you could plug in a monitor and external drive or card reader but not charge. There's greater utility with the M2 having 3 ports depending on your use case.
It's not a cheap upgrade but I'd also recommend getting 16GB memory now. Other than a battery in 3-4 years that machine should last 6-7 years before needing replacement and have the current macOS release along the way too. 8GB bought now likely won't be enough in that timeframe.
Do these come preconfigured with 16 GB or is there an option to add extra 8 GB to the ones that I mentioned above.
Preconfigured
Get the M1, but you really need to upgrade the storage.
256GB is just way too small, upgrade to 512GB.
edit: If money not an issue then the M2 obviously, but also need to upgrade that to 512GB.
Can't find the 512GB option for M1 on JB's main website. Only on M2 but that's over $2000.
Ta. I will check with JB if they can organise it as well.
@RSmith: Your kid is going to salary sacrifice?
Or, are you being tricksy with the tax rules. (This was not a question).
@Eeples: With the cost of living going thru the roof and now this requirement from the school, I think I will bend the rules.
@RSmith: Just note, when you upgrade from the base storage, the other SSDs are much much faster. So I would take the punt. But things like too much (2TB) storage, or faster (M2) processor, aren't really worth the ticket price. And go with the Macbook Air offering.
If you said this was for yourself and you planned on keeping it for a long time, then it would make more sense to buy a better model upfront (MacBook Pro 14/16, 32GB, 1TB, M1 Pro/Max). I'm in the same boat, since my beloved 2015 model is showing it's age, but darn has it aged better than any laptop I've ever owned, and it's why I'm contemplating to sticking with Apple again despite my distaste (from OS X High Sierra, to this rubbish macOS Ventura) to the direction (2019 MBP Intel Bootcamp, to this 2021 Locked ARM system) they're heading in.
Yeah I agree - the M1 should go the distance with extra storage.
My daughters Macbook Pro (intel) went from year 7 to year 12. It's pretty ratty now and we have had a Apple keyboard replacement (free). Uni she can have an M1 macbook air.
imo, all schools and students should be using chromebooks. (unless they do an elective that requires specialist software)
Do HS students really need more than google docs and browser based apps?
It would solve the OPs 'dilemma'.
It's valuable for kids to learn how to use actual computers ;)
M2, for the magsafe power connection.
My kids are both using MacBook Air’s and have since before high school (originally started with my old work hand one downs). Only shift was my sone wanted windows so I got him a MS surface laptop, which I flipped back to the air when the Surface gave up due to teenage boy lack of care plan (MacBooks++ for quality and resilience). I bought my daughters a new one few months back which is a MBA M2 with 16GB RAM as I see this as the best option to ensure it has 3 years of a good useful life. Some is currently running the M1 with 8GB RAM with no issues but also has a Windows gaming desktop.
My daughter is just finishing first year uni and my son is finishing year 12 so their needs may be different to your kids but I would not be buying the M1 at the moment purely for long term usefulness and support. My son is going to uni next year but hoping it gets another year of use before it is handed down to my wife ( internal family device transfer order 😂). I do have a collection of old Intel MBAs gathering dust now.
My only beef with the Air M2 is that it still only supports 1 external screen, otherwise I would consider it for my work device over my Intel Pro.
Are schools still leaning on Apple? My kids have had either or choices since high school. They're in WA. (Platform agnostic)
Just curious.
Don't think your kid needs an M2 processor.