Friend of mine is wanting to get an Apple notebook for her daughter. (headed off to college next year)
Its been over 20 years since I sat in a classroom so I have no clue how day-to-day a need is for a laptop. I assume this is really going to be email, web, movies, music etc in the beginning.

She's asking about battery life on buying used or refurbished MacBook Pro and Air. Also, about a black friday deal she read about at Walmart on a 4GB ram Air.

I'm off the grid with notebooks these days - What should she be looking at?
Thanks
Rain

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A similar question was asked yesterday: [forums.macresource.com]

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It is what it is.

what will she study?

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Critical - What will the daughter be studying ? If it's STEM or media intensive, a basic machine may not provide sufficient power. And/or may not run specific software.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/2015 01:32PM by cbelt3.

Sounds like theater/arts - nothing math or science

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If $800 is an absolute cutoff, then there is only ONE model available.

Early 2014 13.3” Dual-Core i5 1.4Ghz 4GB SSD 128GB $759 from the refurb section when it shows up again. According to refub.me



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/2015 02:00PM by hal.

Yea - checking ebay for them now. Lower prices there and that leaves room for RAM upgrade and a case.

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Quote
Rain
Yea - checking ebay for them now. Lower prices there and that leaves room for RAM upgrade and a case.

Note that the modern laptops have soldered RAM. No upgrades.

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Embarassing myself on the Internet since 1978.

How modern?

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Quote
Rain
How modern?

last few years.

From yesterday, this one for $829 looks to be as close as you can get:
[www.apple.com]

It actually does have upgradeable ram and drive. Refurb = New in apples book. Same warranty.

Personally, if she really wants new/refurb, then $800 might not be enough. I would want a SSD and Retina screen in mine. FYI SSD makes ram far, far less important.

BB has this one for $1050 (and maybe $50 more iff with a edu ID?) Kinda small on the storage with 128 GB, but flash drives or SD cards can make up for it:
[www.bestbuy.com]

$100 more doubles storage Like this, $1150: [www.apple.com]

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/2015 02:58PM by jdc.

The bottom of the line 2015 MBA 13 is supposed to be $779 at Best Buy black friday
and the MBP 13" is supposed to be $899

[dealnews.com]

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The $899 BB one is the same as teh $829 Apple refurb.

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

The $899 Best Buy one is a refurb ?

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The Phorum Wall keeps us safe from illegal characters and words
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Quote
Rain
Sounds like theater/arts - nothing math or science

.. sorry.. don't rent out her room. She'll be moving back in....

(My daughter studied that too...she works retail now..)

Quote
billb
The $899 Best Buy one is a refurb ?

Same model.

"Refurb" might be a misnomner in this case -- I beileve the ones from Apple are not actually "refurb" per se but "overstock". Packaged in a brown box.

Refurb = New in Apples eyes. Refurbs get same one year warranty and are eligible for AppleCare.

If I bought this model, first thing would be another $100 for a 500 GB SSD, which is easy to install.

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Exactly - I haven't said that to her, but yes, I imagine she expects her daughter to move back home after school. lol

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The Band: [www.rhythmandrain.com]

Thanks for everyone's help and support after Hurricane Katrina!

Quote
jdc
The $899 BB one is the same as teh $829 Apple refurb.
...I beileve the ones from Apple are not actually "refurb" per se but "overstock".

Many years ago I read that Apple cannot sell 'new' below a certain price because
of their re-seller contracts. Put it a brown box & call it a refurb, no contract violation! Every refurb I've ever purchased from AS sure looked new to me.

plus, you don't have to set foot in a BB

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"$100 for a 500 GB SSD"
Great price.
Please provide a link so I can grab one.

Thanks