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URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: gadje
Date: September 25, 2022 12:31PM
I decided to buy an Apple laptop for a high school junior, I am split between the $999 M1 MacBook Air which has a lower quality web cam and no magsafe, or the new $1199 M2 Mac Book Air, which has 1080p webcam, MagSafe (which comes in handy) and I expect m2 will be supported a year longer than M1.

Is the $200 worth it?

also, is there a good deal at the moment? I know BB had some MacBook PRO for $500 off. I am not sure if that is a better deal. Thoughs?
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Re: URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: GGD
Date: September 25, 2022 12:41PM
Might want to check costco.com prices. They have the M1 Air starting at $849 and M2 starting at $1149. These prices might end today, that's when their current monthly savings prices end.
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Re: URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: Tiangou
Date: September 25, 2022 12:42PM
The M2 is consideraby better.

Worth it for MagSafe (less risk of the laptop flying off a table, frees up a TB port), and for the bright screen if nothing else. Faster and more power-efficient processor is icing on the cake.

Get 16GB and at least one step up on the storage if you want it to last awhile. Remember, there's no upgrade-path for memory or a bigger drive later.

Deals:
[appleinsider.com]







Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/2022 12:44PM by Tiangou.
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Re: URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: Acer
Date: September 25, 2022 12:47PM
Unless you are getting a screaming deal on the M1, I'd get the M2.
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Re: URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: gadje
Date: September 25, 2022 01:25PM
Thanks all, Apple still has the back to school $150 card, which I can use for an iPhone later





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/2022 01:38PM by gadje.
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Re: URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: Grateful11
Date: September 25, 2022 01:26PM
Here's what I got for $900. but now it's $950. M1 MBP

[www.bestbuy.com]



Grateful11
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Re: URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: gadje
Date: September 25, 2022 01:44PM
Quote
Grateful11
Here's what I got for $900. but now it's $950. M1 MBP

[www.bestbuy.com]

I know... but

add 180 for more RAM (180 edu store, 200 normal)
add 180 for more SSD (same thing, 200 normal)
add AppleCare

base price seems 100 less than non-EDU prices

and then there is 150 rebate card

I just did the same config in non-edu and it was 1949 vs my price of 1762, so I saved almost 190 + that 150 gift card, I think it's an OK deal.

Maybe I could have done better if I shopped around...
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Re: URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: gadje
Date: September 25, 2022 01:46PM
now I need recommendations for a clam shell
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Re: URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: pRICE cUBE
Date: September 25, 2022 02:01PM
What can go wrong with teens will go wrong with electronics. Get the MagSafe. Maybe your teen is careful but teens around that person may not be.



Ways to improve web conference image and sound quality. [forums.macresource.com]


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Re: URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: anonymouse1
Date: September 25, 2022 03:11PM
MBA with MagSate, 16GB RAM, and 512GBSSD.

That's about as good as you're going do to do with a same-day purchase of a new laptop.
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Re: URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: jardster
Date: September 25, 2022 03:30PM
What you posted looks great!



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Re: URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: Grateful11
Date: September 25, 2022 04:28PM
Quote
gadje
Quote
Grateful11
Here's what I got for $900. but now it's $950. M1 MBP

[www.bestbuy.com]

I know... but

add 180 for more RAM (180 edu store, 200 normal)
add 180 for more SSD (same thing, 200 normal)
add AppleCare

base price seems 100 less than non-EDU prices

and then there is 150 rebate card

I just did the same config in non-edu and it was 1949 vs my price of 1762, so I saved almost 190 + that 150 gift card, I think it's an OK deal.

Maybe I could have done better if I shopped around...

You done good and the right thing. Our posts hit at nearly the exact same time. The best I could do was save the $400 over the M2 version. The MagSafe part is ok, I've had several that use it and had to replace about 3 or 4 power supplies due to bad wires, the wire right near the MagSafe turned green and the insulation just fell off every one of them, even the one I'm still using with my 2015 MBA with the bad keyboard.



Grateful11
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Re: URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: Ombligo
Date: September 25, 2022 05:18PM
There are aftermarket magsafe adapters for the M1. This is the one I'm using -- [smile.amazon.com]

there are cheaper ones, but those are 9 pins which won't support fast charging



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Re: URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: Acer
Date: September 25, 2022 05:21PM
Quote
Grateful11
Quote
gadje
Quote
Grateful11
Here's what I got for $900. but now it's $950. M1 MBP

[www.bestbuy.com]

I know... but

add 180 for more RAM (180 edu store, 200 normal)
add 180 for more SSD (same thing, 200 normal)
add AppleCare

base price seems 100 less than non-EDU prices

and then there is 150 rebate card

I just did the same config in non-edu and it was 1949 vs my price of 1762, so I saved almost 190 + that 150 gift card, I think it's an OK deal.

Maybe I could have done better if I shopped around...

You done good and the right thing. Our posts hit at nearly the exact same time. The best I could do was save the $400 over the M2 version. The MagSafe part is ok, I've had several that use it and had to replace about 3 or 4 power supplies due to bad wires, the wire right near the MagSafe turned green and the insulation just fell off every one of them, even the one I'm still using with my 2015 MBA with the bad keyboard.

The new magsafe has a braided cable. I'm hoping it lasts longer. I kept my older magsafes going with sugru when the frays appeared.
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Re: URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: RAMd®d
Date: September 25, 2022 05:28PM
Is the MagSafe cable married to the AC adapter?

That's what I hated about Apple cables and the original MagSafe — the MagSafe cables on three adapters wore to the point of exposed cable and broken connections.

I tried to nurse them along but they ultimately and inevitably died.

At least with the USB-C connected adapter, I can replace the cable at any time with just about anybody's USB-C to USB-C cable.






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Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

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Re: URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: gadje
Date: September 25, 2022 05:31PM
I think the new MagSafe cables have USB-C at the other end these days.

And yes, I have a magnetic adapter on my M1 Air. I love it.
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Ah...
Posted by: RAMd®d
Date: September 25, 2022 05:32PM
...I just saw that the MagSafe cables are replaceable without buying a new AC adapter.

For only $49.






I am that Masked Man.

All you can do, is all you can do.

There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.
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Re: Ah...
Posted by: gadje
Date: September 25, 2022 05:42PM
I hope AppleCare cover the cables. They did on my 2011 MBP several times.
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Re: URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: Michael
Date: September 25, 2022 06:51PM
My battery in my Air M2 lasts so long that I'm only charging it every couple of days. And the cable seems pretty substantial, so I have high hopes it will last.
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Re: URGENT REQUEST. Need to buy a laptop today. Any advice?
Posted by: Grateful11
Date: September 25, 2022 09:13PM
Quote
gadje
I think the new MagSafe cables have USB-C at the other end these days.

And yes, I have a magnetic adapter on my M1 Air. I love it.

What magnetic adapter did you get? I found seen one that can do 67 watt power supply of the 2020 MBP.



Grateful11
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Re: Ah...
Posted by: Tiangou
Date: September 26, 2022 06:26PM
Quote
RAMd®d
...I just saw that the MagSafe cables are replaceable without buying a new AC adapter.

For only $49.

You can also charge with a cheap generic USB-C adapter and/or cable.

(But not too cheap. Stick to certified name-brands.)



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