• For more information on how to avoid pop-up ads and still support SkiTalk click HERE.

Find us a MacBook/Macbook Air

Philpug

Notorious P.U.G.
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
42,624
Location
Reno, eNVy
We need a Macbook/MBA for a family member. This is a low use user and does not need a lot of ram or memory, standard configuration is fine. We would like to stay w/in 1-2 generation so she doesn't have to replace it 3-5 years and will last. Apple refurbished is an option (M1's are $850) but would like to stay closer to $500. If someone knows a good source or options or even lookign to upgrade themselves, please post or shoot me a message.

@tball
@Tricia
 

Living Proof

We All Have The Truth
Skier
Joined
Nov 9, 2015
Posts
943
Location
Avalon - On The Way to Cape May
The used MacBook / Air marketplace has been of interest to me since the launch of the M1 chip. Macs were known for high resale, owners seem to be stuck in the past. Using e-bay, my 2018 Air would bring about $450, but as it everything I need, no need to upgrade. Looking at Craigs, individual sellers want much more, not worth it when an M1 can be had around $800. My YouTube Mac guru, Luke Miani, likes the 2014 Mac Pro Retna for about $250 from e-baysellers with warrantees. He is not a fan of the more recent butterfly keyboard used prior to M1's. Whatever you do, get comp pricing from e-bay.
 

Tricia

The Velvet Hammer
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
27,298
Location
Reno
Long before I moved west I talked my mom into ditching her PC and getting a 13 inch MacBook Pro, which she immediately adapted to.
This was in 2009.
At the time she was the church secretary, later the treasurer, and now all she does is basic surfing the web, keeping track of family stuff and creates the church bulletin with Word for Mac.
She is willing to learn to use Pages instead of Word. I can help her with the learning curve for that.

It has been several years since she's been able to update the operating system and though she is doing okay, it's not ideal for her to continue to use.

I have been tasked to find an affordable replacement.

We are considering refurbished.
Most likely a MacBook Air, but a MacBook Pro is possible for the right price.
She doesn't really need anything crazy and frankly, anything will be a big improvement over her 2009 model.


Looking for input from the tribe.

Go!

Edit: I didn't realize Phil started a thread already.
 

tball

Unzipped
Skier
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
4,362
Location
Denver, CO
I'm a bit out of touch with the market, as my 2013 MacBook Pro 15 is still working well.

If not buying new, I'd probably look for a 2014/2015 Macbook Pro. (Sorry, I'm not as familiar with the Macbook Air models).

Here are a couple of ebay sellers I've bought from without trouble:

I think any of the well-rated sellers that *accept returns* will be a reasonably safe bet

I think @Stev posted about an Amazon seller he liked at one point.

Good luck!
 

zircon

Out on the slopes
Skier
Joined
Feb 23, 2018
Posts
808
Location
I can’t believe it’s not England!
If not buying new, I'd probably look for a 2014/2015 Macbook Pro.
+1 the 2015 13” MBP is the best laptop I ever owned. No touchbar, specs that are competitive even today, best typing feel of the Apple laptop keyboards. I sold mine (fully spec’d, working well, but with cosmetic defects to the screeen) last year for $400 cash. It was still going strong but not quite keeping up with the demands of the my job at the time.

Be careful of the Retina screens of that generation though. There’s a known issue of the anti-glare coating wearing and streaking. Not noticeable in normal bright use but ugly when dark. Apple was quietly replacing for a while (while denying there was an issue) them in a program that wasn’t well publicized.
 

Posaune

sliding
Skier
Joined
Mar 26, 2016
Posts
1,914
Location
Bellingham, WA
I have a MacBook Air and my wife has a MacBook Pro. My machine seems to work better than hers. She constantly complains about the touch bar on the top of the keyboard. I'm just fine with the old fashioned F keys. Hers is supposed to have more power, but neither of us is a power user so there doesn't seem to be any difference in speed between them even though the Pro should be faster, theoretically.
 

James

Out There
Instructor
Joined
Dec 2, 2015
Posts
24,453
I would check out local computer repair places. Sometimes they have that stray that’s a good deal.
 

oldschoolskier

Making fresh tracks
Skier
Joined
Dec 6, 2015
Posts
4,229
Location
Ontario Canada
My duaghter bought a Mac Book a few years ago new, she realized that it just didn't compare with the power of a cheap WIN machine that has touch screen.
 

msr2009

Booting up
Skier
Joined
Jun 5, 2019
Posts
16
Location
SLC, Utah
Given the use-case, have you considered iPad+keyboard instead of Macbook? My college professor partner switched to this a few years ago and has been very happy with it for all her mobile use (she will still use a desktop at home/office for major work). Good for internet content, can get Word or use Google Docs for any word processing. I would assume you can used/refurbed iPads for relatively cheap (a brand new iPad Air is $599, which isn't much above your target).
 
Thread Starter
TS
Philpug

Philpug

Notorious P.U.G.
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
42,624
Location
Reno, eNVy
Given the use-case, have you considered iPad+keyboard instead of Macbook? My college professor partner switched to this a few years ago and has been very happy with it for all her mobile use (she will still use a desktop at home/office for major work). Good for internet content, can get Word or use Google Docs for any word processing. I would assume you can used/refurbed iPads for relatively cheap (a brand new iPad Air is $599, which isn't much above your target).
She has an iPad, there are jsut somethings she needs a regular computer for.

I am waiting to see what the announcement will be this week with the upcoming M2 MBA. If there is a 14" on the horizon, I will upgrade and give her my MBA.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Philpug

Philpug

Notorious P.U.G.
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
42,624
Location
Reno, eNVy
Just be careful there isn’t national secrets and porn on it…..:roflmao:
Doesn't that usually cost more?

Usually you pay double for that kind of action, Cotton.
 
Last edited:

Stev

Orange Mocha Frappuccino
Skier
Joined
Nov 15, 2015
Posts
778
Location
Mt. Sputnik, NV
I'm a bit out of touch with the market, as my 2013 MacBook Pro 15 is still working well.

If not buying new, I'd probably look for a 2014/2015 Macbook Pro. (Sorry, I'm not as familiar with the Macbook Air models).

Here are a couple of ebay sellers I've bought from without trouble:

I think any of the well-rated sellers that *accept returns* will be a reasonably safe bet

I think @Stev posted about an Amazon seller he liked at one point.

Good luck!
I have not posted about an Amazon seller. That was probably someone else.
I will add a couple of things though. One bad and one good.
Be cautious on eBay and make sure you are dealing with a reputable seller. I survived a nasty battle with a scammer. Done with the bad and on with the good.
I have purchased a MacBook Pro for myself and a MacBook Air for my wife from B&H.
 

neonorchid

Making fresh tracks
Skier
Joined
Nov 21, 2015
Posts
6,693
Location
Mid-Atlantic
She has an iPad, there are jsut somethings she needs a regular computer for.

I am waiting to see what the announcement will be this week with the upcoming M2 MBA. If there is a 14" on the horizon, I will upgrade and give her my MBA.
I came across rumors of a 15" M2 MBA if that's what you meant, but heard limited initial release and then availability come fall/late fall.

Fwiw, I picked up a 14" M1 MBP on $200 off sale at Costco (actually $250 off because Costco's MSRP was $50 less than Apple store), and am so used to using my SSD & Ram upgraded (late)2011 MBP with its age-related shortcomings and no worry of dropping it (Aluminum body, a tank) that I've yet to take the new 14" MBP out of the box! Costco 90-day return, been thinking of returning for the 15" M2 Air for the larger screen (less expensive at full MSRP too), but probably will stick with the 14" M1 MBP and not have to deal with dongles and likely throttling more and more the older it gets (Air has no cooling fan).

Also, I think all M2 Air's are to have the breakaway magnetic charging plug.

I suspect you'll find some attractive deals on a new M1 MBAir for her once the M2 are readily available.
 
Last edited:

Living Proof

We All Have The Truth
Skier
Joined
Nov 9, 2015
Posts
943
Location
Avalon - On The Way to Cape May
I am waiting to see what the announcement will be this week with the upcoming M2 MBA. If there is a 14" on the horizon, I will upgrade and give her my MBA.
Given the M1 14" MSRP is $2000 with 512 GB, that would be very hard for most to justify for a slightly larger screen. Very few need the performance of the M1 chip. Used M1 13's are half the cost.
 

Tricia

The Velvet Hammer
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
27,298
Location
Reno
Long before I moved west I talked my mom into ditching her PC and getting a 13 inch MacBook Pro, which she immediately adapted to.
This was in 2009
Circling back to edit my original comments, not that a year difference makes much of a difference

Here are some pictures of her "About this mac". It's a 2010
As you can see, she doesn't need a lot of storage, but she can't update her OS, and its running pretty slow.
The only reason I hesitate to get something older (like 2014 or 2015) is because she will keep it for a very long time and I'd like to see her get some longevity out of it.
I think we're narrowing it down, but still happy to get more input.

IMG_4757.jpeg
IMG_4758.jpeg

*Note to self: I need to show my mom how to do a screenshot.
 
Last edited:

tball

Unzipped
Skier
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
4,362
Location
Denver, CO
The only reason I hesitate to get something older (like 2014 or 2015) is because she will keep it for a very long time and I'd like to see her get some longevity out of it.
I think that's the key tradeoff between buying something new or Apple refurbished for $849/$899 vs. buying a 2015 for around $500.

The older computer will work just as well for her, but the updates will likely stop coming before the machine is no longer useful.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Philpug

Philpug

Notorious P.U.G.
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
42,624
Location
Reno, eNVy
I think that's the key tradeoff between buying something new or Apple refurbished for $849/$899 vs. buying a 2015 for around $500.

The older computer will work just as well for her, but the updates will likely stop coming before the machine is no longer useful.
That extra couple of hundred $$ buys some years on the back end.
 

Tricia

The Velvet Hammer
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
27,298
Location
Reno
I think that's the key tradeoff between buying something new or Apple refurbished for $849/$899 vs. buying a 2015 for around $500.

The older computer will work just as well for her, but the updates will likely stop coming before the machine is no longer useful.

That extra couple of hundred $$ buys some years on the back end.
And the realization that my mom doesn't upgrade as often as we do.
Of course our job is to be on line so computers are a necessity, not a luxury for us.
 

Sponsor

Top