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MacBook for student

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  • 16-05-2021 10:07am
    #1
    batman1
    Registered Users Posts: 598 ✭✭✭


    I'm hoping to get a MacBook as a surprise for my child who is starting university in sept.

    I know very little about them as I've never used one or any apple devices.

    Can anyone give any guidance on what to look for or what I don't need? I don't want to get a salesperson selling me the most expensive one just because I have limited knowledge.
    Post edited by Sad Professor on


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    #2
    rtyped
    Registered Users Posts: 45 ✭rtyped


    Don’t know much either but if buying new make sure to get one with the new m1 chip.


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    #3
    bee06
    Registered Users Posts: 4,514 ✭✭✭bee06


    There’s a separate Max forum where you may get more advice. What will they be using it for? Why course are they doing?


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    #4
    JPup
    Registered Users Posts: 909 ✭✭✭JPup


    I think any student would love a MacBook Air. The most basic model should be fine unless there is a particular need to upgrade.

    Whatever you get, remember to avail of Apples student discount. It’s quite generous usually.


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    #5
    whiterebel
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 14,832 Mod ✭✭✭✭whiterebel


    Y
    batman1 wrote: »
    I'm hoping to get a MacBook as a surprise for my child who is starting university in sept.

    I know very little about them as I've never used one or any apple devices.

    Can anyone give any guidance on what to look for or what I don't need? I don't want to get a salesperson selling me the most expensive one just because I have limited knowledge.

    Mac forum: https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=108


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    #6
    fulanoquetal
    Registered Users Posts: 51 ✭✭fulanoquetal


    Apple are a good reliable product...but many will say they are over-priced. Yes, they look slick and yes, they are seen a being more trendy/elite and yes, they may be the best option for certain applications (mainly design/graphics/publishing) but for most students who need to be connected, need to do assignments in Word, maybe calculations in Excel etc...a non-Apple is usually perfectly fine and a couple of 100 Euros cheaper.

    You pretty much get what you pay for un terms of both capacity and durability. Remember that students carry these around more than most and so size/weight should be considered....but a light laptop is often a more flimsy/fragile laptop.

    Rule of thumb - figure out your budget and size (11/13/15/17") and then get the one with the fastest processor followed by graphics capability. RAM and Hard Drive space can be added.


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    #7
    Gregor Samsa
    Registered Users Posts: 8,908 ✭✭✭Gregor Samsa


    If it’s just for usual college stuff, report writing, research, watching movies etc, then any MacBook will more than do. They all come pre-loaded with Apple’s office apps (Pages, Numbers and Keynote) that are compatible with Microsoft’s Word, Excel and PowerPoint respectively. Or you can buy Microsoft’s Office for the Mac too.

    As for which Mac to get, figure out yourself what size screen they’ll need. I personally always go for 13” for portability, but some people prefer a bigger screen. Hard disk storage capacity is next. I’d go for 512GB at least, but you can always add to it with a portable external drive later if necessary. As for RAM, I’d go for 8GB unless they were going to be doing very intensive stuff like video editing. The new M1 Macs handle RAM in a completely different way to the Intel machines, so the architecture allows for greater efficiencies. Note that nothing inside a MacBook is upgradable after purchase, so there’s no swapping out hard drives or RAM.

    The only thing to look out for would be if they need specialist software for their course - some obscure stuff may not be available on the Mac. If that’s the case, you can always install Windows in a virtual machine.

    I’m assuming you’ll be getting one of the new M1 MacBooks with the Apple chip, here’s how to do it:

    https://9to5mac.com/2021/05/03/the-super-easy-guide-for-installing-windows-on-m1-macs-using-parallels-desktop-16-for-mac-video/

    The other thing to note is that MacBooks only come with USB-C ports. So if you need to connect to wired networks (Ethernet), monitors using HDMI or DisplayPort, or even devices that use “regular” USB A cables, you’ll need an adapter or hub, like this:

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08KW6HYB1

    Last point, but direct from Apple using the Student store. https://www.apple.com/ie-edu/shop you won’t get a better discount anywhere else.


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    #8
    Manach
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 9,664 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manach


    My experience on using a Mac was that while they are working, a fantastic laptop and great for writing and/or coding on it. However, when they break (as happened to mine fairly recently) that are very difficult to get repaired.


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    #9
    Gregor Samsa
    Registered Users Posts: 8,908 ✭✭✭Gregor Samsa


    Not belittling your experience at all, but I’ve been using Macs since 1996, and I’ve never had one break. My daughter is currently using my old 2009 MacBook with no issues apart from the battery having seen better days. I know this is only personal experience, but there is something to be said in general for Mac reliability. But that obviously doesn’t help you if something does break.

    Although of course there was the crappy “butterfly” keyboard issue with the older MacBooks that caused a lot of problems. So as a company they’re not totally immune to bad parts. In this case, Apple don’t use them any more in the new machines and redesigned the keyboard to be more robust.

    That said, you do raise a good point, especially with modern Macs. Very few replaceable parts, and really only Apple or a certified service centre can do anything with them. So if they do break - and when the battery inevitably degrades - your options are limited.

    But overall (and there’s always exceptions), I’ve found my Macs much more reliable and long-living than my Windows machines.


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    #10
    maxamillius
    Registered Users Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭maxamillius


    I pad pro with Apple Pencil would be good for a student


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    #11
    gmf1024
    Registered Users Posts: 92 ✭✭gmf1024


    HEAnet has special education pricing negotiated for students https://www.heanet.ie/store
    There are two Apple Education certified sellers in the country, CompuB and Wriggle.
    https://www.compub.com/heanet
    https://www.wrigglestore.ie/
    You may need to phone Compub or Wriggle to prove eligibility if the student cannot login to https://www.heanet.ie/store to get a voucher code.
    Both Compub and Wriggle can tell you the typical spec an institution uses for Apple kit.
    Also when they become a third level student they can get the full MS Office Suite and at least 1TB of OneDrive at no cost.


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    #12
    batman1
    Registered Users Posts: 598 ✭✭✭batman1


    Thanks for all the info. I've learned loads in a few mins reading this .

    So looking at pricing for the MacBook air, I can get a 6% discount through my union website. Is that good? I see up to 14% in compub but I'd have to wait until they are actually in college to get that?

    The apple website is giving 12 months free Apple TV with our bases at the minute


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    #13
    derrrec
    Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭derrrec


    Hey! If you have never used Apple things



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    #14
    mcburns07
    Registered Users Posts: 1,986 ✭✭✭mcburns07


    MacBook Air lowest spec is all you'll need. I have one for personal use and I absolutely love it. We have a 2014 MacBook Air still on the go as well and working perfectly.

    They're nice and light and portable too so ideal for most people but especially students. More expensive initially but they tend to have much longer lifespans than Windows machines in my experience so worth the cost. Bonus that they come with all the Apple software free, they do all the basics very well and are compatible with file formats used on Windows machines so no issues there.



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    #15
    Tech_Head
    Registered Users Posts: 318 ✭✭Tech_Head


    Do not buy one now!

    MacBook Air will see a refresh before they start college. Most likely a redesign with more ports which would suit a college student and we’ll, anyone looking for a laptop really. Only downside is it could be August or September but would still recommend waiting.

    Great laptop just not the best time to buy it.



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    #16
    Doodah7
    Registered Users Posts: 3,721 ✭✭✭Doodah7


    At least EIGHT months away before a new MBA is likely to be seen. There is also the risk that the new one will go up in price. In addition, any of the rumours I have seen of the redesign show bright colours and a white bezel around the screen that looks awful. HOWEVER, the ability to use more than one monitor with whatever the successor to the M1 chip will be would be a singular advantage if that is important to a user.

    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that but I wouldn't hold off just because a new one is coming out at the end of the year. It is not like the current version will stop working or even be underpowered for the next few years.



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    #17
    Tech_Head
    Registered Users Posts: 318 ✭✭Tech_Head


    Maybe it is 8 months away but the machine also isn’t needed for 8 months.

    Since it’s for a college student, the addition of ports would mean it’s a worthwhile wait. I know I’d be fine with dongles now but would easily have been forgotten about back then.

    I would tend to advise to hold off on buying tech until closer to the time it’s needed. Yes, the new one will be fine for years but the new one will be better and most likely more suitable.

    If it was needed now I would not recommend waiting. But it isn’t, so I am.



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    #18
    DeconSheridan
    Registered Users Posts: 141 ✭✭DeconSheridan


    the larger screen and extra everything is nice when the college workloads are overbearing, good features and functions matter in college. Id say go with the best of what's available; mac pro 16inch. The mac air is nice but the 13" screen is too small and lacks some features imop.

    https://www.apple.com/ie/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro/16-inch



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    #19
    Doodah7
    Registered Users Posts: 3,721 ✭✭✭Doodah7


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118554817#Comment_118554817

    You do realise that you are comparing a €2750 computer against one that costs €1129??? What are you on?



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    #20
    DeconSheridan
    Registered Users Posts: 141 ✭✭DeconSheridan


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118561289#Comment_118561289

    I do. It's about the best for tool for the student to help them achieve a H1. I think the Macbook Pro is better suited than the Macbook Air for college 4/5 years of heavy work.



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    #21
    TaniaHuber
    Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭TaniaHuber


    If your son uses a laptop to study, then memory should be an important criterion. In modern models, 8 gigabytes of RAM are installed in all of these laptops, which saves you the trouble of choosing the right configuration - they are all-powerful enough and suitable for the vast majority of tasks that users face.



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