Stubacca78 Posted August 24 Share Posted August 24 Hi Guys, new here but saw there is some forums on Computers so thought i would ask the question. My daughter needs a new laptop for school, Shes previously had a Lenovo Chromebook which has been ok but due for an upgrade. She's thinking Mac Air 13" or a HP I'm not sure of the equivalent in a HP though. I've used Macs for work previously and always been very happy with them but never used a HP. I'm hoping someone far more knowledgeable than me can point me in the right direction, the Mac is currently on sale, and she does have an iPhone, but this doesn't have to determine the end product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted August 24 Share Posted August 24 Hi Stuart, well it also depends on how your daughter is going to use the laptop. If she's in school or in tertiary sector she can get a further discount on the mac shop through the "education" relink: https://www.apple.com/au-hed/store The mac laptops I have used are of high build quality and the 2013 model can still perform everything I need (including multimedia editing...but patiently). In the near future I will also upgrade to one of the M1 chip models. Just note that many of the "extras" come with a significant price bump, e.g. going from 8GB RAM to 16GB. 8GB too little nowadays if non-text based applications are run. -- At work we used HP probooks. The 2021 probook is not half of what the 2013 mac air is. But that's comparing an upmarket product from Apple with a bottom end workhorse from HP. Can't speak to the quality of "pound for pound" HP laptops. And I don't want to start any OS wars here...but in my comparison of daily use...windows/HP is a much inferior product. Do note, too, however, that PC/windows may have a greater selection of software potentially necessary for professional careers... The iphone & laptop pairing will also be easier between brand-internal products. So there, 2 cents and then some... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubacca78 Posted August 24 Author Share Posted August 24 Thanks for the input Steff, I didn't realize Apple had a student discount, I can't see it but I'll investigate further. I tend to agree, the older Mac i used for work before an upgrade was far superior and quicker than any windows-based laptop i have used but that's what the wife tends to steer towards. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted August 24 Share Posted August 24 2 minutes ago, Stubacca78 said: I can't see it but I'll investigate further. I linked it in my post above, notice the au-hed extra in the url (higher education...) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubacca78 Posted August 24 Author Share Posted August 24 oh ok sorry my apologies, i was thinking a further discount again. This one is currently on sale at a few stores cheaper than this again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted August 24 Share Posted August 24 Link me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubacca78 Posted August 24 Author Share Posted August 24 https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/macbook-air-13-3-m1-8-corecpu-7-coregpu-8gb-256gb-space-grey-mbam1256sg?istCompanyId=0403b0ba-0671-498f-aeb7-e2ff71b61924&istFeedId=00ff5695-1f12-4ff3-82f4-49dd39a43a69&istItemId=iqxxrmttx&istBid=t&cm_mmc=Google:SEM:Always_on:RP|Technology|Laptops|Macbooks|Apple|||SH|Smart|Supplier&s_kwcid=AL!12073!3!617913694468!!!u!1658632577222!&&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuq6Vx7P0gAMVcLpLBR0SsQIEEAYYASABEgIp3_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-with-m1-chip-7-core-gpu-256gb-ssd-space-grey-2020?store=26&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuq6Vx7P0gAMVcLpLBR0SsQIEEAYYByABEgJF0vD_BwE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted August 24 Share Posted August 24 I'd always choose Mac over a windows based computer. I've found they are better built and will out last 2-3 windows based machines... unless you are into fresh reinstalling everything every 18 months or so. My eldest daughter has to supply her own laptop next year. She'll get my 2017 macbook pro and I'll grab a Mac Air 15" 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted August 24 Share Posted August 24 (edited) @Stubacca78 ... but only 8GB RAM...that may mean the in-use difference between frequently necessary closing and restarting basic apps like browsers, and/or frequent reboots compared to (in my case) month-long uptimes on multiple machines. If you can afford invest an extra $270 to upgrade to 16GB during purchase... Edited August 24 by Steff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubacca78 Posted August 24 Author Share Posted August 24 13 minutes ago, Steff said: @Stubacca78 ... but only 8GB RAM...that may mean the in-use difference between frequently necessary closing and restarting basic apps like browsers, and/or frequent reboots compared to (in my case) month-long uptimes on multiple machines. If you can afford invest an extra $270 to upgrade to 16GB during purchase... sorry yes i was comparing it the $1349 price on the apple site. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph Posted September 5 Share Posted September 5 Although I would normally suggest the Mac, I recommend that you check compatibility with programs and accessories your daughter needs. If you have a family apple store or microsoft account, for some apps you may already have them as part of your subscription and you can save money that way. No need to spend a new MS subscription if your family already has an apple version. As for security this is an interesting situation. In the corporate world Microsoft servers dominate and government regulated security assumes use of Microsoft products (1). Macs are more of a personal computer. Check if the school has any policies regarding security and how that would be implemented/enforced on your daughters computer. (1) For example this site by the Australian Cyber Security department: https://www.cyber.gov.au/resources-business-and-government/essential-cyber-security/essential-eight/essential-eight-maturity-model Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted to music Posted September 5 Share Posted September 5 On 24/8/2023 at 1:49 PM, Stubacca78 said: Thanks for the input Steff, I didn't realize Apple had a student discount, I can't see it but I'll investigate further. I tend to agree, the older Mac i used for work before an upgrade was far superior and quicker than any windows-based laptop i have used but that's what the wife tends to steer towards. Watch for the adverts from JB and Good Good Guys, they at times have a 10% off all over the counter Apple MacBooks, this is how I get the discounts, and you buy them when the new generation comes out and ready to purchase. Love the Apple products, will never go back as they are well made…. When I upgrade next it will be another MacBook Pro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demondes Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 On 24/08/2023 at 2:10 PM, Steff said: @Stubacca78 ... but only 8GB RAM...that may mean the in-use difference between frequently necessary closing and restarting basic apps like browsers, and/or frequent reboots compared to (in my case) month-long uptimes on multiple machines. If you can afford invest an extra $270 to upgrade to 16GB during purchase... yes but I find the apple silicon (M1, M2 chips) are much less memory hungry than the older intel machines. More ram is always better but sometimes you have to compromise somewhere for cost reasons, and I would say ram in newer mac's is less critical. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubacca78 Posted September 6 Author Share Posted September 6 thanks for the input everyone, we did purchase a Mac on the weekend with the sales.... i tried to get her to look at windows based for other options but in the end her mind was made up before we even entered the store. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregWormald Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 Good choice. I studied computers at Uni, starting with an IBM 360-75, and have used IBMs or Windows at work almost exclusively. I never wanted a home or personal computer until I used a Mac in 1985, and immediately bought my first computer. I've only bought Macs since then. I currently have 3—a 27" iMac desktop, 13" Mac Air, and a Mini as a music server. Addict signing off. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted to music Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 6 minutes ago, GregWormald said: Good choice. I studied computers at Uni, starting with an IBM 360-75, and have used IBMs or Windows at work almost exclusively. I never wanted a home or personal computer until I used a Mac in 1985, and immediately bought my first computer. I've only bought Macs since then. I currently have 3—a 27" iMac desktop, 13" Mac Air, and a Mini as a music server. Addict signing off. I was a PC windows guy all my life, didnt think much of Apple, until my daughter got a macbook from school. then my son got the macbook pro with SSD, just blew away any PC i had built in the house, built quality was amazing, so i bought one and admired it, gave it to my daughter when she when to uni and the rest is history. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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