- This article was originally published on iMore and featured in our Back to School guide.
Back to school is in the air, when many families and students decide to buy a new MacBook. Before making a purchase, keep a few things in mind. Good shopping!
Decide on the screen size and portability first.
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Apple has two lines for laptops, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Each product line is somewhat different to offer different screen sizes. Your first decision should be to decide what screen size you want. If you want a 13.3-inch model, you'll need to choose a 13-inch MacBook Air or MacBook Pro based on other specs.
In addition to screen size, consider the weight of the machine and its impact on portability. All current MacBook models are lighter than previous models. However, some are still heavier than others. Especially for large campuses, there is a big difference between a 2.75-pound MacBook Air and a 15-inch and 4-inch MacBook Pro.
MacBook AirMacBook ProDate Released October 2018 May 2019 13.3-inch and 13.3-inch and 15.4-inch screen size Intel Core i5 processors Intel Core i5 / i7 / i9RAM 8GB / 16GB or 16GB / 32GB Storage 128GB to 1.5TB 256GB to 4GB Weight € 1299Buy as much processor speed as you can afford
Apple does not allow you to exchange parts on current MacBook models. With that in mind, focus on what you can afford and go for it, starting with processor speed. Expect to pay around € 200 more if you upgrade to a better processor. However, don't go too far.
If you only buy a new laptop for taking notes and writing reports, save money and buy less. On the contrary, if you plan to do creative work with an Adobe product or something like Final Cut Pro, use a more powerful processor.
Same for RAM
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Deciding how much computer memory to buy is also crucial. RAM, or RAM, is your system's short-term data storage. The higher the RAM, the faster your computer can access the data. Also, the greater the number of programs running on your system, the more memory it will need.
Again, Apple does not allow you to change the RAM in MacBooks after purchase, so you must choose wisely.
What about storage?
With the advent of cloud computing, the amount of storage embedded in computers is no longer as important as it was a few years ago. With this in mind, I recommend that you do not buy the minimum storage available on a given MacBook. This number, which is currently 128GB, is probably not enough for most people in the long run. On the other hand, having more than 1TB of storage on a laptop is perhaps too much for most people.
Consider a portable hard drive
You should back up your MacBook regularly using the built-in Time Machine feature. For this, you must invest in a portal hard drive. These come in different sizes and prices, many of them often for sale.
Get a case
MacBooks are beautiful devices. Unfortunately, they are also fragile. To protect your investment, buy a box or bag.
Buy AppleCare +
Buying a MacBook is not cheap. Replacing uninsured parts is also expensive. Every Apple laptop is covered for one year of hardware repair. I recommend buying AppleCare + to extend this coverage to three years. You can purchase your coverage at the time of purchase or at any time during the first year.
Yes, the price of education is available.
Throughout the year, Apple offers discounts to qualified higher education students, parents who shop on behalf of higher education students, as well as teachers. and staff from institutions of higher education and kindergarten through grade 12. In the run-up to new school years around the world, Cupertino usually adds additional incentives to convince you to buy through them.
For 2019, Apple is offering a variety of freebies, including savings of up to € 200 on a Mac purchase and free Beats Studio3 wireless headphones with some items. AppleCare + discounts are also available.
Promotions are available through Apple's online store, retail stores, and authorized campus stores.
But also look at Amazon
After years of bickering, Amazon and Apple began to play nice with each other in late 2018. Since then, Amazon has quickly become one of the most popular online places to buy Apple products, with a full range of current MacBooks. and past. Models.
Amazon has been aggressive in downsizing Apple products. However, don't expect to see huge discounts on current models. Instead, the biggest deals are on the newer older models, which are still marked Old Model.
As of this writing, for example, you should expect to pay hundreds of dollars less for a 2018 MacBook than its original asking price. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide if the older model has the specs you need. However, as a general rule of thumb, Apple only offers minor hardware changes between products from year to year.
One word of caution: keep an eye out for Apple branded products at Renewed Amazon. These products are not new.
According to Amazon:
- "Refurbished products work and look like new. These pre-owned products are not Apple certified, have been inspected and tested by qualified Amazon vendors. The box and accessories may be generic. All refurbished products come with the Renewed Warranty of 90 days from Amazon. "
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Finally, check out our checklist
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Here is an overview of the differences with each MacBook model:
MacBook Air: With the recent removal of the 12-inch MacBook, it's now the cheapest Apple laptop. It even has Touch ID and is the only current MacBook model to come in gold.
13-inch MacBook Pro - The smaller of the two Pro models is ideal for those looking for a smaller laptop but still want high-quality parts.
15-inch MacBook Pro: This is the one for designers and anyone who wants a big screen. It is also the most expensive model, even at its entry level.
12-inch MacBook: Apple recently recalled this model, which was last updated in 2017. If you want to exempt slightly less vintage and vintage real estate, you can benefit from attractive discounts on this model at third-party stores.