Apple MacBook Air (old)

[DimAes]

 

Hey!
I was looking for a cheap laptop online but it was quite difficult to find one with good build quality, light and thin as well as on my little budget...As a student, a laptop is always needed, for essays, slides...etc. I need one that i can take around for group assessments as well as work on my desk... after a lot of time searching online i found i could buy one of the old style(grey bezels smaller trackpad) macbook air 2015/2017 refurbished of pre owned on great condition on ebay or other sites for less than 450$(im talking 8gb ram and 256ssd)
Before you swap away thinking i only want a macbook because of the apple factor, please read bellow:
I’m really considering it, since according to other reviews the hardware is still pretty good and fast, build quality is perfect(huge plus for me) and is really thin! Reading about it the main con was its display it doesn’t even have a 1080p screen. However i thought i could always plug it into an external 1080p or better monitor and use the “closed clamshell” mode, when i need to get work done on my desk and then just grab it when i need to take advantage of its portability, since it is an ultrabook. I couldn’t find any other options combining portability, build quality and costing under 400$...

I know Linus roasted it some videos back, however it was considering its 750$ price point, not sub 450$. I think that changes a lot!

What do you think? Not worth it?Other options?
Thanks

[Electronics Wizardy]

How about a x1 carbon? A bit cheaper, better screen + keyboard, simmilar build quality.

 

 

[DimAes]

Which gen thinkpad x1?? Can in get one for under 400$? Weren’t the older generations quite bulky? 

[Electronics Wizardy]

Just now, DimAes said:

Which gen thinkpad x1?? Can in get one for under 400$? Weren’t the older generations quite bulky? 

The x1s are the thin and light model, less than 3lb.

[DimAes]

20 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

The x1s are the thin and light model, less than 3lb.

I know it is, which gen model do you suggest? Do you not like the MacBook Air? I thought it was a good deal...Also because of the connection with my phone and AirPods.

[Electronics Wizardy]

Just now, DimAes said:

I know it is, which gen model do you suggest? Do you not like the MacBook Air? I thought it was a good deal...Also because of the connection with my phone and AirPods.

I have a 2012 macbook air. Its find, but I would like a better screen + touchstick.

 

If you got other apple stuff go ahead, nothing really bad with them.

 

Also check price of 13in retina, not much bigger, but much better screen and a bit faster.

[kelvinhall05]

30 minutes ago, DimAes said:

I know it is, which gen model do you suggest? Do you not like the MacBook Air? I thought it was a good deal...Also because of the connection with my phone and AirPods.

If you need OSX, get the Macbook. If you want a good laptop, get a Thinkpad. Either a gen 3 or 4 X1 (Carbon or non-Carbon) or a T450S/T460S.

[Bombastinator]

1 hour ago, DimAes said:

 

Hey!
I was looking for a cheap laptop online but it was quite difficult to find one with good build quality, light and thin as well as on my little budget...As a student, a laptop is always needed, for essays, slides...etc. I need one that i can take around for group assessments as well as work on my desk... after a lot of time searching online i found i could buy one of the old style(grey bezels smaller trackpad) macbook air 2015/2017 refurbished of pre owned on great condition on ebay or other sites for less than 450$(im talking 8gb ram and 256ssd)
Before you swap away thinking i only want a macbook because of the apple factor, please read bellow:
I’m really considering it, since according to other reviews the hardware is still pretty good and fast, build quality is perfect(huge plus for me) and is really thin! Reading about it the main con was its display it doesn’t even have a 1080p screen. However i thought i could always plug it into an external 1080p or better monitor and use the “closed clamshell” mode, when i need to get work done on my desk and then just grab it when i need to take advantage of its portability, since it is an ultrabook. I couldn’t find any other options combining portability, build quality and costing under 400$...

I know Linus roasted it some videos back, however it was considering its 750$ price point, not sub 450$. I think that changes a lot!

What do you think? Not worth it?Other options?
Thanks

The impression I got was that it had less cpu power but higher build quality, and while better cpu power AND equivalent build quality existed for the same money actually finding it was difficult.   What it sort of came down to is what one needed a machine to do.  If one of the thing one needs the the thing to do is run macOS then there aren’t any other choices at all.  I do remember it wasn’t good for much except browsing and Netflix though.

[otto1]

Do you do any programming or software development work? If so, you may at some point want to develop for Mac/iOS, in which case having a Mac will come in handy (Xcode + Swift).

 

Considering that you already have an iPhone/ AirPods (which are themselves not an insubstantial investment), MacOS could be a good fit. 

 

However, as you have already pointed out, bezels and screen are definitely a downside. Aging specs too. For light productivity workflow though, it's probably sufficient.