Fair Trade? iPad Air for MBA

Rhyno37 · Jun 18, 2014

Hey yall, I've been toying with the idea of getting a Macbook ever since I sold my 2011 Pro a while ago and regretted it. I found a user on craigslist near me selling a Mid 2012 13" Macbook Air. It's the 1.8GHz, 128GB, 4GB RAM model. The user says it's like new with original accessories, and has a hardcase. The pictures support this. I offered the seller my 16GB iPad Air in like new condition plus $300 Cash, and they accepted. Is this a good deal?

I figure Apple sells the Mid 2012 13" MBA for $779 refurb, and the iPad Air for $419 refurb, So $300 cash difference is actually a bit in my favor.

ritmomundo · Jun 18, 2014

Best Buy has the current model MBAs discounted $100, plus $150 edu coupon (which you can find on ebay if you don't have an edu email), plus 10% mover coupon from the post office. Which means you could get a 2014 13" for cheaper than the 2012 refurb from Apple. Plus you'd get the full warranty, which is a huge plus, in my opinion.

flowrider · Jun 18, 2014

I certainly think so! IMHO, the iPad is a toy, the MBA is a real computer. To me your offer was very fair if the MBA is as described.

Lou

mad3inch1na · Jun 19, 2014

As another user posted, this is not that good a deal. You may as well sell your iPad on ebay for 400$, take the money, and buy a 2014 baseline MBA at BestBuy for just about 700$. It has nearly double the battery life, better graphics, and better processing power.

Matt

capathy21 · Jun 19, 2014

As others have mentioned IF you have the funds to pick up one of the Best Buy deals, then sell your ipad on Craigslist or eBay, you will get a much better system for around the same money. Not sure how long BB's sale is running on the new models. That's why if you have the funds, go ahead and get one on the deal, then sell your iPad to recoup that money.

Beaverman3001 · Jun 19, 2014

Best Buy deal is much better if you don't mind selling the iPad on your own. Believe it runs through this week for the $100 off, and the $150 student discount seems to reoccur indefinitely if you have access to that. Plus you can get another 10% off with the movers coupon from USPS moving packets. Supposedly that isn't supposed to stack but there are people who claim to have used it with the other two.

sracer · Jun 19, 2014

Beaverman3001 said:
Best Buy deal is much better if you don't mind selling the iPad on your own. Believe it runs through this week for the $100 off, and the $150 student discount seems to reoccur indefinitely if you have access to that. Plus you can get another 10% off with the movers coupon from USPS moving packets. Supposedly that isn't supposed to stack but there are people who claim to have used it with the other two.

Here's how the numbers would play out:

Code:

  $799 : Macbook Air 11.6" 128GB (new)
- $150 : .edu discount
- $241 : Best Buy trade-in allowance for iPad Air 16GB
---------
  $409 (before taxes)

Is that the absolute best? No, you can sell the iPad Air on CL or ebay for more money, but for no-hassle, no-fuss... that's a great deal IMO.

I think spending an extra $109 to get a brand new MBA is worth it.

Rhyno37 · Jun 19, 2014

Thanks for the help, but I see some potential problems.

I have the student coupon, but it says the $150 is taken off the regular price (so $999 not $899). And it says it doesn't stack with other coupons (movers).

I do have a bestbuy card and could get 12mo financing

Beaverman3001 · Jun 19, 2014

Rhyno37 said:
Thanks for the help, but I see some potential problems.

I have the student coupon, but it says the $150 is taken off the regular price (so $999 not $899). And it says it doesn't stack with other coupons (movers).

I do have a bestbuy card and could get 12mo financing

The student discount stacks with the $100 discount this week (I bought one online using both no issue). I know the movers is not supposed to stack but there are people who have had success with it, worth trying. But the $150 and $100 discounts definitely stack.

Rhyno37 · Jun 19, 2014

Good deal. Just got my movers coupon as well so I'll try that out. I assume the 13 is a better buy than the 11 due to battery life? And any clue as to how long the bestbuy deal lasts?

sracer · Jun 19, 2014

Rhyno37 said:
Good deal. Just got my movers coupon as well so I'll try that out. I assume the 13 is a better buy than the 11 due to battery life? And any clue as to how long the bestbuy deal lasts?

Percentage-wise, the best deal is the 11.6" 128GB MBA.

If this is going to be your main system, then I'd suggest going with the 13" MBA. Battery life on all the MBAs are great IMO. But the larger screen AND the SD card slot are things to consider. My daughter bought a 128GB 13" MBA 2 days ago and I ordered a microSD card adapter specifically designed for the MBA so that when inserted it is flush with the body. 64GB microSD card is about $35, the adapter is $15.

Rhyno37 · Jun 19, 2014

sracer said:
Percentage-wise, the best deal is the 11.6" 128GB MBA.

If this is going to be your main system, then I'd suggest going with the 13" MBA. Battery life on all the MBAs are great IMO. But the larger screen AND the SD card slot are things to consider. My daughter bought a 128GB 13" MBA 2 days ago and I ordered a microSD card adapter specifically designed for the MBA so that when inserted it is flush with the body. 64GB microSD card is about $35, the adapter is $15.

This isn't my main machine, as if have a windows gaming PC I built. Anymore, I rarely use it, typically for the few games I play on there. I generally use my PS4. I'm hoping to use this MBA for school, writing papers, web browsing, and a few very, very light games. I think I'd rather have the 13". It's so light weight shouldn't matter.

Does anyone know how "popular" this deal is now? Wondering if I should go tomorrow to pick one up in case they run out Saturday when the deal ends I assume

sracer · Jun 19, 2014

Rhyno37 said:
This isn't my main machine, as if have a windows gaming PC I built. Anymore, I rarely use it, typically for the few games I play on there. I generally use my PS4. I'm hoping to use this MBA for school, writing papers, web browsing, and a few very, very light games. I think I'd rather have the 13". It's so light weight shouldn't matter.

If you're going to use it for school, then the 13" is the right choice, IMO.

Rhyno37 said:
Does anyone know how "popular" this deal is now? Wondering if I should go tomorrow to pick one up in case they run out Saturday when the deal ends I assume

It is very popular here in Arizona. If you want to see for yourself, go to the Best Buy website, bring up the MBA 13" product page and then click on "check availability". You'll see which Best buy stores in your area have them in stock.

Will you be trading in your iPad Air or selling that privately?

HiDEF · Jun 19, 2014

Fair Trade? iPad Air for MBA

My girl took advantage of this deal; she walked out with a 11" base model for $695.

Question: is 4 gb enough to run Maverick smoothly?

flowrider · Jun 19, 2014

HiDEF said:
Question: is 4 gb enough to run Maverick smoothly?

Asked and answered many times. See Post #10 of the thread below:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1741013/

Lou

HiDEF · Jun 19, 2014

flowrider said:
Asked and answered many times. See Post #10 of the thread below:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1741013/

Lou

Thank you

Rhyno37 · Jun 21, 2014

We'll guys it worked. Luckily it was so busy at my bestbuy that the clerk didn't have time to even think about the coupon. 13" MBA for $675 pre tax. As much as I wanted a MBPr, considering this was half the price I won't complain

sracer · Jun 21, 2014

Rhyno37 said:
We'll guys it worked. Luckily it was so busy at my bestbuy that the clerk didn't have time to even think about the coupon. 13" MBA for $675 pre tax. As much as I wanted a MBPr, considering this was half the price I won't complain

Congrats! What did you end up doing with your 16GB iPad Air? Did you trade it in or are you going to sell it?

Rhyno37 · Jun 21, 2014

sracer said:
Congrats! What did you end up doing with your 16GB iPad Air? Did you trade it in or are you going to sell it?

I'm going to sell it. I have a Best Buy card, and they had an 18mo no interest financing option so I took that route. I think I'm going to pick up a refurb Mini Retina later down the road. Almost picked one up now since they're $300 with the edu discount

Ronnoco · Jun 21, 2014

Nice deal and you got a terrific new computer. Congrats!

capathy21 · Jun 21, 2014

Rhyno37 said:
As much as I wanted a MBPr, considering this was half the price I won't complain

I felt the same way. That's why I ended up returning my rMBP for the 675 13 inch air. To me the Air is better in every aspect except the screen. As nice as retina may be, it's not worth 5 to 600 more.

Rhyno37 · Jun 22, 2014

Happy with my air so far, except I have one question. does the air have a mic on the screen bezel or is this a chip? i think its a chip, came out of the box this way. its pretty small, not sure if ill exchange

capathy21 · Jun 22, 2014

Rhyno37 said:
Happy with my air so far, except I have one question. does the air have a mic on the screen bezel or is this a chip? i think its a chip, came out of the box this way. its pretty small, not sure if ill exchange

It's a chip. If it bothers you, you could exchange it. I would say if you have a good screen, keyboard, and everything else is good, you may just hold on to it.

flowrider · Jun 22, 2014

Rhyno37 said:
Happy with my air so far, except I have one question. does the air have a mic on the screen bezel or is this a chip? i think its a chip, came out of the box this way. its pretty small, not sure if ill exchange

Yes, look like a chip to me. But it's so small. If everything else is OK, I'd live with it.

Lou

Rhyno37 · Jun 22, 2014

flowrider said:
Yes, look like a chip to me. But it's so small. If everything else is OK, I'd live with it.

Lou

Everything else seems good so far, except the bottom of the screen has almost a gray fade out effect, book binding I think it's called. Is this typical, or a "defect"?

Fair Trade? iPad Air for MBA

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