Best bang for your buck laptop right now?

streetfoldsfive

streetfoldsfive

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 28, 2012
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Currently I am a student. I have a pretty beefed up iMac at home, but will be commuting back and fourth for an internship soon and will need to get work done while on the go. As a result I'm trying to get a laptop to tide me over. Basically I'm trying to get the best price on a light, slim, sturdy, and functional machine.

My plan is to buy refurbed since it is cheaper, but am open to options. Was considering Macbook air, but aren't too sure on the performance. I was really really interested in the surface 3, but it seems like I need to spend a lot to get some decent specs.

Thoughts?
 

Cheffy Dave

Cheffy Dave

macrumors 68030
Feb 5, 2007
2,559
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Sunny Florida, on the Gulf Coast in Homosassa Fl
streetfoldsfive said:
Currently I am a student. I have a pretty beefed up iMac at home, but will be commuting back and fourth for an internship soon and will need to get work done while on the go. As a result I'm trying to get a laptop to tide me over. Basically I'm trying to get the best price on a light, slim, sturdy, and functional machine.

My plan is to buy refurbed since it is cheaper, but am open to options. Was considering Macbook air, but aren't too sure on the performance. I was really really interested in the surface 3, but it seems like I need to spend a lot to get some decent specs.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
11" MBA
 
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phrehdd

phrehdd

macrumors 68040
Oct 25, 2008
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What exactly do you want to do with your laptop? Any apps in particular, planning to use multiple apps at the same time or leave them open? Without some info, it is hard to make any suggestion that make sense.
 
iphonedude2008

iphonedude2008

macrumors 65816
Nov 7, 2009
1,134
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Irvine, CA
streetfoldsfive said:
Currently I am a student. I have a pretty beefed up iMac at home, but will be commuting back and fourth for an internship soon and will need to get work done while on the go. As a result I'm trying to get a laptop to tide me over. Basically I'm trying to get the best price on a light, slim, sturdy, and functional machine.

My plan is to buy refurbed since it is cheaper, but am open to options. Was considering Macbook air, but aren't too sure on the performance. I was really really interested in the surface 3, but it seems like I need to spend a lot to get some decent specs.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Since you already have a mac, a refurb 13" MBA would be my recommendation. Don't go 11" MBA since it is too small to use for notes and such as a student. However, this is just my opinion. Try it out in store before deciding.
 
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streetfoldsfive

streetfoldsfive

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 28, 2012
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iphonedude2008 said:
Since you already have a mac, a refurb 13" MBA would be my recommendation. Don't go 11" MBA since it is too small to use for notes and such as a student. However, this is just my opinion. Try it out in store before deciding.
Click to expand...
How is the performance on the ones released in March? 4GB of Ram seems low?
 
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Samuelsan2001

macrumors 604
Oct 24, 2013
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Once you spec out an air with 8GB of ram and the same size SSD it's much the same price as a 13 inch rMBP I would say go for the refurbed 13 inch rMBP and have all the power you could need on the go, an amazing screen (more real estate when needed and text that looks like print) for the compromise of an extra 1/2 pound of weight.
 
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jermy4

jermy4

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Jun 27, 2010
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Samuelsan2001 said:
Once you spec out an air with 8GB of ram and the same size SSD it's much the same price as a 13 inch rMBP I would say go for the refurbed 13 inch rMBP and have all the power you could need on the go, an amazing screen (more real estate when needed and text that looks like print).
Click to expand...
I tend to agree, if you want to save some money and get a base MBA then it's a decent deal but if you go with 8GB of ram and 256GB SSD the price isn't that much higher for the retina macbook pro. Have a look at the refurb section on apple's site to see the configs and prices and see what you think is the best bang for the buck.
 
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gpspad

macrumors 6502a
Feb 4, 2014
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I have a rMBP 13" I use at home and bring back and forth between work, its not that heavy to lug around. But it isn't light either. I just grabbed a 11" MBA for a travel computer. I'd rather not travel with my main laptop.

Id say go for the better screen, the 11" MBA is good enough for occasion travel use, but I wouldn't want it as my only laptop. The 13" also has a SD card reader if that matters. I might have grabbed a 13" MBA if I didnt have the rMBP already.

Next year if I can find a deal on a 15", ill probably swap a rMBP 15" for my Mac mini. I could use a bigger screen at home, but never seem to use the mac mini, I usually just check out the internet while watching TV. I could get by with a lower spec'd out 15" model.

Since getting my macbook, my iPad gets little or no use.
 

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