MacBook Air 11" - is it worth getting for student?

[halledise]

i've been thinking about picking up said 11" Air - say, around mid-2013 to 2015 - with a view to 'doing it up' and donating to a 'needy' student at the local school.
is it something that'd be useful to a student or is it too old school these days?
i had one back in the heydays of 11" Airs and ran an NGO with it (including presentations with keynote through a projector) without any issues.
it was the duck's nuts back then.
any thoughts/opinions appreciated …

 

[HDFan]

Contact your local school to find out what they need and can use first. I had some computer equipment that I was going to donate. They were happy to take the monitor but didn't need the computer. If the school, for example, uses has a Windows standard they aren't going to be interested in a Mac.

Personally I wouldn't ask them if they were interested in obsolete equipment. I'd want to give them something that would be serviceable for at least a few years.

 

[halledise]

Contact your local school to find out what they need and can use first. I had some computer equipment that I was going to donate. They were happy to take the monitor but didn't need the computer. If the school, for example, uses has a Windows standard they aren't going to be interested in a Mac.

Personally I wouldn't ask them if they were interested in obsolete equipment. I'd want to give them something that would be serviceable for at least a few years.

good tip.
actually, it is a mac school 😇

 

[Mrbobb]

I have an 2011 11" and my last updated OS was High Sierra, cannot be updated further. New apps may demand a newer OS. One thing I found out about Macs is, Apple relently pushes you to update and if you don't, get left behind. My Safari runs like morasses and having trouble keeping up with new html codes.

 

[HDFan]

Apple relently pushes you to update and if you don't, get left behind.

Common practice with technology based products. Luckily you can update/replace Apple products at a much lower price than replacing your car when things like google maps no longer works, cellular connectivity lost as carriers shutdown networks, etc. Just one example.

 

[Saturn007]

My main computer is a 2015 13” MBA running Monterey. Has the latest security patches, runs well, and is a treat to use. Safari runs fast and well (even without ad blockers turned on — but they are highly recommended and eliminates all the auto playing videos, distracting ads, wasteful advert flashing).

Any student at any grade could make good use of such a device.

You might be able to buy one locally or off eBay at a good price for a donation.

 

[Macdctr]

I have an 2011 11" and my last updated OS was High Sierra, cannot be updated further. New apps may demand a newer OS. One thing I found out about Macs is, Apple relently pushes you to update and if you don't, get left behind. My Safari runs like morasses and having trouble keeping up with new html codes.

This is what happens when you stay with the outdated OS. My 11-inch would operate the same. Whether or not using this computer would be worth it for a student depends on the student. There are options in keeping these so-called outdated computers current. I have chosen to keep my aging 11-inch Air current with the new OS by using Open Core Legacy Patcher to install MacOS 14 on it. I have all the current apps installed and working. From a user's perspective I have everything functional on my Air and other than having an extended boot up time, once up everything has been responsive. No issues with keeping my Air updated with the current OS updates and security patches. All apps have been running without issue.

So again, it is up to the student how he/she wants to use this computer for school. Newer Macs obviously will run faster than the 11-inch Air. YMMV.