Macbook Air - Graduation Present (buying advice)

[GIZBUG]

Niece goes to college next month. Family is planning on buying her a MacBook Air.
Seeing how prices for the back to school promo have come out, and it seems they are only offering a free pair of AirPods, is it safe to say the price I see now for an MacBook Air 13-inch (2020) — $899, was $999 is the best we will get for the next month or two?

Just wondering if now is the time to pull the trigger.
Also, if buying for a gift for a student, how do we go about getting the student deal (if they are not purchasing directly, but it is for them)?

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Generally, Apple will leave the pricing alone for back to school items, and sometimes releases a new product after the back to school promo ends.

If you buy now, you'll get the best price. If you wait until a month after school starts, you might pay full price for a new model... or just end up paying full price for the same model.

I'd just buy it now, let her use it all summer, and enjoy the free airpods.

 

[casperes1996]

Yeah, the price won't change further.

As for getting the student discount, I think merely saying it's for her should be enough, either to a Specialist in an Apple Store, or just using the Education store on the website. - Last I used the education store on the website there were basically no checks you were a student anyway, though they do check for Apple Music's student discount so it might've changed, try it out if you're buying online and see what happens
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Generally, Apple will leave the pricing alone for back to school items, and sometimes releases a new product after the back to school promo ends.

If you buy now, you'll get the best price. If you wait until a month after school starts, you might pay full price for a new model... or just end up paying full price for the same model.

I'd just buy it now, let her use it all summer, and enjoy the free airpods.

Sure, you're right, but with that said I doubt there'll be a new MacBook Air until September/October at the earliest

 

[fitcious]

I doubt they will have a new MBA in the fall...the current one just came out in March. Buy it now

 

[casperes1996]

I doubt they will have a new MBA in the fall...the current one just came out in March. Buy it now

I swing back and forth on that skepticism. In any other year I would agree with you without a shadow of a doubt, but last time Apple transitioned processor architecture, PPC to x86, they very rapidly refreshed products that had almost just seen updates as well.
Though no matter what I agree that buying now won't be a wrong move, because even if the MacBook Air gets refreshed in the fall with Apple Silicon, the current model will hold its own merit and advantages over the newer model and have the advantage of being a more mature product

 

[Bazza1]

Whatever Air you choose, do her a favour and get a compact ports hub for it, too. From the 2018 model, they've dropped the number of ports on MBA - and while a lot of things can be run wirelessly these days (internet, printer, etc), its not always guaranteed you have access to that stuff, and more 'legacy' ports can come in very handy - especially if you're already using one of the Air's included port for power.

 

[fitcious]

I swing back and forth on that skepticism. In any other year I would agree with you without a shadow of a doubt, but last time Apple transitioned processor architecture, PPC to x86, they very rapidly refreshed products that had almost just seen updates as well.
Though no matter what I agree that buying now won't be a wrong move, because even if the MacBook Air gets refreshed in the fall with Apple Silicon, the current model will hold its own merit and advantages over the newer model and have the advantage of being a more mature product

Yes- and given she’s gonna to be student there’s two thoughts-

1. You don’t want her to have computer troubles when she can spend the time partying....err...studying. Being a first for any new product there will be early adopter issues

2. A lot of universities and colleges are behind on technology and the support they give (network and infrastructure wise). If she gets the ARMS one, her school’s IT dept might be lost on certain programs or
trouble shooting they might be able to give if she runs into any issues.

 

[fitcious]

Whatever Air you choose, do her a favour and get a compact ports hub for it, too. From the 2018 model, they've dropped the number of ports on MBA - and while a lot of things can be run wirelessly these days (internet, printer, etc), its not always guaranteed you have access to that stuff, and more 'legacy' ports can come in very happy - especially if you're already using one of the Air's included port for power.

I agree with this 100%. Buy the port and give it together with the laptop. I got the anker 7 in 2 from amazon for $44. It plugs into both USBC ports and sits flush with the laptop.

Additionally- You might want to get her a laptop sleeve or something to carry around

 

[dmccloud]

Niece goes to college next month. Family is planning on buying her a MacBook Air.
Seeing how prices for the back to school promo have come out, and it seems they are only offering a free pair of AirPods, is it safe to say the price I see now for an MacBook Air 13-inch (2020) — $899, was $999 is the best we will get for the next month or two?

Just wondering if now is the time to pull the trigger.
Also, if buying for a gift for a student, how do we go about getting the student deal (if they are not purchasing directly, but it is for them)?

The $899 price for the base MBA is the normal student pricing through the Apple education store. That price doesn't change (just like any other product pricing from Apple.) The only promo related to back to school is the free pair of AirPods with purchase. All you have to do to get the student pricing is to shop though the Apple Education Store.