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Take the Bestbuy discount for 13"?

I

imreallyjin

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 19, 2014
7
0
Hi, I am currently torn for which Macbook Air to get

From apple (with $50 education discount)
$1,341.12 - 8GB memory, 256 GB ssd
$1,125.12 - 8GB mem, 128 GB ssd

Bestbuy - $100 off, $150 edu.email off +10 % USPS moving
$ 927 - 4GB memory, 256 GB ssd
$ 731 - 4GB memory, 128 GB ssd

I am just learning programming, getting into java a bit and reading about Swift and Xcode. I also take photos with my dslr, so i'm also learning how to use adobe lightroom currently. I wanted the 8gb ram, because of those reasons above.

I asked the worker at Bestbuy and he told me that they do not carry any MBA with 8gb, since they will be special orders.

1. Should i save $400 buy going with bestbuy's 256 for $920?
2. or sacrifice storage for 8gb ram with apple's $1,125.12 - 8GB mem

What would you do in this case? Thanks for inputs; i am so indecisive and the $100 deal is over by June 21st, so I need to decide within 48 hours.
 
Check out the refurb section of the Apple store. You may be able to pick up an 1.3GHz/8GB/256GB model for just a little more than best buy is charging for the 1.4GHz/4GB/256GB model.

Hell, it looks like the 1.7GHz/8GB/256GB model sells for $1189 when it's available. Not a bad compromise if you ask me...
 
Last edited:
i signed up just in case; although, refurbished isn't as cheap as i expected. thank you for your suggestions so far
 
The cheaper refurbs on Apple's site are 2012 models. I would think twice about getting one of those, the battery life is not as good as the 2013/2014 models.
 
imreallyjin said:
Hi, I am currently torn for which Macbook Air to get

From apple (with $50 education discount)
$1,341.12 - 8GB memory, 256 GB ssd
$1,125.12 - 8GB mem, 128 GB ssd

Bestbuy - $100 off, $150 edu.email off +10 % USPS moving
$ 927 - 4GB memory, 256 GB ssd
$ 731 - 4GB memory, 128 GB ssd

I am just learning programming, getting into java a bit and reading about Swift and Xcode. I also take photos with my dslr, so i'm also learning how to use adobe lightroom currently. I wanted the 8gb ram, because of those reasons above.

I asked the worker at Bestbuy and he told me that they do not carry any MBA with 8gb, since they will be special orders.

1. Should i save $400 buy going with bestbuy's 256 for $920?
2. or sacrifice storage for 8gb ram with apple's $1,125.12 - 8GB mem

What would you do in this case? Thanks for inputs; i am so indecisive and the $100 deal is over by June 21st, so I need to decide within 48 hours.
Click to expand...

If I were you I would go with the Best Buy base model. It comes out almost 600 dollars cheaper than the 8/256 config from Apple. For storage, you can always use external, or even upgrade your ssd later down the road for much cheaper than 600. The ram may be a concern for you though. When I started researching to buy a mac I read a ton of forums and it seemed the general attitude was that you can't do much of anything on 4 gigs of ram.

After using a machine with 4gb and 8gb I can tell you that in MOST tasks, the 4gb is enough. Now this is always subjective, and depends on what you plan on doing in the future. If the price difference was 2 or even 300 I'd say it may be worth it to spring for the 8/256 but for almost double the cost, I don't see the benefit.

Best Buy has a 15 day return policy. If I were you I would try out the base model and see how it works for you. If it works, you will be good to go, if not, return it and order the machine that works best for you. From what I've observed, most people get more machine than they actually need.
 
imreallyjin said:
Hi, I am currently torn for which Macbook Air to get

From apple (with $50 education discount)
$1,341.12 - 8GB memory, 256 GB ssd
$1,125.12 - 8GB mem, 128 GB ssd

Bestbuy - $100 off, $150 edu.email off +10 % USPS moving
$ 927 - 4GB memory, 256 GB ssd
$ 731 - 4GB memory, 128 GB ssd

I am just learning programming, getting into java a bit and reading about Swift and Xcode. I also take photos with my dslr, so i'm also learning how to use adobe lightroom currently. I wanted the 8gb ram, because of those reasons above.

I asked the worker at Bestbuy and he told me that they do not carry any MBA with 8gb, since they will be special orders.

1. Should i save $400 buy going with bestbuy's 256 for $920?
2. or sacrifice storage for 8gb ram with apple's $1,125.12 - 8GB mem

What would you do in this case? Thanks for inputs; i am so indecisive and the $100 deal is over by June 21st, so I need to decide within 48 hours.
Click to expand...

Get the one at BestBuy. Maybe it will not be perfect, but an extra 4GB of RAM is absolutely not worth an extra 400$. It is not even a question you should be considering.
 
I'm more prone/biased towards air. I really appreciate the weight at 2.9 lbs and the portability.

I know that macpro 13' with retina display is a great laptop weighing only 3.6lbs, but even with bestbuy deal it is $1360. That 8gb will really hurt but I'm thinking of getting the 4gb RAM and 256 ssd one for ~$900. Thank you for all of your inputs.
 
After owning an iPad for 4 years, I took the Best Buy deal and bought a base Macbook Air 13" for $750 with edu discount. I sold my iPad Air, so I am back to just a Macbook and smartphone. I am sure I will miss the iPad, but I thought the BB deal was too good to pass-up, and I really don't need both an ultraportable laptop and a tablet.
 
Mainsail said:
After owning an iPad for 4 years, I took the Best Buy deal and bought a base Macbook Air 13" for $750 with edu discount. I sold my iPad Air, so I am back to just a Macbook and smartphone. I am sure I will miss the iPad, but I thought the BB deal was too good to pass-up, and I really don't need both an ultraportable laptop and a tablet.
Click to expand...

I don't blame you. I haven't touched my ipad lately. I just get so much more use out of the Macbook Air. The easy ability to type, no touchscreen, and you don't have to hold/prop it up like you do the ipad. The ipad is great for what it is but like you said I don't know that I can justify having both. I almost went with the 11 inch to make it feel like more of a portable/ipad replacement but in the end I felt 13 would be better to get me through college at the ripe age of 31:)
 
mad3inch1na said:
...but an extra 4GB of RAM is absolutely not worth an extra 400$. It is not even a question you should be considering.
Click to expand...

I love absolute statements like this. :rolleyes:

If the OPs use of the MBA changes from how he currently thinks he will use it and more memory is needed, he will be out of luck.
 
DancyMunchkin said:
I love absolute statements like this. :rolleyes:

If the OPs use of the MBA changes from how he currently thinks he will use it and more memory is needed, he will be out of luck.
Click to expand...
That is true. But the "better be safe" approach can cause one to spend far more money than is necessary... which is magnified by Apple's pricing tiers.

Given the significant discounts associated with this deal, I think it would be safe to say that if the OP outgrew his MBA 4 months from now that he could sell it for what he paid.
 
Just an FYI, I stopped at the post office and got a 10% off best buy coupon. It's in the change of address booklet. Combined with the student discount at best buy with no issues.
 
jjk454ss said:
Just an FYI, I stopped at the post office and got a 10% off best buy coupon. It's in the change of address booklet. Combined with the student discount at best buy with no issues.
Click to expand...


Congrats. Yeah I did the same. 714 after tax for base 13 MBA. I got it for my daughter for Christmas. I hope she'll love it. Btw she's 10 ( I know I know lol)
 
I went with the 11" Couldn't beat the price!!
 

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