Replacement for MacBook Air?
Author
Discussion

pauljdh

Original Poster:

215 posts

194 months

Sunday 31st January 2021
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My 2013 MBA is not booting up and whilst it's been brill it's knocking on a bit so replacent time looming.

Apple OS won't reinstall Mojave, says I'm not authorised??

Can't decide what to do, either same(ISH) again, switch back to Windows laptop (SSD) or a high powered Android tablet.

It's rare I need a "computer" rather a browsing streamer is more what I do.

Be nice to print and 128-256 of storage would be nice.

What's the trend theses days in ways of recommedsations.

Thanks

seveb

308 posts

103 months

Sunday 31st January 2021
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iPad with a keyboard would probably be ideal. They are so fast compared with Android tablets and beneficially, don't run Android.

As a Mac user you'd kick yourself for going back to Windows, shower of ste these days. If this is what you're tempted to do then look at the MacBook Air with the M1 processor, beats all Windows laptops for battery life, speed and overall usability.


BlueJazz

906 posts

202 months

Sunday 31st January 2021
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Or s Samsung tablet with DEX. Looks just like Windows 10 and you can use an external Bluetooth mouse and keyboard. Alternatively, plug it via USB cable into a docking station.

pauljdh

Original Poster:

215 posts

194 months

Sunday 31st January 2021
quotequote all
Thanks. DEX?

steveatesh

5,368 posts

194 months

Sunday 31st January 2021
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Your needs would be met by an iPad, plenty of choice and as above you can get them keyboards and even a mouse too.

For computer the best bet is the new M1 Air complete with 256 gig ssd , you will notice an incredible difference and only £999 too.

tim0409

5,964 posts

189 months

Sunday 31st January 2021
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I have both a MacBook Air and an iPad Pro with keyboard and if I had to choose a single device it would be the MacBook every time. I appreciate the OP is more into browsing but I find the iPad is let down by the operating system; things that are easy on a laptop can be a pain on the iPad. I appreciate that this will be down to personal opinion, but the new MBA has excellent battery life and the new M1 chip is amazing so at £999 that would be my choice.

tapandunwrap

122 posts

236 months

Sunday 31st January 2021
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There's almost no reason not to go for the M1 Macbook air. Cheap (for a mac) and faster than almost anything on the market unless you're after high performance video hardware. The battery life is twice as long if not more than the last mac and the keyboard is great. Absolutely brilliant machine and you can just pull everything you have on the old one through the mac transfer.

Get one through your work discount scheme, student discount via apple or online between £830-950.

sutoka

4,727 posts

138 months

Sunday 31st January 2021
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tapandunwrap said:
There's almost no reason not to go for the M1 Macbook air. Cheap (for a mac) and faster than almost anything on the market unless you're after high performance video hardware. The battery life is twice as long if not more than the last mac and the keyboard is great. Absolutely brilliant machine and you can just pull everything you have on the old one through the mac transfer.

Get one through your work discount scheme, student discount via apple or online between £830-950.
I'd say move up to a MacBook Pro, 8 years out of a MacBook Air is good going. My MBP 15' is just over seven and still running well. I'm not sure this would work now but when I went to buy it in the Apple Store the guy ask me if I was a student. I said no. I'd graduated about 4 years earlier. He said if you find someone who is I'll scan their student card and give you the discount which was about 4-500 off plus you got AppleCare for 50 instead of 300.

So my years of sales experience meant I had the confidence to just walk up to anyone and ask. The third person said yes and I dropped them 20 quid for doing it.

BlueJazz

906 posts

202 months

Sunday 31st January 2021
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pauljdh said:
Thanks. DEX?
https://www.samsung.com/uk/apps/samsung-dex

Yes, basically turns your tablet (or phone) into a laptop. Designed by Samsung and supported by Microsoft with tight integration.

mikeiow

8,187 posts

160 months

Sunday 31st January 2021
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A browsing streamer?
Have you considered a Chromebook? Might fit your needs at a lower cost.....

Apple kit is generally quality (family here have a lot of older stuff, & a newer ipad, phones), but sometimes there might be cheaper options that could work well!

JimbobVFR

2,822 posts

174 months

Sunday 31st January 2021
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TBH If its an issue with the SSD in your Air it might be worth replacing it. Its not actually that difficult to upgrade the SSD.
https://everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook-air/mac...

If you can afford it though I'd highly recommend one of the new M1 models. Very impressive how they're both powerful and really battery efficient compared to Intel Macs.

GR_WILL

780 posts

108 months

Sunday 31st January 2021
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Hopefully my experience will help you out...

I had a 7 year old (ish) MacBook which was due to be replaced as it was no longer supported OS wise due to age and things had also started going faulty like the speakers etc. I replaced it with a mid range HP laptop running Windows 10. I knew immediately that I’d made a mistake..the HP was slower than the MacBook it replaced. It was an utter turd of a thing, full of bloat ware and unable to deal with the most mundane task.

I ended up trading it in at Curry’s for a MacBook Air. It’s faultless and I’m delighted with it.

sutoka

4,727 posts

138 months

Monday 1st February 2021
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GR_WILL said:
Hopefully my experience will help you out...

I had a 7 year old (ish) MacBook which was due to be replaced as it was no longer supported OS wise due to age and things had also started going faulty like the speakers etc. I replaced it with a mid range HP laptop running Windows 10. I knew immediately that I’d made a mistake..the HP was slower than the MacBook it replaced. It was an utter turd of a thing, full of bloat ware and unable to deal with the most mundane task.

I ended up trading it in at Curry’s for a MacBook Air. It’s faultless and I’m delighted with it.
My sister still has a black plastic MacBook from about 2006, last update was 2012. Benched against a basic HP laptop from her work it is still a lot quicker when doing basic tasks.