Second hand MacBook Air (A1466) still a worthwhile buy?
Discussion
Morning all...
So I've come to the conclusion that my iPad really isn't suiting my needs for various reasons (at least, not as a portable, sole computing device) so I've been looking at laptops. I did think about a convertible laptop, but it seems like any of these worth having are pretty close to a grand.
Working in IT I'd also rather not have to deal with Windows (frankly, I'm sick of the sight of it!), be nice to have a change, and I notice that my work are selling refurb laptops, with a 6 month warranty, one of which is a MacBook Air A1466, Core i7 1.7GHz processor, 8Gb RAM and 250Gb SSD. This seems like a pretty decent spec to me, so I'm just wondering, is this machine still worth having for the price they are selling it for (£450?). It's tempting because it seems to be relatively well matched to the modern stuff in most areas, its not Windows, and its half the price of the stuff I've been looking at. Thoughts?
So I've come to the conclusion that my iPad really isn't suiting my needs for various reasons (at least, not as a portable, sole computing device) so I've been looking at laptops. I did think about a convertible laptop, but it seems like any of these worth having are pretty close to a grand.
Working in IT I'd also rather not have to deal with Windows (frankly, I'm sick of the sight of it!), be nice to have a change, and I notice that my work are selling refurb laptops, with a 6 month warranty, one of which is a MacBook Air A1466, Core i7 1.7GHz processor, 8Gb RAM and 250Gb SSD. This seems like a pretty decent spec to me, so I'm just wondering, is this machine still worth having for the price they are selling it for (£450?). It's tempting because it seems to be relatively well matched to the modern stuff in most areas, its not Windows, and its half the price of the stuff I've been looking at. Thoughts?
Yes.
A1466 covers anything from 2012 to 2015, so a specific year would be useful, but with a 1.7 I7 it is either a mid 2013 or mid 2014 model, with the optional higher spec processor and optional 8gb ram. All macbook airs from those years are SSD drives.
Either will run High Sierra (the latest OS version) with no issues.
I have said it a couple of times - the 13" macbook air is one of the best macs ever made, and that is a sound buy - especially at that price.
(awaiting comments about the macbook air screen.... zzz)
A1466 covers anything from 2012 to 2015, so a specific year would be useful, but with a 1.7 I7 it is either a mid 2013 or mid 2014 model, with the optional higher spec processor and optional 8gb ram. All macbook airs from those years are SSD drives.
Either will run High Sierra (the latest OS version) with no issues.
I have said it a couple of times - the 13" macbook air is one of the best macs ever made, and that is a sound buy - especially at that price.
(awaiting comments about the macbook air screen.... zzz)
Edited by GCH on Monday 9th October 14:59
I dunno how many they will have in stock (perhaps only 1). Thanks for the feedback, I am quite tempted. I did read the screen wasn't supposed to be that great, but then again, it can't surely be any worse than a 768P panel on a Yoga S1 or X240 Lenovo, surely, and yet sharpness aside, I find them to be fine.
GCH said:
...
I have said it a couple of times - the 13" macbook air is one of the best macs ever made, and that is a sound buy - especially at that price.
...
I totally agree.I have said it a couple of times - the 13" macbook air is one of the best macs ever made, and that is a sound buy - especially at that price.
...
(I even don't see what the big fuss is on the screen...side by side in some conditions/scenarios you'll notice a difference. But how often is that the case).
The one thing I would say is that 256Gb might be getting a bit tight if you have plenty of software and run photos/video through it.
I recommended one of these to my FiL around 6yrs or so ago and he's over the moon with it still. My OH also has one (similar age) and again, it works brilliantly.
Murph7355 said:
I totally agree.
(I even don't see what the big fuss is on the screen...side by side in some conditions/scenarios you'll notice a difference. But how often is that the case).
The one thing I would say is that 256Gb might be getting a bit tight if you have plenty of software and run photos/video through it.
I recommended one of these to my FiL around 6yrs or so ago and he's over the moon with it still. My OH also has one (similar age) and again, it works brilliantly.
I think 250 Gb will be fine actually, I am not a heavy user of videos or anything like that. It will just be something to compliment the iPad.(I even don't see what the big fuss is on the screen...side by side in some conditions/scenarios you'll notice a difference. But how often is that the case).
The one thing I would say is that 256Gb might be getting a bit tight if you have plenty of software and run photos/video through it.
I recommended one of these to my FiL around 6yrs or so ago and he's over the moon with it still. My OH also has one (similar age) and again, it works brilliantly.
TameRacingDriver said:
I did read the screen wasn't supposed to be that great, but then again, it can't surely be any worse than a 768P panel on a Yoga S1 or X240 Lenovo, surely, and yet sharpness aside, I find them to be fine.
Exactly.Next to the latest retina, it isn't quite as sharp, but still better than most and perfectly usable.
I find that it is usually specw*nkers who complain about the screen - for the vast majority of users it is absolutely fine, myself included.
GCH said:
Exactly.
Next to the latest retina, it isn't quite as sharp, but still better than most and perfectly usable.
I find that it is usually specw*nkers who complain about the screen - for the vast majority of users it is absolutely fine, myself included.
Probably the same group who claim they can notice a big difference between 1080P and 1440P on a 5" screen Next to the latest retina, it isn't quite as sharp, but still better than most and perfectly usable.
I find that it is usually specw*nkers who complain about the screen - for the vast majority of users it is absolutely fine, myself included.
You have put my mind a rest though as I did read some criticism of the screen, and it will be seeing a bit of netflix and the like...
I'm really not that arsed about the lack of touch screen either. I just seem to spend half my life cleaning the screen of my phone and ipad. Tent mode for the train would have been nice to have but I figure its probably just about small enough to sit on the table on the back of a train seat anyway and if not, my iPad will.
TameRacingDriver said:
Murph7355 said:
I totally agree.
(I even don't see what the big fuss is on the screen...side by side in some conditions/scenarios you'll notice a difference. But how often is that the case).
The one thing I would say is that 256Gb might be getting a bit tight if you have plenty of software and run photos/video through it.
I recommended one of these to my FiL around 6yrs or so ago and he's over the moon with it still. My OH also has one (similar age) and again, it works brilliantly.
I think 250 Gb will be fine actually, I am not a heavy user of videos or anything like that. It will just be something to compliment the iPad.(I even don't see what the big fuss is on the screen...side by side in some conditions/scenarios you'll notice a difference. But how often is that the case).
The one thing I would say is that 256Gb might be getting a bit tight if you have plenty of software and run photos/video through it.
I recommended one of these to my FiL around 6yrs or so ago and he's over the moon with it still. My OH also has one (similar age) and again, it works brilliantly.
CAPP0 said:
TameRacingDriver said:
Murph7355 said:
I totally agree.
(I even don't see what the big fuss is on the screen...side by side in some conditions/scenarios you'll notice a difference. But how often is that the case).
The one thing I would say is that 256Gb might be getting a bit tight if you have plenty of software and run photos/video through it.
I recommended one of these to my FiL around 6yrs or so ago and he's over the moon with it still. My OH also has one (similar age) and again, it works brilliantly.
I think 250 Gb will be fine actually, I am not a heavy user of videos or anything like that. It will just be something to compliment the iPad.(I even don't see what the big fuss is on the screen...side by side in some conditions/scenarios you'll notice a difference. But how often is that the case).
The one thing I would say is that 256Gb might be getting a bit tight if you have plenty of software and run photos/video through it.
I recommended one of these to my FiL around 6yrs or so ago and he's over the moon with it still. My OH also has one (similar age) and again, it works brilliantly.
I’ve gone for it 
Will let you all know what I think (as a long time windows user).
I hear what you’re saying about the battery but I can’t try before I buy and I do have a warranty of 6 months to fall back on so I’m not overly concerned.
My other choice was a Yoga S1 for £222, but I didn’t really want a machine that we all use daily at work even if it was a convertible touch screen machine with windows 10 and 8gb of ram and an an i5. But I would feel like I was at work using it, the battery life is fairly rubbish and the staff don’t exactly treat them well (oddly the rare staff who have macs seem to look after them much more).
I imagine the Mac should have a better touchpad, screen, keyboard, be lighter, faster, have better battery life and those things probably on balance will make up for the lack of 180 degree hinge and touch screen. Something else to learn how to use too which makes it a little more interesting than anything else I could have gone for, at least initially.
Will let you all know what I think (as a long time windows user).
I hear what you’re saying about the battery but I can’t try before I buy and I do have a warranty of 6 months to fall back on so I’m not overly concerned.
My other choice was a Yoga S1 for £222, but I didn’t really want a machine that we all use daily at work even if it was a convertible touch screen machine with windows 10 and 8gb of ram and an an i5. But I would feel like I was at work using it, the battery life is fairly rubbish and the staff don’t exactly treat them well (oddly the rare staff who have macs seem to look after them much more).
I imagine the Mac should have a better touchpad, screen, keyboard, be lighter, faster, have better battery life and those things probably on balance will make up for the lack of 180 degree hinge and touch screen. Something else to learn how to use too which makes it a little more interesting than anything else I could have gone for, at least initially.
There is a little bit of a learning curve if coming from a life with windows, but once you learn the many shortcuts and trackpad gestures (swipe left, swipe right, two finger swipe up/down, three finger swipe up etc), and set it up to work exactly how you want it to, it is great.
And if you hate it, you will get back more than you paid for it.
And if you hate it, you will get back more than you paid for it.
It has arrived. First task is update the OS to High Sierra (currently on Mountain Lion).
The hardware looks and feels nice. The screen well its not a retina but I knew that, I'm sure it'll be good enough for my needs.
Once I've updated it and had a proper play about tonight I'll post back.
The hardware looks and feels nice. The screen well its not a retina but I knew that, I'm sure it'll be good enough for my needs.
Once I've updated it and had a proper play about tonight I'll post back.
I'm also in the market for a new MacBook. My cat tipped over a glass of water onto my 2009 Alu unibody, so the keyboard is borked. I'm getting it fixed but I still fancy a new one.
I'd previously settled on an Air, largely due to it having A) 2 USB ports and B) MagSafe, but quite a few folk on here reckoned that it's not worth the money due to not having a retina screen.
Hmm.
I'd previously settled on an Air, largely due to it having A) 2 USB ports and B) MagSafe, but quite a few folk on here reckoned that it's not worth the money due to not having a retina screen.
Hmm.
Well I can remark on the screen thing a bit.
I must admit I wasn't all that impressed when I first fired it up. BUT, it had Mountain Lion on it which I found was 5 years old, and it really look dated, and text was pixelated.
I now have High Sierra on it though, and the fonts now look a LOT better and honestly, I've no complaints at all. Sure it'll look pixelated very close up but honestly it looks fine to me.
I've stuck Chrome on it now, very easy to install the application, just download the file, open it, drag it to the folder icon underneath and its done and in the Applications folder. Then drag the mounted drive to the bin. I did that without even googling it so thats pretty good really.
Oh and High Sierra looks MUCH nicer than Mountain Lion - I'm glad it does because I felt the ML looked really dated when I first turned it on.
I must admit I wasn't all that impressed when I first fired it up. BUT, it had Mountain Lion on it which I found was 5 years old, and it really look dated, and text was pixelated.
I now have High Sierra on it though, and the fonts now look a LOT better and honestly, I've no complaints at all. Sure it'll look pixelated very close up but honestly it looks fine to me.
I've stuck Chrome on it now, very easy to install the application, just download the file, open it, drag it to the folder icon underneath and its done and in the Applications folder. Then drag the mounted drive to the bin. I did that without even googling it so thats pretty good really.
Oh and High Sierra looks MUCH nicer than Mountain Lion - I'm glad it does because I felt the ML looked really dated when I first turned it on.
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