My daughter has just started high school and she wants to replace her iPad/keyboard combo with a proper laptop. She has her heart set on a MacBook but I've told her no more than $1k.

MacBooks around this price on trademe seem to be about four years old which seems an eternity in tech terms.

We've got plenty of Apple devices at home but haven't had a MacBook before.

What are your thoughts on paying $1k for a four year old laptop? Am I better to try and steer her towards a Windows based machine.

Her school use Office 365 but it seems any device that can use office is acceptable.

Something lightweight/small is also important as her bag is already chocka and she has been carting around my HP envy 15.6" laptop which is too big/heavy to be truly portable.