WTB: IPad Air and Macbook Air

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Forums › Offers and Wanted › WTB: IPad Air and Macbook Air

CrashAndBurn

693 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 105

#303126 18-Jan-2023 09:47

My son starts uni next month and needs a an Ipad Air and Macbook Air. We are considering buying new but thought I'd ask here first if I can get a bargain from those planning to upgrade.

Also does anyone have an idea if 8GB ram will be enough for someone taking an engineering course, I know a lot would say get 16gb at least but trying to justify the additional cost if I go the brand new route.

Below is what we are considering if we buy new:

10.9-inch iPad Air Wi-Fi 64GB - $1,099 with education pricing direct from Apple

MacBook Air M2 8GB RAM 256 storage - $1,974 with education pricing direct from Apple

sir1963

3428 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3756

Subscriber

#3023165 18-Jan-2023 11:13

What kind of engineering ?

Electrical...well most of the software is Windows

I am a Mac user myself and I have 3rd party Mac software that I use, but its not compatible with the PC software we used at work.

Finding things like cross compilers/assemblers for various microcontrollers can be an issue too, but things like Arduino work fine though some of the USB to Serial stuff is broken and Raspberry Pi's you just log onto to them remotely so they work too.

on Chinese import stuff.

But things like Matlab, Maple, Mathematica, R, Fusion 360, Adobe Suite (most), and Microsoft office work fine.

Be prepared for the University to be generally ignorant/unhelpful with Macs

CrashAndBurn

693 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 105

#3023168 18-Jan-2023 11:16

sir1963:

What kind of engineering ?

Electrical...well most of the software is Windows

I am a Mac user myself and I have 3rd party Mac software that I use, but its not compatible with the PC software we used at work.

Finding things like cross compilers/assemblers for various microcontrollers can be an issue too, but things like Arduino work fine though some of the USB to Serial stuff is broken and Raspberry Pi's you just log onto to them remotely so they work too.

on Chinese import stuff.

But things like Matlab, Maple, Mathematica, R, Fusion 360, Adobe Suite (most), and Microsoft office work fine.

Be prepared for the University to be generally ignorant/unhelpful with Macs

Mechanical Engineering at AUT.

sir1963

3428 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3756

Subscriber

#3023172 18-Jan-2023 11:38

CrashAndBurn:

sir1963:

What kind of engineering ?

Electrical...well most of the software is Windows

I am a Mac user myself and I have 3rd party Mac software that I use, but its not compatible with the PC software we used at work.

Finding things like cross compilers/assemblers for various microcontrollers can be an issue too, but things like Arduino work fine though some of the USB to Serial stuff is broken and Raspberry Pi's you just log onto to them remotely so they work too.

on Chinese import stuff.

But things like Matlab, Maple, Mathematica, R, Fusion 360, Adobe Suite (most), and Microsoft office work fine.

Be prepared for the University to be generally ignorant/unhelpful with Macs

Mechanical Engineering at AUT.

Check the minimum requirements, especially the software they use, you may find that a Mac/iPad will not work fro doing actual lab work, but will be fine for doing write ups using MS Office with screen shots/PDFs/attached files etc.

And older MBA may also not have a grunt enough GPU for the work, some software will refuse to work if that is the case, or at best it will be slow.

Be warned that you can NOT upgrade the RAM, but on some older MBA you can upgrade the internal SSD (later models is a no there too).

GSManiac

494 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 273

#3023193 18-Jan-2023 12:49

Apple have a back to uni deal with free AirPods. Might be worth looking into as well.

Could also consider refurbished from Apple.
For instance iPad Air 64gb $820

Refurbished have new housings and battery. But you don’t get the “free” AirPods

I bought a refurbished iPad Pro a few months ago and extremely happy.

CrashAndBurn

693 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 105

#3023195 18-Jan-2023 13:00

GSManiac: Apple have a back to uni deal with free AirPods. Might be worth looking into as well.

Could also consider refurbished from Apple.
For instance iPad Air 64gb $820

Refurbished have new housings and battery. But you don’t get the “free” AirPods

I bought a refurbished iPad Pro a few months ago and extremely happy.

Yeah saw the deal started today so was highly considering going the new route unless of course I get a better offer here. I still have till next month to decide as uni starts next month and Apple deal ends in March.