I'm considering it...

[fairm010]

I don't know why but recently I've been considering buying a Macbook Air, strictly for personal use. I've always been against Apple stuff but since using the iMac for our iPad deployment it has been a pleasure using the iMac and OSX.

 

Someone talk me out of this!

[Oaktech]

Just think of the spec you could get for the same money if it was anything BUT a Mac...

[Joanne]

buy a second hand one... then if you decide you don't like it, you can sell it on again with little to no money loss.

 

I said that when I bought my second hand macbook pro last year...

 

Still love it.

[LosOjos]

If you have the cash to spare then why not?

 

Just bear in mind the premium you're paying for Apple - if you can live with it (I can't!) then that's your choice - just don't come back in 6 months telling us how our Windows laptops that cost 1/4 of the price are inferior!

[fairm010]

Exactly. I have a beast of a work laptop (i7, SSD, 8GB RAm, Dedicated GFX) Supplied by our own @ICTDirect_Dave. BUt it's appealing to me more and more!

[fairm010]

buy a second hand one... then if you decide you don't like it, you can sell it on again with little to no money loss.

 

I said that when I bought my second hand macbook pro last year...

 

Still love it.

 

Where is the best place for a second hand one?

[LiamH]

What will you be using it for?

 

Web-browsing and basic office stuff - might be a bit overkill, a tablet would do the job for a lot cheaper

 

If its the UI/ease of use that you like, I know Elementary OS Luna is very close to Mac OS, and there is a Ubuntu distribution called Macbuntu that aims to be OS X-like.

[JRowley]

Well, you would save yourself a fortune by buying comparable non Apple gear, and another fortune in support costs if anything does go wrong. You will be able to service and upgrade your own kit yourself.

 

Really you should ask yourself what you have to gain from paying extra for a Macbook Air, if the answer is simply "its a Macbook Air.." then you are wasting your money.

[jinnantonnixx]

Sounds like the job for a Chromebook.

 

I run Ubuntu 14.04 at home and 12.04 at work.

 

Voyager Linux looks interesting (based on Ubuntu)

http://voyagerlive.org/

Edited February 10, 2015 by jinnantonnixx

[fairm010]

I have always been a fan of Apple's hardware. You can't deny that their hardware is of a very high standard. I enjoy photo manipulation now that I am taking up photography as a hobby. I've played with some of the tools on the iMac at work and its great!

[achedgy]

Well I use a MacBook air for work, very lightweight, great battery, powerful enough for everything I do and is lovely to work with.. I do run Windows on it (hardly ever boot into osx) only thing that lets it down in my eyes is the screen resolution. That's the only thing I would change.. Did max it out spec wise when I bought it, i7, 8gb ram, 500GB ssd. Touchpad is second to none, backlit keyboard I wouldn't be without for those dark corners I seem to always end up working in... If you can afford it, go for it. Worst case scenario, if it's not for you, sell it on...

[DalekSec]

"KILL IT WITH FIRE" -> me every time someone mentions a mac

[achedgy]

"KILL IT WITH FIRE" -> me every time someone mentions a mac

little bit harsh...

[fairm010]

Thats what I'm thinking. I can always flog it of not. I know @ICTDirect_Dave does Apple hardware, will have to see what he has!

[JRowley]

I have always been a fan of Apple's hardware. You can't deny that their hardware is of a very high standard. I enjoy photo manipulation now that I am taking up photography as a hobby. I've played with some of the tools on the iMac at work and its great!

 

Sure the hardware is reasonable but considering the cost, the hardware should be at that standard or higher anyway, this is true of any other ultrabook. Considering you can get the adobe suite on Windows you aren't really gaining anything from being on the Apple platform.

[achedgy]

Good plan, had a MacBook pro previously, was amazed at what I got for it when I sold it at over 4 years old... I've never had a non apple laptop last me more than 2 years..

[LiamH]

Good plan, had a MacBook pro previously, was amazed at what I got for it when I sold it at over 4 years old... I've never had a non apple laptop last me more than 2 years..

 

I get old laptops running XP SP1 handed back all the time from end users, if they survive in their care for so long i'm not sure how yours are dying so quick

[achedgy]

it's because I work them so hard!!!!

[Joanne]

Where is the best place for a second hand one?

 

Bought mine off eBay. I bid on quite a few but missed out. Got lucky with this one. £465 for 2011 MacBook Pro i5, 4GB RAM and 360GB HDD. I've since upped the RAM to 8GB and slammed a 120GB SSD in there and it FLIES. Battery still lasts for a few hours too. Awesome.

[LiamH]

Bought mine off eBay. I bid on quite a few but missed out. Got lucky with this one. £465 for 2011 MacBook Pro i5, 4GB RAM and 360GB HDD. I've since upped the RAM to 8GB and slammed a 120GB SSD in there and it FLIES. Battery still lasts for a few hours too. Awesome.

 

*In before a photograph of a mac book arrives at his door

[Quackers]

Get a refurb from Apple here Refurbished Mac - Buy Refurbished Mac Products - Apple Store (UK) you cannot tell its not brand new apart from the box.

 

Once you get one you will wonder why you did not get one sooner! OS X is a pleasure to use and the trackpads on Mac laptops are just exquisite.

[fairm010]

Hmm I'll have a poke about on eBay

[ICTDirect_Dave]

Thats what I'm thinking. I can always flog it of not. I know @ICTDirect_Dave does Apple hardware, will have to see what he has!

 

Drop me a line mate, I'll see what we can work out.

[LeMarchand]

Have you seen @fairm010 since the Mac was purchased?

 

 

I'm not sure that it's a change for the better.

Edited February 10, 2015 by LeMarchand
In need of a wink

[Danp]

I've not looked at the whole thread, but do it. I did 3 years ago and I rarely use anything else now apart from my main work machine when I am sat at my desk. The Air is taken with me to meetings etc.