I would go with the Macbook air M2 chip 2022 chip with 16 GB of memory.

It should last until they are going to college and could even take it with them.

The extra memory is almost a wash with the student discount.

Apple has interest free financing for student laptops of around $170 per month.

For a student 16 MB should be fine even with student CAD.

Apple usually supports laptops for about 10 years.

quote:

Originally posted by sig2392:
I would go with the Macbook air M2 chip 2022 chip with 16 GB of memory.

Do NOT get the M2 Macbook Air (or the M2 13" MBP) with 256GB of storage. Apple used a single NAND chip for the 256GB storage on the newer M2 models, whereas the M1 models used a pair of 128GB NANDs, and that pair of chips proved to transfer data much faster. 500GB and above all use a pair of NAND chips.
 
Link.
 
I priced a new M2 Air. With my preferred 16GB RAM and 500GB storage, it came in at only $100 less than the M1Pro Macbook Pro (2021 model). The M1Pro MBP is readily available on sale for $1799, and the M1Pro is a much better CPU than even the plain jane M2, plus in the MBP it has a much better display and speakers.
 

I’m curious what CAD software they are running with MacOS. It might be browser based and not running on the local computer.

That changes the computer needs. Best ask the school what they recommend as a $1200 Air is very different than a $2500-$3000 Pro.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: JasonEuc,

I'll play the contrarian role. I say get her the Air (16GB RAM is you can wouldn't be a mistake, but I still think it's not necessary) and put the difference in an account to help replace it one day far in the future. Damage, loss, theft are my rationale. That, and I don't believe for a second she needs more.

I just do not believe a HS student, even in a science focused school, even one that uses a CAD program a bit, is truly crushing the machine. And absolutely not enough to merit a platform lift to the latest Pro machines. If 1% of what she does takes 50% longer to render, so be it.

I have considerable experience in these decisions, both with my job, and with my four kids. Two kids in college (one just starting and one that is a junior this year) and another one that just graduated in the with his undergrad in the Spring.

I bought my first two college students both Airs, 8GB. Light, great keyboards, excellent battery life. They did great with that. One was Bio, one was a Physics major, that transitioned to pre-med. My 3rd child is going into college for cybersec in the Fall. I just bought him an MS Surface Pro-8. My rational was the software tools needed for that trade would lend more to a Windows machine, and I didn't want him to have to play the Parallels game. It was worth it in the past, to avoid Windows when you could. But the Surface is so good now, as is Windows, that it's not the chasm between the platforms that it used to be.

I believe that'll get her through HS, and that she'll want a new one for college anyway. Best of luck in whatever you decide. Be sure to use the Apple Edu discount site. I buy everything through those. Right about now, they'll usually throw on a "get this free" with purchase for Back to School. Airpods or something like that.

EDIT TO ADD: After reading Jason's post above. -- Are you guys SURE that school isn't issuing ChromeBooks? I'd check that out if I were you. I have a feeling it may be, and that all of the software might be browser-based.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: r0gue,

quote:

Originally posted by creslin:

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
The MacBook Air with an M1 chip is outstanding; I'm typing on one right now.
8 GB RAM is plenty;

8gb ram is plenty for web browsing.

I use to think so too. My Macbook pro has 8gb and slows down significantly when quickly scrolling sites like Pinterest. My Lenovo with 32gb handles it with ease.

Check. with. the . school. for. recommendations.
No one here, myself included, has a true idea what is required for her use. also ask about whether the next few years will require more powerful performance as she advances.
FWSAIW, I am typing this on a 2022 MacBook Pro with an M1 Max processor with 32GB of ram and 1 Terabyte of storage. I use Lightroom and Photoshop for photography/image editing which can be somewhat similar in system demands to CAD.
Again check with the school and save yourself a lot of time and possibly money. Of course it may cost you more but what is her education worth? Err on the side of too powerful vs. underpowered in her case. She would be discouraged by a computer that chugs along like an old steam engine when others doing the same tasks are operating a high performance sports car.

you can get a M1 MacBook Air from the Apple refurb area for about 850. at least that's what I paid for one after the step daughters old computer died

Youngest son is taking CAD at our local HS using Autodesk Fusion 360 Online using Chromebooks.

Especially for the HS level, browser-based CAD makes so much more sense from an ease of admin standpoint.

My college student son who took graphics design courses used the Adobe online versions.

It's the direction education is going b/c of the simplicity.

Thanks for all the fast replies! Her mom did ask one of the teachers and they just said "Get a Mac", I'll ask her do dig a little deeper. I do have a veterans discount and will look at refurbs. Seems the student discount with the $150 Apple card might be the way to go.

I think after reading through this, it will be a Macbook Air with the M2 and 16GB. I'll hold off until we get a little more info from the school.

I can almost assure you that the high school is using a browser based cad program as mentioned in the above posts. And that either of the MacBook Airs will be just fine. 8 gig fine, 16 gig if the budget allows. Keep in mind too that HS kids can be rough on electronics and there is a lot of theft at HS these days so I would not over spend.

I would get a Mac book pro. When my daughter graduates HA we got her a pro for college and she was still using it 10 years later when it finally died. Air’s are great for a lot of things size especially but for the investment a pro isn’t much bigger and way more capable.