It takes a little finesse to log into the Apple military discount site and the refurbished page at the same time. Here is the link: MAC refurb

Under $1k gets you same thing I have: late model 13" with the M2 chip, 16g memory and a 1TB SSD

(LOVE it. My Pro lasted 11 years until it simply could not run the latest software)

I've used Macbook Pro's for both work & home for as long as I can remember but my next laptop will be the 15” Macbook Air. They’re currently the best bang for your buck in the Apple universe. Not to mention the weight savings over the newer Pro’s.

They have the 2024 modes on closeout on Amazon now. Discounts vary, I’d opt for a MacBook Pro, but you could get away with the Air. Thing I don’t like about the Air’s is their diminutive size. I’m afraid I break the freaking thing and the screens flex more than the MBP models or least use to.

As others noted, Apple Refurbs are good to go, essentially as new with same warranty as new.

Refurbs are about 15% off new and veteran discount adds another 10% on that.


As for “pictures” - just storing them or will she be using it it to edit them as well? If editing, I would go with a MacBook Pro. Simply storage and looking, MacBook Air should suffice.


Spend the extra up front for a bigger SSD as they are not upgradeable after purchase. As for RAM, MacOS is very different from Windows and you are safe with about half the RAM you might normally go with on a Windows machine

Essentially no editing

The best part about giving the wife a MacBook for me was my role as tech support ended. Macs just work.

This probably wouldn't fit the bill, just throwing in my endorsement... I run Muzzle Works (FFL/SOT business) on an iPad Pro with the magic keyboard. No sweat. My wife uses a MacBook Air for her job as well. MacBook Pro's are cool for sure, if $$ isn't an issue then by all means get the Pro but the others mentioned are quite capable.

Based on your description of her use I'd probably say go for the MacBook Air 15" and then add at least 1TB hard drive.

Coming from PC's it will seem like a lot of money, buy you get a lot more for the money.

I ran a 2012 MacBook Pro for 9 years and even at the end it never felt outdated at all. It was also seamless to upgrade to my current MacBook Pro. I have no doubt I'll get the same amount of time out of this one.

The Air, in any size, seems to be the hot model at the moment. OTOH, any unit with "Pro" in the name gets you more respect at the Apple Store should you ever have a reason to go there for tech support, etc. Apple's ARM chips are getting significantly better with each iteration so get as high an M as you can find in the model you like.

I would absolutely take the wife to the Apple Store and have her get hands on the various models before making the purchase decision. Some people perceive the Air as fragile due to its light weight and thin profile. It isn't, but personal preferences always dominate.

quote:

Originally posted by JasonEuc:
MacBook Air in either the 13” or 15”. I prefer the 13.

16GB unified memory is fine. Pick the SSD size one notch higher than you think you need.

The current Apple Silicon Mac laptops in any configuration are, IMO, the best laptops ever available.

I second that. Might not need to be latest processor generation, but should have at least 16 GB RAM and more than a 256 GB disk. That helps in the long run.

I have a Macbook Air 13" M1, easy to carry around

I came from decades of Windows to iOS in 2017 when I started current job. It's pretty easy, and my only recommendation is to spring for the MS Office package rather than try to relearn Numbers, Pages, Keynote in place of MS apps. That was KILLING me, but once over that hump easy sailing.

Agree with the MacBook Air recommendation. First device here was a MacBook Pro but other than the nicer screen size that was very much overkill for my needs then or now. That device really is a powerhouse. The Air now comes in 15 inch screen as well for a couple hundred more, well worth it.

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:

spring for the MS Office package rather than try to relearn Numbers, Pages, Keynote in place of MS apps.

Before giving your money to MicroSoft, try the FREE Libre Office suite.

MacBook Air M3 or M4. I got a 16/512 M3 a year ago. It's perfect for a small light easily portable laptop. The 15" is OK if you need the screen size or if it's a desktop replacement, but I think it's a bit big and loses some of the lightweight factor.

I have had "The Macbook Pro" in several versions since 2007 - always loved them (until they broke...); last version is a 2017, which cannot accomodate the last TWO iOS upgrades... it was over $4K, with 2 TB SSD - top of the crop at the time.
Last week I bought a MacBook AIR, 15in for my daughter... and don't know why I would ever need the "Pro" (since I am not that in most references of life).
I recommend a M3 or M4 chip, BestBuy has great specials, $150-300+ off! If you need "more storage", I recommend something like the Samsung T5 SSD external HD.
Happy shopping, K

quote:

Originally posted by onegeek:
MacBook Air 15”, 16GB/512Gb

This is what I have, with 16GB/245 GB storage. It is plenty for what I do. I cannot imagine going back to Dell, or any of the other MS based laptops.



.

I'm a lifelong Windows guy, Systems and Network Engineering. I bought a MacBook Air back in Nov of 22. Great piece of hardware, I have always had employer provided top end laptops, and the MacBook Air is great, long battery life, unmatched by windows laptops in the same size package. If your an iPhone user the integration as great.

That said there is a little learning curve to get used to things, everything seems to be backwards from windows. I do almost everything personally on my Mac, that said, I am way more proficient with Windows 11. I do understand the privacy part.

I would definitely test drive one, the Apple store has great customer service and lessons for new users.

I bought a MacBook Air a few weeks ago. I have never owned an Apple computer before. I do have an iPhone and iPad.

I really like it. Quality far and above other computers I have owned. The battery lasts multiple days without plugging it in. I use it much like your wife. Pictures, shopping, surfing, etc. I really like using the messaging app to text from my laptop instead of having to pick up the phone.

I have even started using Safari instead of Chrome. No issues to date.

I do miss the keyboard commands of a PC... but that is more a behavioral change I need to make - learn the apple keyboard shortcuts.

She will not regret the move.

My personal M4 Air is as fast as my work Pro.

Get at least 512g SSD ... Battery life is improved over previous gen.

like them a lot.

quote:

Originally posted by armedprof:

I do miss the keyboard commands of a PC... but that is more a behavioral change I need to make - learn the apple keyboard shortcuts.

Many of the Windows keyboard shortcuts have direct MacOS equivalents; use the command key on the Mac keyboard, where you would use the control key on a Windows keyboard.

The road seems to be mostly clear from the responses. I also agree a MacBook Air will definitely do the job for the things she does as a user. If she goes to the store and absolutely fell in love with an iPad instead and you tricked it out with a keyboard case, that is a viable option as well unless she had software that she “had” to use that wasn’t compatible with it or didn’t have a suitable replacement for. It’s a pretty close substitute for her workflows IF she really wanted to go that route. I use an iPad Pro (she would not need a pro, an air would be fine) almost exclusively day to day, and only use a tricked out Mac mini for crunching big work related files.

I read your post and respect the requirements you are looking for, but I will also reiterate what a few have already said about the Apple refurb store. Their process is second to none. They replace a faulty component, reshell the unit with a new body, screen, clean and operating system. It’s then placed in new packaging with documentation and new cables, sold with a new warranty and you can even have Apple care to it as new.

I only preface with that because the one thing people hate the most with Apple is their upgrade pricing. It’s robbery. The prices they charge for small bumps in memory or hard drive space is ridiculous. It’s basically $200 per bump across the board at every level. That said you can use the discount on a refurb to offset some of those upgrades. So in this configuration available on the refurb store you get the 15’ MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and two upgrades of storage from the standard 256GB all the way to 1TB. In a new model those two bumps cost an additional $400 where as the price I linked is $1359 refurbed vs $1600 new. Also that was the bigger 15” screen where as the 13” model is even 200 bucks less. Just food for thought.

If you decide to go new then I’d go with the 16GB memory and a single bump of storage to 512GB and as a few others have mentioned get a good external storage hard drive to meet the needs of her photos instead of paying Apple pricing. Prime Day is in full swing right now and there is no better time to grab an external storage drive. This Samsung is a great, easily pocketable 2TB of storage for only $115.

Even if you decide on a model from this thread alone or decide to buy it at Best Buy or Amazon for a better price, still take the opportunity to take her to the Apple Store. She’ll be able to see the options in person as far as color and screen size. Size especially is subjective. She may prefer the portability of a 13’ or the bigger screen size of a 15”. She can also fondle an iPad and decide if that’s a better couch device. Exciting times brother, tell her to have fun choosing!