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Need advice on shopping for a Macbook for a relative for Christmas (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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The recipient doesn’t do any video editing or other process intensive workflows, just online banking, facebook, email, etc.

I’m trying to decide whether to buy new on Black Friday or shop the second hand market. I want something that’ll keep getting OS updates for at least a couple years.

Can anyone advise me on how to get the best value for my dollar—should I shop Black Friday deals for something new or stick to the used marketplaces like Facebook, eBay, etc? We’re in the US in case that affects the answer. Thank you!

ETA budget info: I’d like to spend around $500 or so, which I believe would mean going used, but I can probably stretch my budget to a grand if buying something new is actually the best value play. But if I go used, can someone recommend what years I should look for or avoid? thx

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Does your relative have any particular need to use their device outside of their home? It sounds like they could be better served with an iPad as a consumption device if they already happen to have a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

They already have an iPhone and an iPad, and I hadn't considered trying a bluetooth keyboard and mouse, so thanks for the idea. I'll explore this workflow more.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

This is also a great suggestion. Last year I got the then-new iPad Air with the M1 chip in it (Gen 5 I believe), and after getting a Logitech keyboard case it has completely replaced my laptop for work. I'm in sales so I don't need it to do anything intensive, all I ask of it is to simultaneously run QuickBooks and Slack and a couple other apps I use to do my job, as well as hotspot to my work phone, and it does all of that really well. Recent updates to the iPad OS have made that transition way easier, and I can even set it up a base station if I need to by connecting my Bluetooth mouse and keyboard and a second monitor and that also works pretty well in a pinch.

All this to say, if your relative doesn't need the computing power of a full computer and they already have an iPad, that could be an ideal direction to go in.