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+--- Thread: Apple, is this deceptive advertising, or am I confused? (/showthread.php?tid=278317)
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Re: Apple, is this deceptive advertising, or am I confused? - datbeme - 07-02-2023
jdc wrote:
Leader!
No "instant" gift cards work that way, no matter the store or item. In the grand scheme of things, its slightly different from last years edu offer, which was "free aripods" -- technically $129 "free"
Ive been shopping for the 15" as well for my college bound daughter -- with 16 Gb of ram, but 1TB of storage is overkill. Maybe 512. $1600 is the going rate, $100 off apple.
My biggest struggle is that a refurb 14" M1 MAX MBP is $1540 w 16/512. Heavier and slightly smaller, sure, but powerhouse. More chip, more speaker, LED screen, extra ports, etc, for less $.
Honestly in the end, will probably just go with the base 8/256. $1250 vs $1600 is killing me a bit -- and I doubt she will need more, since her current M1 MBA is fine with both.
JDC, I'm probably sticking my nose in where I shouldn't, but since you seem to be struggling with this decision...
I understand the appeal of getting a new computer for your college-bound daughter. Lots of great reasons for doing that. But the M1 Air sounds like a pretty great machine to start out with. If the new machine is not a "must have," I'd recommend waiting at least until after her first year or until a clear need arises.
If my daughter already had something as capable as the M1 Air, I'd rather let her start with that—with the idea that I might get her something else a couple years from now to take her through undergrad and beyond. At that point she may have a clearer idea of what her needs are.
Re: Apple, is this deceptive advertising, or am I confused? - reezekeys - 07-02-2023
I find it's always a struggle to decide on a computer! I can't say I got exactly what I wanted but in general I'm happy. The "starlight" color is more gold-ish now that I see it in daylight, vs the fluorescent or LED light in the Apple Store. Gold-ish with a slight orange tint. I guess I'll get used to it, though I know I have 30 days to return this and order exactly what I want, if I can deal with the wait (I'd rather not). I also would have been happy with 8GB of ram as opposed to 16 but as I mentioned in an earlier post I got my ram doubled for much less than the $200 Apple normally charges, so why not - I'm a little more "future-proofed" I guess.
I mentioned I was gonna go back to the store to see if Apple would take care of me v.a.v. the snafu with the power adapter (I was assured it was the 70-watter but it turned out to be the 35). I went back earlier today. Initially I was told that I'd have to return my computer and put in a brand new order. I appealed this, and after my salesperson consulted with what I assumed was a higher-up, I was allowed to swap my 35 for a 70. I was told that all MacBook Airs sent to stores (i.e., not ordered online for pickup at a store) have the 35-watt dual USB-C charger. My salesperson apparently did not know this and was given wrong info when she went to check yesterday.
Sorry for the long post but I want to add one more thing, which you can take as you like. The salesperson took my word that I was the parent of a college student and didn't ask for any proof or evidence at all. I could have easily lied to her (for the record, my child is about to enter their senior year at Mt. Holyoke College). This got me a $140 educational discount and the $150 gift card which I'm about to apply to their Pro Apps Bundle, another perc of the edu connection. I applied for the Apple Card which approved me and offered 0% interest on this purchase if I pay it off in a year. All in all I think I did OK here - but yes, I'm hoping this color grows on me! Bottom line is that this is a tool I need to do my job, not a fashion statement. There's plastic hard shell covers I can get for this if the color really bugs me.
Now starts the fun of migrating my account from my late-2013 MBP. The computer is pretty much unusable but I have a CCC clone of the data volume - hoping that will be acceptable to Migration Assistant!
Re: Apple, is this deceptive advertising, or am I confused? - jdc - 07-03-2023
thanks dat.
Both her and her sister have base M1 MBAs -- and they have been flawless. but there is/might be a potential need for my wife to have a laptop as well. Just kind of running thru the options out loud.
Trying to decide if my wife might be fine with the 13" and move the daughter up to the 15" (or the 14) or vice versa.
Wife VPNs into her PC, and had to tackle some more complicated net based and app based work, her base mini has given her some low memory warnings recently with this extra load. I don't think MS remote desktop is M chip optimized. So 16 GB of ram will proib be on the list for her next Mac.
However, my daughter works for me, so feasible for me to get her the better laptop as a business expense instead...
fwiw, I do mac consulting as a side business, so Im pretty much up and up on just about every apple mac/option there is. new/refurb/deals/specs/speeds/tests/buying time/etc.