Recommendation for a laptop for school

[dianaloves]

I would appreciate if i can have some recommendation for a good laptop with long battery life and big storage for school. Something that can also last me for the next 2-3 years (hopefully). Looking into Macbook Air M1 but it’s kinda pricey if i were to up the specs to 512GB or even 1TB, but been seeing review that it does have a long battery life.

I don’t really use laptop that much as i usually relies on my Iphone more. Thus it is more to schoolwork plus the occasionally video watching. Looking into a budget of $1300 or less.

Thanks in advance!

 

[madcampus]

Those big storage usually for large videos. If your school work don’t involve much videos, then the entry-level MacBook Air is good enough. Battery life will diminish as years go by, around 3 years mark will need to change regardless Mac or PC laptop. Same as phones.

 

[SpecialKeyboardService]

If can wait, wait for macbook pro m2 chip version.
They are coming back with magsafe and ports.
No more dongles to carry as well

 

[aeng]

I got a base-model M1 mba to replace my ipad pro.

Battery life is great and I never need to carry around a charger.
I only charge occasionally when at home, maybe once or twice a week.

So far, using cloud storage, I also don't need to bother with using any dongles or USB-C storage, though I do have them if needed.
If you don't work with large files often, don't need to add storage.
More cost effective to use USB-C external SSD when you need it.

ymmv but it's a dem good machine with really amazing battery life.

 

[firesong]

Key question needs to be answered: What course?

Assuming it's an arts course without heavy computing needs, the M1 Mac is the top choice, or whatever Apple will be releasing soon - the specs are not confirmed and what we have on hand are rumours at best. Apple never confirms specs beforehand.

If the videos are streamed from Netflix or other sites, then large on-machine storage may not be an issue, so the entry level model should more than suffice.

However, if the course is more demanding, or has explicit windows requirements, things will have to change. Like it or not, in Singapore school support for the Mac is still poor compared to US, though better than OSS support is in Europe.

 

[aeng]

Key question needs to be answered: What course?

Assuming it's an arts course without heavy computing needs, the M1 Mac is the top choice, or whatever Apple will be releasing soon - the specs are not confirmed and what we have on hand are rumours at best. Apple never confirms specs beforehand.

If the videos are streamed from Netflix or other sites, then large on-machine storage may not be an issue, so the entry level model should more than suffice.

However, if the course is more demanding, or has explicit windows requirements, things will have to change. Like it or not, in Singapore school support for the Mac is still poor compared to US, though better than OSS support is in Europe.

I would say that unless TS has a specific need for Windows or software that only runs on Windows, an m1 mac has enough power and battery life to comfortably run most tasks, even content creation, video editing etc.

 

[firesong]

I would say that unless TS has a specific need for Windows or software that only runs on Windows, an m1 mac has enough power and battery life to comfortably run most tasks, even content creation, video editing etc.

Generally yes. I shared my account elsewhere, that I have been a staunch Mac user since I bought my first Bondi Blue iMac G3.

The PC shift came last year. Mainly because I could no longer justify what Cook was asking, but also because there were a couple of features in MS Office that are windows-only that were required for course grading in this Zoom world.

 

[dianaloves]

Those big storage usually for large videos. If your school work don’t involve much videos, then the entry-level MacBook Air is good enough. Battery life will diminish as years go by, around 3 years mark will need to change regardless Mac or PC laptop. Same as phones.

I see. Understand about the diminishing battery life, generally i think it happene to all technology devices. Thank you for the advice! Appreciate it!

 

[dianaloves]

If can wait, wait for macbook pro m2 chip version.
They are coming back with magsafe and ports.
No more dongles to carry as well

Oh wow pro 2? But i understand from a friend pro is more expensive as it has better specs for video editing, photoshopping etc. But what if im not into those?

 

[dianaloves]

I got a base-model M1 mba to replace my ipad pro.

Battery life is great and I never need to carry around a charger.
I only charge occasionally when at home, maybe once or twice a week.

So far, using cloud storage, I also don't need to bother with using any dongles or USB-C storage, though I do have them if needed.
If you don't work with large files often, don't need to add storage.
More cost effective to use USB-C external SSD when you need it.

ymmv but it's a dem good machine with really amazing battery life.

I see. Hopefully my course doesnt send out alot of files etc. But thank you for sharing your thoughts! Appreciate it

 

[dianaloves]

Key question needs to be answered: What course?

Assuming it's an arts course without heavy computing needs, the M1 Mac is the top choice, or whatever Apple will be releasing soon - the specs are not confirmed and what we have on hand are rumours at best. Apple never confirms specs beforehand.

If the videos are streamed from Netflix or other sites, then large on-machine storage may not be an issue, so the entry level model should more than suffice.

However, if the course is more demanding, or has explicit windows requirements, things will have to change. Like it or not, in Singapore school support for the Mac is still poor compared to US, though better than OSS support is in Europe.

It’s a social science course. Not good in any forms of art at all hahaha. As of now i wouldnt know how demanding the course can be. That is why i am open to any other recommendation if there is other than Macbook. But it seems like Macbook Air is a very recommended device.

Thanks for taking your time in advising! Appreciate it’

 

[firesong]

It’s a social science course. Not good in any forms of art at all hahaha. As of now i wouldnt know how demanding the course can be. That is why i am open to any other recommendation if there is other than Macbook. But it seems like Macbook Air is a very recommended device.

Thanks for taking your time in advising! Appreciate it’

For many social sciences, it's mainly reading that kills, and the writing of assignments and essays and preparing presentations and all. A MacBook Air is more than sufficient for these tasks since they aren't demanding of resources. Anything else is a personal preference - whether you want a touchscreen interface (no Mac has it), or a 2-in-1 convertible form factor (again, only Windows). These are things only you can decide.

But for thin and ultraportable with excellent battery life, the M1 MacBook Air is the way to go. The way I see it, there's probably nothing intensive, unless one of your electives happens to be in game/graphics design or something.

PS: Arts courses != drawing/design courses. It colloquially refers to the related courses that include those in the social sciences, such as History, Geography, Economics, Literature, Languages, Political Science, Philosophy, Psychology, etc... The drawing and crafting courses are usually thought of as Design courses.

 

[dianaloves]

For many social sciences, it's mainly reading that kills, and the writing of assignments and essays and preparing presentations and all. A MacBook Air is more than sufficient for these tasks since they aren't demanding of resources. Anything else is a personal preference - whether you want a touchscreen interface (no Mac has it), or a 2-in-1 convertible form factor (again, only Windows). These are things only you can decide.

But for thin and ultraportable with excellent battery life, the M1 MacBook Air is the way to go. The way I see it, there's probably nothing intensive, unless one of your electives happens to be in game/graphics design or something.

PS: Arts courses != drawing/design courses. It colloquially refers to the related courses that include those in the social sciences, such as History, Geography, Economics, Literature, Languages, Political Science, Philosophy, Psychology, etc... The drawing and crafting courses are usually thought of as Design courses.

I see. I’ll think i’ll go ahead with the Macbook M1 with the basic specs then. Hahhaha. Thank you!

Oops, my bad with the art course thingy. Thanks for the explanation tho!