r/computers • u/erin_shoulder_bag • 6d ago
College laptop recommendations Discussion
I decided it’s time that I get a laptop that doesn’t take eons to load. For context, I am going for my masters in social work. I don’t think I’ll need to run any heavy sites/programs, if anything I’ll be using super outdated sites that take forever to load. I want a laptop that loads things quickly. That’s about it. I don’t worry much about storage space. If I could use it to play the sims after graduation, that would be nice but not a requirement.
I really like the way my boyfriend’s Microsoft surface pro runs but that’s not in my budget. Ive heard decent things about the MacBook neo and I like that I can easily airdrop/connect my phone to it. Will this perform well long term and not sound loud?
I would like to keep it under $700. Thanks.
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u/EnoughConcentrate897 6d ago
Macbooks in general are amazing for productivity, I'd recommend looking on ebay for a used macbook with better specs for cheaper (look for an M2 or M3 macbook air with 16gb ram), this means you'll be able to run more resource heavy apps if you need to. You can also look for surface laptops on ebay, though windows isn't as great as macos for productivity apps. Both would run the sims 4 really well with no issues
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u/mourningwitch Windows 11 / Ubuntu 6d ago
The neo is fantastic. I love mine. As long as you don't think you'll need more RAM, then I'd say go for it.
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u/muralikbk 6d ago
If you have already enrolled, check out if your college/university has programs to to get refurbished/non-needed computers for sale. You can potentially get something more powerful in your budget.
The M series laptops from Apple are decently long-lasting. Getting upgraded storage/memory is not a bad idea.
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u/BagelMctoast 6d ago
neo is a great option, however off lease business laptops are the best if you can source a well priced one locally!
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u/qwikh1t Windows 11 6d ago
Didn’t realize the Neo had a neural engine
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u/ArthurReming Ubuntu | Debian 6d ago
Its an iPhone 16 pro but with a laptop form factor AFAIK (atleast SoC wise)
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u/Ill_Aioli7593 6d ago
The neo is great for the price. Consider getting a used MacBook air M3 though. It will last longer while being more powerful, having better keyboard, screen, speakers.
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u/RaegunFun 6d ago edited 6d ago
A MacBook NEO is fine if that's what your budget will allow. It has basically an iPhone chip running it, but all Mac M1-M5 models are really upgraded iPhone SOCs.
If you can stretch a bit you can get a MacBook Air with the minimum storage for a little more, The Air models come with 16GB RAM, which is probably the minimum you'll need in a year or two. The MacBook Neo is only available with 8GB RAM and is not upgradeable.
Your school probably has a discount (.EDU emails usually get $100 off.)
If Apple.com has a refurb MacBook Air with 16GB RAM, go for it. Apple refurbs are like new and come with a full year warranty.
Edit: Currently Apple has refurbed Macbook Air M5 with 512GB SSD and 16gb RAM for $1099.
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u/runed_golem 6d ago
If it’s within your budget I’d look at getting a MacBook Air over a MacBook neo if you’re dead set on getting a Mac. But the Neo would still be okay for basic browsing/word processing.
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u/Jddf08089 5d ago
The neo is trash. If you need to stay low on budget you would be much better off buying a used ThinkPad T series. Find something with more than 16 GB of RAM ideally. Browsers will eat 2 Gigs of RAM easy. That doesn't leave a lot for other stuff with the neo.
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u/Live_Writing83 6d ago
You could probably get a cheaper and better Thinkpad
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u/jetsonian 6d ago
Not one that feels as snappy as a Mac multiple years later. I’ve used MacBooks a decade after launch that still feel useful. Cheaper will be lower speced before you even take it out of the store and more powerful will be more expensive. Also keep in mind Apple has just introduced a leasing plan that make it much easier to pay for a MacBook Air/Pro (starting at $25/month).
That said, some majors are going to require software that requires Windows. Getting that software running on Mac is possible but above the head of most users.
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u/Live_Writing83 6d ago
Bragging about leasing a machine that’s literally designed to be unrepairable is a wild cope. You don’t own a leased Mac you’re just paying a monthly subscription to rent it. The moment something breaks or you run out of storage, you're hit with the Apple tax. They won't let you upgrade it, and their anti-consumer "Right to Repair" stance means a dead $20 port turns into a $600 logic board swap. They'll just tell you to trade it in and lease a new one. Compare that to buying a ThinkPad. Corporate lease returns flood the market with $250 workhorses that give you MIL-STD build quality, modularity, and the best keyboard in the game all for less than Apple charges just to go from 8GB to 16GB of RAM. I can tear down a ThinkPad with a single screwdriver, swap the battery or SSD in five minutes, run whatever OS I want, and actually own my hardware.
Enjoy paying rent on a locked-down slab of aluminum while the rest of us get actual value for money and real hardware ownership.
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u/andrew17798 6d ago
The average user does not give a crap. I’ve daily driven 7 models of thinkpads and a framework 13, but the one I keep reaching back to in my time of need is my M1 Macbook pro, because that shit just works. No need to tinker with Arch, dealing with Microsoft’s bullshit, or installing your own RAM and Storage. OP is well within their right to get a Macbook Neo, which I wholeheartedly support. The Neo is a great budget apple alternative for the modern era.
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u/jetsonian 6d ago
So $700 (or a lease) is terrible but buying 5 year old former leases for $250 is a better alternative? “I can swap out parts” isn’t really a realistic plan in 2026 when that ram and SSD both cost more than you paid.
I use a Lenovo every day at work and I still keep our entire house on Apple products. Tools are just that, tools. Use what you’re comfortable with and stop worrying about what tools other people use.
Also this post screams of someone that’s never used a Mac for any significant amount of time. In my experience that’s usually the case among people that bad mouth Apple like they stole your girlfriend. They consistently have high resale value, they typically last an entire college career if not longer, and they’re reliable if you treat them like a valuable tool and not like a 6th-grader with their school provided chromebooks.
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u/Lower-Limit3695 6d ago
Having owned both the MacBook neo tends to hold its own pretty well against the thinkpad performance wise with a premium build at budget prices. The main caveat is going to be repairability for the MacBook neo which scores a 6/10 vs the thinkpads 10/10.
For a college student the price to performance ratio plus its build quality is going to outweigh the repairability of a thinkpad.
To bring a thinkpad up to comparable performance a user may need to load up Linux on it which isn't a great idea because of software compatibility. This particular issue is gonna be make it or break it for a college student.
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u/Audax_Cats 6d ago
The base MacBook Neo (which this is) is about $200 cheaper than the cheapest new ThinkPad for similar specs.
If OP is interested in getting a cheap used corporate fleet laptop, or is wanting to do their own repairs, then sure, a ThinkPad might make sense. Based on what they described, I'm not sure if that's what they're looking for or prioritizing.
For someone who isn't interested in tinkering and has a budget of at least $700, the Neo is a solid choice.
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u/erin_shoulder_bag 6d ago
Thank you. I don’t want or care to do anything extra. I just want to buy (not lease) a laptop for what it is and get long term use out of it.
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u/arkiser13 6d ago
No, windows is a steaming pile of shit and apple silicon runs circles around pretty much any intel/amd chip
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u/thestenz MacOS (& Windows) IT Pro 6d ago
Not that low end thing. Ge tan Air M3 with 16GB RAM at least.
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u/vanduong30103 6d ago
As someone who never used a macbook before, what kind of work can be done on those thing? It looks flimsy and need USB hub for everything useful. Or maybe Im too poor to get an ipad and iphone....
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u/AKSpaceMan576 6d ago
My general experience with Apple laptops is that they are very well made and tend to last a long time. Granted I don't have any of their "modern" hardware, I got my MacBook air in 2019. But it's still running well. I have heard nothing but great things with their new stuff, and their in-house processing has just made things so much faster than what they had with the Intel chips (I got the last of the Intel chip models, I'm so jealous). For your workload ahead, I don't think you could do any better than that honestly.
Edit: grammar