To have bought myself a Macbook Air old model? So stressed, almost in tears

[Exhaustedstudent]

Very, very stressed and anxious - mostly from far too little sleep but that's life.

Had a gift voucher for Apple for £250. I'm a student at the moment so get a student discount. Basically this means I was able to get a Macbook Air but the old version, just spending about £600. Needed a new computer, this was just about affordable, the newer models looked good but too fancy for my needs and couldn't justify the cost.

However then I read that actually the model is really the same as the one that came out in 2015 so that makes it old by laptop standards. Now worried I have wasted £600 and should have waited to save up for the later model?

Should I return it to the Apple store? I haven't even set it up yet.
Is it likely to be obsolete in a couple of years? The whole reason for getting a Macbook is everyone says they go on for years.

Just the worry of making the wrong decision when it's a big chunk of money (to me) kills me, thought I was making a good choice and now stressing I've been ripped off.

How old is it? If several years, I'd return it as some software upgrades won't work on older ones, they only get up to a certain point. (Voice of bitter experience!) And don't panic, it will be ok either way!

Nah

I’ve got a 2015 MacBook. It’s fine.

If you aren’t wanting to do detailed 3D animations it will do you perfectly well. What are you wanting to do in it?

Our MacBook is now 10 years old, we need to replace it. It has always worked, never had any problems, it is just now very slow. A few year old for a Mac should be fine as long as you aren’t trying to do lots of digital editing, photoshopping, animation etc.

My MacBook is 15 years old now. It’s a bit slow but still is good enough. I’d not worry about a few years.

You might be interested in this

"Is the Macbook Air 2015 worth it in 2018 ... the answer is a resounding yes".

Nah - it's no problem - I'd still be using my 2015 Air had DS1 not turned the hose on it.

In fact, he did for the previous one in a similar manner too.

I had to emergency replace it with a pro, and it's awful - two keys are coming off (known issue with new design keyboards) the massive touch pad is bloody annoying (smaller one was perfect - big one means my hands touch it when I don't want them too.

If it's new or refurbished it'll be lovely, Airs are my favourite computer ever, and I'm a travelling computer programmer, so mine get really, really hard use.

My MacBook Air is 2015 and we have another one which is 2013. It runs as well as my bosses 2017 one.

I have an old model Air and a brand new Pro. One is for work and one is for home... and honestly unless you are doing a great deal of digital editing you would hardly be able to tell the difference. I use them absolutely interchangeably and the Air doesn't feel slower!

I'm on my early 2015 Macbook Air right now. I've yet to find a program it can't run. I use Indesign, Photoshop and Illustrator, often all three at the same time, while I also have multiple other programs open. No problems in the 1.5 years I've been doing that so far.

Op I've had my MacBook since 2010 🙈 it's slow but it works

I got mine summer 2014 and it still works beautifully! I think you have got an absolute bargain!

I also know someone who got one the year before and they still use it for work most days.

My DH has a 2012 AirBook and it's still brilliant and perfect so I wouldn't worry. They aren't like "regular" laptops!!

My MacBook Air is going strong after nearly six years.

My MacBook Air early 2014 model is fabulous, still holds charge for a long period of time and works really fast. Was actually surprised when I checked the information and it said early 2014 to be honest. It's seen off two HP laptops my sons had in that time without a hiccup itself. It's getting slightly lax hinges but as it's pretty much been glued to me for 5 years that's not much. Looks really good still too. Worth the money IMHO.

I think they have a reputation as long lasting workhorses so if you got a new one for £600 you have got very good value for money.

Thank you all so much, this sounds promising and like I've not made a daft choice! Good to hear of so many Macbooks performing well in their middle aged and elderly years.

Oh and they don't seem to run out of update ability like iPhones do, mine is on the latest update. Did it today intact so shiny and new.

I'm on a 2012 macbook and not having a problem. Don't panic

It was £850 ish but with my voucher I only spent £600 of my own money.

The other option would have been to keep hold of my voucher, and wait to save up another £200 or so to get the newer one.

Oh, OP. Don't worry. I fee your pain. I am on a 2015 MacBook Pro, and it feels like the most immense luxury after a 2006 iMac (now dying). I love it. Thanks to GP, DC1 has a 2015 Air, for school, and he doesn't treat it well but he loves it. He had a phase of wishing he had a Windows laptop, but is now glad he has the MacBook. Enjoy yours!

The 2015 is a great model. Enjoy it.

I have a 2015 Air and it's been absolutely hammered by my (musician) son using LogicPro on it, but it is still working absolutely fine.

I also have a 2010 Macbook which still works perfectly although the battery doesn't last more than an hour or so , so I keep it plugged in. It hasn't been upgraded for many years..and doesn't need to be. They are solid work tools :)

I am still using a macbook air from about 2012. I have used it almost every day since then and it has never had a single problem, unlike the Lenovo windows desktop I bought about three years ago which has been nothing but trouble ever since and is now basically unusable due to a very common fault.

I have a 2011 MacBook that I like much better than the 2018 one I currently have - it does more things, compatible with the old USBs etc, and the keyboard is much nicer! So you should be fine.

I have a 2015 MacBook and iMac and have used more recent versions of both. I've found little difference and I work my machines hard with regards to processing power.

The MacBook holds an amazing charge still and is fast and efficient even when hammering it with about a trillion tabs open on chrome and an intensive processing power sucking bit of software.

The iMac doesn't even cope as well as the MacBook!

It'll be great, don't panic. Just enjoy it.

I have a 2010 MacBook Air. It's absolutely fine!