Question Updrading from late 2013 Macbook Pro

[mmitsch]

Our daughter has a late 2013 13" Macbook Pro with 8gb of memory and 256 gb of storage. We want to get here a new Macbook and, from what I can tell, a 2025 M4 Macbook Air seems a pretty good choice. Can you folks give me your opinions on the following?

a. Should I stick with 16gb or go for 24gb? She is a primary school teacher and a Mom and not sure if the extra memory is going to be helpful to her? She usin the machine for browsing, office 365 apps, some movie viewing, etc.. It costs about $300 more to get this (and comes with more storage - 512gb).
b. Should I stick with the 256gb storage or go for the 512gb? She has 130gb free of the 251 available on the old Macbood Pro. Not sure if it's wise to get more - she keeps these a long time. If I get this upgrade it'll come with more memory too.
c. Should I get Apple Care? It's about $200.
d. Is the Macbook Air M4 2025 as good as her old Pro? Will she notice any big difference in perfomance - should I step up to a Pro?
e. Her current Pro is silver. The Macbook Air comes in 4 colors (and she likes 3 of them - Midnight, Sky Blue or Silver). Should I stick with Silver? Are the other 2 painted / anodized and will they show marks? The Sky Blue seems pretty cool but I am not sure if it's any good.

Let me know your opinion on the above and thanks!

 

[USAFRet]

(caveat, I know little about macs)
Why 2015 M4?

You're going from 12 year old tech to 10 year old tech.
If this were a Windows laptop, I'd say no way, no how.

Why not something newer?

 

[mmitsch]

(caveat, I know little about macs)
Why 2015 M4?

You're going from 12 year old tech to 10 year old tech.
If this were a Windows laptop, I'd say no way, no how.

Why not something newer?

That was a typo (sorry). We are thinking of getting her the newest Macbook Air 2025 with the M4 chip. We agree - want to get her the newest. Can you let me know your thoughts and thanks for the quick reply!!!

 

[USAFRet]

That was a typo (sorry). We are thinking of getting her the newest Macbook Air 2025 with the M4 chip. We agree - want to get her the newest. Can you let me know your thoughts and thanks for the quick reply!!!

Again, I am not a mac fanatic.

But I see little wrong with your way forward.

Get as large a drive, and as much RAM as you can afford.

 

[LordVile]

What is your budget? The 2025 air is a solid laptop but once you’ve put 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD in it you’re close to a 14” pro price which gives you a display which is in a different world, more ports, a HDMI port and better battery life. For the workload you’re describing the old base of 8GB would be fine on a Mac so 16GB will easily handle anything she’ll need it for.

Overall if your budget allows I’d get the stock M4 Pro 14” MacBook Pro which is around 2000, if not the base M4 version of the same model (14” Pro) which is around 1600. I’d also look to see if she gets a discount from apples education store as a teacher.

Also as far as drive space goes iCloud is inexpensive and very handy if you have an iPhone.

 

[CelicaGT]

A: Base 16GB is enough for that use case.
B: Go 512GB and use external storage from there. Apples pricing on storage is ridiculous.
C: Personal choice based on risk in use, and financial situation. I have it, but I travel a lot with the computer so damage is a higher possibility.
D: An M4 Air is going completely and unequivocally wipe the floor with the old machine in every conceivable metric. There is no actual comparison here.
E: Midnight Blue is a fingerprint magnet, mine always looks like a just fed toddler has been playing with it. Personally I like the Sky Blue.