Which Mac to get?

[ChrisTKHarris]

It's always good to check MacRumor's Buyer's Guide helps you plan out the life cycles of Apple products.

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

The Air is a safe choice as it has recently been refreshed, the MacBook Pro received a bump in specs but is due for an upgrade when the new Ivy Bridge processors arrive early 2012.

Also there is a 15" Air coming in March 2012.

[ThatsJustBadTaste]

I say a MAC-10 but I guess the AirBook

[Deucer]

13" Air. You won't regret it.

[zman]

How's the battery time per charge on the Air?

[Super Spy]

I got a Macbook Pro 13 a few months ago and I love it. I use it for school, and general web browsing. I got an open box special at Best Buy and saved quite a bit too.

[DaveInOroValley]

I've had an iPad 2 and found myself going back to my MacBook basically due to a few functions that are immensely easier to do on a portable (cut and paste) is an example. Sold the iPad, kept the MacBook.

A MacBook Air as mentioned or a regular MacBook would be a good recommendation IMO.

[davbog44]

If its just for the house, have you guys considered an iPad2? My laptop collects dust lol.

I think this is sound advice. Unless she is also doing photo editing, the iPad will easily handle the Email, basic photo sorting and archiving, any of the "social media" stuff, surfing the web, Email and all of that, and it has the cool factor, and it's super easy and fun to use.

Otherwise, the basic MacBook will more than do the job, and is also portable and light. I see the Macbook Air is getting a lot of love in the responses above, and they are great, but you mentioned bang for the buck, and the Air is for sure more bucks.

[Justintoxicated]

I guess you have not used windows 7 yet.

[akoba]

Buy a used MBA in craigslist.

[paul0660]

I guess you have not used windows 7 yet.

I don't think they ever "used" windows of any kind.

[Eljay]

I'd probably go with the Air as well, but you should probably just take her to an Apple store and see what she likes.

[doug-y-doug]

MacBook Pro 13". You can usually find refurbs on their website for less than 1000.

[jedininja]

If she is not traveling with it, I don't see the need for the Air. Amd if she isn't using it for anything graphics intensive, no need to get a Pro. Save your money and go with the base Macbook or get an Ipad.

[ljgrasso]

I have a 15" pro, my girlfriend started to use and decided she wanted a mac laptop. She ended up with a new 13" air.

[Blackhawk556]

For email and web surfing there really is not need to spend over $1,100. Get the cheapest macbook air for $999 if i remember correctly. Seriously, why would you spend all that money to just browse the web??? You might as well get a $800 Windows 7 machine with a quad-core.

For what you mentioned, I would get the cheapest macbook. I have a tablet and typing on those things is extremely annoying. i rather type on my smartphone than on my tablet.