I feel the pricing makes for a very good experience at a very accessible price. I think an Air is a great starting point for aspiring programmers and designers alike. Just upgrade the memory and maybe the storage and you’re ready to go.
When I started programming I felt as if I couldn’t even think about purchasing anything less than a MacBook Pro. And though purchased refurbished, it was still a chunk.
You could even go for a Mini if you knew you didn’t need the portability.