Buying a Mac this summer

[klkastle]

Hey everyone,
First of all, I am completely new to the boards. My name is Krista, and I'm in Minnesota...and I'm finally going to get a Mac this summer! I have had a rusty old Toshiba for 3 years this May, and it's starting to go out on me. I have had my eye on a Mac for a while now, and my Mom has agreed that if I pay 2/3rds of the price, she'll pay the other 1/3rd. So, I'm looking to save around 800 dollars by August. I'm very interested in the White Macbook -- they seem very simple and easy to use. I am graduating college next Dec. and hope to get a "back to school" deal in the summer. What kind of deals are included? I heard rumors of an iPod coming with the computer, 10% off for students, etc. I assume they have these kinds of deals every summer?

Let me know.

Krista

 

[pigoo3]

Hey everyone,
I have had my eye on a Mac for a while now, and my Mom has agreed that if I pay 2/3rds of the price, she'll pay the other 1/3rd. So, I'm looking to save around 800 dollars by August. I'm very interested in the White Macbook -- they seem very simple and easy to use. I am graduating college next Dec. and hope to get a "back to school" deal in the summer. What kind of deals are included? I heard rumors of an iPod coming with the computer, 10% off for students, etc. I assume they have these kinds of deals every summer?

First you said that you're going to be able to save $800...and your Mom has agree to pay 1/3rd. So does this mean that if you save $800 that your Mom will kick in $400 for a total of $1200 to spend?

As far as the Summer deals. As you mentioned...Apple the past 2-3 years has run a "free" iPod special (we'll have to wait & see what model it will be this year...if Apple does it)....and yes students usually do get a discount on a computer purchase.

From what I can remember...there's really not much else. Apple (unlike other computer companies) usually doesn't do much in the way of "sales" where they discount the price of a computer. What Apple does do is sell refurbished models on the Apple website...which may or may not qualify for the Summer "Back to School" iPod special.

HTH,

- Nick

 

[Buzzard2010]

Welcome to Mac-Forums Krista.

There are pretty much always deals for students giving 10% off purchases, and quite often a free ipod with a macbook etc. Keep your eye on the website till you see what you want.

- Simon

 

[chas_m]

Just to clarify what pigoo and Buzzard said:

Qualifying students (all that means is that you go to a recognized school -- almost every genuine public or private school in your area should be on the list) can always get a modest (very modest) discount on buying Mac hardware by ordering from Apple. It's not always 10%, it varies from $50 to $100 in my experience.

Apple is also generally always running a "printer special" as well, meaning they will rebate you the cost of a printer IF you buy it at the same time and mail in a form (up to $100). Which company and which printer models qualify varies.

Finally, during the summer Apple *usually* offers a "free" (rebated) iPod Touch or some other model iPod for students when you buy one at the same time as a new Mac, and this can be combined with the other offers I mentioned above, resulting in some serious savings (if you wanted to get a printer and iPod at the same time, that is).

For students who are not interested in printers or iPods, don't need the absolute latest model and are very focused on the budget, I suggest the Refurbished Store on Apple's site. You don't get an education discount on the hardware, but the refurbs are already discounted and can be a great deal compared to buying new.

Welcome to the forum and like you, I can't wait to see what models Apple will have available for us by the time summer rolls around.

 

[macguy57366]

It's not always 10%, it varies from $50 to $100 in my experience.

It usually is between $50-100. I've been looking at it for a few years now and it stays about the same.

Good luck with whatever you pick out, and welcome to Mac-Forums!

 

[klkastle]

First you said that you're going to be able to save $800...and your Mom has agree to pay 1/3rd. So does this mean that if you save $800 that your Mom will kick in $400 for a total of $1200 to spend?

Yes, that's about it. I would assume we'd be spending around 1000 dollars to get the White Macbook.

Are there any extra costs I should know about? Warranty? In-store software download? Recommended anti-viruses installments? I'm trying to get a pretty close estimate as to how much I will be spending.

 

[klkastle]

It usually is between $50-100. I've been looking at it for a few years now and it stays about the same.

Good luck with whatever you pick out, and welcome to Mac-Forums!

Thanks. Yeah, that's around the amount I was planning to spend. My Mom guesstimated around 95 dollars would be taken off the price...

 

[pigoo3]

Yes, that's about it. I would assume we'd be spending around 1000 dollars to get the White Macbook.

Are there any extra costs I should know about? Warranty? In-store software download? Recommended anti-viruses installments? I'm trying to get a pretty close estimate as to how much I will be spending.

The only real "extra" expenditure to consider is whether you want to extend Applecare to 3 years. You automatically get 12 months...you don't have to decide right away...you can decide anytime within the first 12 months if you want to extend the Applecare. But...if you extend Applecare within the first 60 or 90 days...I think that you get free phone support extended to 12 months (it's only like 30 or 60 days otherwise).

Another possible expenditure is if you wanted a skin or hard shell case to protect the MacBook from bumps & scratches. Not as important on the "plastic" MacBooks as on the metal MacBook Pro's (which dent & scratch very easily).

Hope this helps,

- Nick

 

[6string]

if you extend Applecare within the first 60 or 90 days...I think that you get free phone support extended to 12 months (it's only like 30 or 60 days otherwise).

Hope this helps,

- Nick

To clarify this, with the standard 12month warranty, you get 90days telephone technical support.
With the AppleCare Protection plan you get 3yrs warranty and 3yrs telephone technical support.
So, if you were to get the extended coverage just before the 12months expires, you will have approx 9months of no telephone support.
If you were to get the extended coverage at the same time as the purchase or 3months after the purchase you would have the whole 3yrs of telephone support.

The main thing is to get the extended coverage before the 12month warranty expires, as it is not an option after the 12months is up.

http://www.apple.com/au/support/products/mac.html

Extend your coverage to three years of service and expert telephone technical support

Now, as for anti virus software, forget about it.
There are no virus in the wild that effect OS X. There are only other forms of malware that you would get from downloading illegal (pirated) software, porn, dodgy codecs, etc.
Safe and sensible surfing will avoid that.

If there is ever a virus released for OS X, it will be all over the news and internet, and Apple will release a security update immediately that will quash it I'm sure.

I'm sure others will chime in on this, and cover anything that I forgot to mention.
Some may even chime in trying to imply that there are viruses for OS X, or that there are only a few viruses for Mac, which is utter nonsense.

 

[pigoo3]

To clarify this, with the standard 12month warranty, you get 90days telephone technical support.
With the AppleCare Protection plan you get 3yrs warranty and 3yrs telephone technical support.
So, if you were to get the extended coverage just before the 12months expires, you will have approx 9months of no telephone support.
If you were to get the extended coverage at the same time as the purchase or 3months after the purchase you would have the whole 3yrs of telephone support.

The main thing is to get the extended coverage before the 12month warranty expires, as it is not an option after the 12months is up.

I didn't know how interested the OP was in the extended warranty...so I was mostly talking in generalities. Thanks for clarifying the details.

- Nick

 

[6string]

All good Nick. It's one of those topics that leaves many quite unclear, and even going to the AppleCare link isn't as clear as it should be.
The diagram doesn't really help.

 

[chas_m]

It should also be mentioned that if you "forget" to extend the AppleCare past the 364th day of registered ownership, you can't then buy it at any price -- so its important IF you are going to get it to do so BEFORE the end of the first year. It's also very helpful to be sure you REGISTER your purchase with Apple (some stores will do this for you automatically, but you should check) so that you get the full first year of warranty.

 

[klkastle]

Wow! Thanks everyone for all your responses. Sorry if I seem a little clueless. I just don't speak computer...at all.

Now, another thing. My friends have been telling me that the White Macbook breaks very easily. The big Mac around campus is the Macbook pro because it's made of aluminum and doesn't really break, just gets a few dents and all. I have had my computer for 3 years and have not dropped it once. Would it be useful to invest in a cover to kind of protect the White Macbook? I don't know if anyone has had trouble with White Macbooks breaking. I have heard very little complaints, and the people that do have the WM seem to be just fine and have had theirs for 3 years or so.

 

[pigoo3]

Now, another thing. My friends have been telling me that the White Macbook breaks very easily. The big Mac around campus is the Macbook pro because it's made of aluminum and doesn't really break, just gets a few dents and all. I have had my computer for 3 years and have not dropped it once. Would it be useful to invest in a cover to kind of protect the White Macbook? I don't know if anyone has had trouble with White Macbooks breaking.

If you expose any notebook computer to conditions which could cause it to break (such as dropping them)...then almost all of them will break...or get damaged.

I have really not run into "white" MacBooks breaking any more often than expected. Apple has been using the same "white polycarbonate" housing in laptops since around 2001 in iBooks & MacBooks. Personally...I think that the white MacBooks are "tougher" than the metal MacBook Pros when it comes to visible cosmetic damage. If you're nice to it...it will be nice to you!

And yes...the aluminum MacBook Pro's do dent & scratch easily. I would definitely get a hard shell case for a MacBook Pro if you want to keep it looking like new. Bump it once into a wall...and you will have a VERY UGLY dent!!!

- Nick

 

[chas_m]

I keep my MacBook (black) in a neoprene sleeve when going portable and the machine isn't in use. That has so far been sufficient to keep it ding-free.

A modicum of care, common sense and cleaning will keep your Mac looking like new for years.

 

[quin]

I kept my MBP in a Speck shell for a while until the high of having a beautiful MBP wore off. Then I was brave enough to take if off, because the machine is too good looking to be covered up. I got my first tiny scratch recently which was horrifying but have gotten over that too. Enjoy your notebook! =)