Any final advice to give me?

[Lycanthrope]

OK, In the coming week I'm intending to purchase that Mac Pro I've been talking about for the last few months, some money is saved and I get a substantial extra salary payment next ealy next week making it now possible and still be able to pay the mortgage

I've read everything I can, deliberated for many hours and lain awake at night wondering whether I should or shouldn't, whether to dig deep and get 8 cores, perhaps wait for WWDC etc. Final conclusion is 'to hell with it', get the bugger now!

I think my best bet is with the stock 2.66 2CD, standard memory and disk - like everyone else here I'm dissappointed at the mark-up Apple puts on RAM and HDD's, I can't imagine anyone taking these options - even upgrading from the 250GB HDD to the 500GB makes no sense as a 500GB drive is costing about the same as the upgrade meaning you get a 250GB basically for free... So, all this will follow in the coming months.

Question I had was whether the Airport and Bluetooth can be bought and fitted by myself after purchase - reason is that I can buy one off the shelf at an Apple reseller rather than ordering and waiting a whole week (crazy but true, 5 days to fit ANY options on the Apple order form).

For monitor I'll take a 23" ACD - perhaps I can add another later in the year, will be nice to have two side by side Crazy thing is that the Dell's that are often mentioned in these forums are MORE EXPENSIVE than the ACD's, makes that a no-brainer really

So, if anyone has any words of wisdom they'd like to share, now is the time. Sure, I'd still love an 4CD but really, 1500EUR extra, not for that!

 

[killmoms]

The Dell 24" is currently $609 shipped from the Dell Home store, as shown in this dealmac article.

 

[justG]

Question I had was whether the Airport and Bluetooth can be bought and fitted by myself after purchase

I don't believe so. I *think* (but I'm not certain) I remember reading when I was buying mine last year that the Bluetooth module is a motherboard thing, so you either get it when you order the computer or not at all.

 

[Lovesong]

Depending on what you're planning on running, I would suggest you get the ATI 1900 upgrade. A machine like that is just a shame to use with the 7300. Also- yes, you can put the BT and Airport in yourself no problems.

 

[trainguy77]

For monitor I'll take a 23" ACD - perhaps I can add another later in the year, will be nice to have two side by side Crazy thing is that the Dell's that are often mentioned in these forums are MORE EXPENSIVE than the ACD's, makes that a no-brainer really

Unless its different ratios in the UK the dell 2405FPW $699 and the ACD 23" $899?

Yes you can buy the airport and bluetooth separate. I am not sure where i have seen it online before.

 

[Lovesong]

I don't believe so. I *think* (but I'm not certain) I remember reading when I was buying mine last year that the Bluetooth module is a motherboard thing, so you either get it when you order the computer or not at all.

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/Mac_Pro/Bluetooth_MacPro_install/Bluetooth_MacPro_install.html

 

[Lycanthrope]

The Dell 24" is currently $609 shipped from the Dell Home store, as shown in this dealmac article.

In the States sure, in Belgium it's now €809 (that's over $1100 at the current exchange rate...) so OK, a little less than an ACD but for the sake of €90 I'd take the ACD any day - I need the Dell to be €500 or something like that to make me consider it.

Talking of exchange rates, if I 'could' jump on an airplane and buy the stock 2.66 and 23" ACD in the States then it would cost me more than €1000 less - Apple really CREAM non-US customers...

 

[Lycanthrope]

Depending on what you're planning on running, I would suggest you get the ATI 1900 upgrade. A machine like that is just a shame to use with the 7300. Also- yes, you can put the BT and Airport in yourself no problems.

Well, all I've read has said this is more a gamers option, I'm not a gamer but do enjoy to play a little from time to time. So I think the stock card is better and I'd get more benefit spending that money on third-party RAM...

Looks like the BT installation is a little "involved" - I'd have to source the parts also, hmmmm...

 

[trainguy77]

Talking of exchange rates, if I 'could' jump on an airplane and buy the stock 2.66 and 23" ACD in the States then it would cost me more than €1000 less - Apple really CREAM non-US customers...

Its not just apple....

 

[Fortis]

I don't believe so. I *think* (but I'm not certain) I remember reading when I was buying mine last year that the Bluetooth module is a motherboard thing, so you either get it when you order the computer or not at all.

http://store.fastmac.com/product_info.php?cPath=9_24&products_id=160

 

[zap2]

Get the ACD...it cost more, but its looks SO nice. I'm on my computer a lot, so it matters to me, and I'd imagine it will to you.

For me Dell is cheap, the monitor might be close to Apple's Monito but the whole name dell screams "CHEAP" to me.

 

[roland.g]

I agree, get the ACD. I would get the BT/AE installed by Apple. It may be a few extra days, unless you have a project you have to start on, it's not that big a deal.

 

[killmoms]

In the States sure, in Belgium it's now €809 (that's over $1100 at the current exchange rate...) so OK, a little less than an ACD but for the sake of €90 I'd take the ACD any day - I need the Dell to be €500 or something like that to make me consider it.

Talking of exchange rates, if I 'could' jump on an airplane and buy the stock 2.66 and 23" ACD in the States then it would cost me more than €1000 less - Apple really CREAM non-US customers...

More proof that I ought to pay attention to the "Location" bit off to the left. Boy is my face red.

 

[Lycanthrope]

More proof that I ought to pay attention to the "Location" bit off to the left. Boy is my face red.

We've all done, we'll all do it again, thanks in the first place for taking the time and effort to respond!!

Now after another night of restless sleep I've woken up with the idea to slap an ATI1900 in it anyway just for the hell of it... I've read all over the place that getting these video cards for MP's is not so obvious so maybe it's a more futureproof option?

Or perhaps stick anyway with the stock 7300 and upgrade when some new cards come out and price drops in a year or two.

AAAARGGGHHH! I think I'm finally going insane

 

[justG]

Question I had was whether the Airport and Bluetooth can be bought and fitted by myself after purchase

I don't believe so.

Yes you can buy the airport and bluetooth separate. I am not sure where i have seen it online before.

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/Mac_Pro/Bluetooth_MacPro_install/Bluetooth_MacPro_install.html

http://store.fastmac.com/product_info.php?cPath=9_24&products_id=160

Thank you all for the correction. =)

 

[akadmon]

In the States sure, in Belgium it's now €809 (that's over $1100 at the current exchange rate...) so OK, a little less than an ACD but for the sake of €90 I'd take the ACD any day - I need the Dell to be €500 or something like that to make me consider it.

Talking of exchange rates, if I 'could' jump on an airplane and buy the stock 2.66 and 23" ACD in the States then it would cost me more than €1000 less - Apple really CREAM non-US customers...

That's because when they ship you your Mac they have to buy it a seat on Virgin Atlantic

 

[Lycanthrope]

Well, the order is placed - stock 2.66 Twin Dual Core with BT and Wireless, along with the ACD 23" of course. Now need to wait a few days as it has to be ordered, maybe get it by the weekend

Ordered from a shop rather than Apple website - the leadtime seems to be the same but I don't have arse about with the courrier trying to deliver it when I'm not home, much easier to go and collect once they advise it is ready.

 

[jimrobinette]

Looks like you need to take something off your wishlist!!! Congrats

Well, the order is placed - stock 2.66 Twin Dual Core with BT and Wireless, along with the ACD 23" of course. Now need to wait a few days as it has to be ordered, maybe get it by the weekend

Ordered from a shop rather than Apple website - the leadtime seems to be the same but I don't have arse about with the courrier trying to deliver it when I'm not home, much easier to go and collect once they advise it is ready.