Apple's reduced education discount

[cracklebox]

I've been anticipating a new Apple laptop for a while and after yesterday's announcement, there's one thing I find particularly disappointing: The reduced education discount.

Apple has boasted about their increased presence in colleges and this seems to be a big part of their identity, yet it seems they've taken a huge step away from offering incentives to students. Not only has the discount been slashed in half, but this is on top of recently discontinuing their free ipod offer to students.

I'm still deciding whether or not to buy a computer now, or to wait for the next rev. Perhaps they may reconsider the discount, or reinstate the free ipod offer which would certainly sweeten the deal. Also, it might be worth the wait for snow leopard and maybe these other possibilities would accompany that release.

Anyway, my question is: Does it seem likely that apple will reconsider the educational discount cuts?
for example, when they announced the price of the original iphone, the response seemed very underwhelmed (with a price reduction to follow) and I'm sensing a similar response to the new laptop announcement.

Is apple done baiting college students? Since they've gained a substantial portion of college computer users, are they no longer interested in offering incentives, letting the allure of apple products do the work themselves?

Thanks for reading and in the meantime I'll be fretting over weather or not to get a new machine. The MacBooks look great but alas, I need firewire.
-dsc

PowerBook G4, 1.25 GHZ, 1GB, OS 10.5.5

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

Not only has the discount been slashed in half, but this is on top of recently discontinuing their free ipod offer to students.

To be fair, that promotion runs from and until about the same time every year. It isn't like they "discontinued" it in that it won't ever be seen again, as much as it "expired" and will be around during the primary education buying season next year.

As such, I wouldn't look for the discount to be anything more than it is right now until that buying season resumes.

 

[redmeister]

tons of college students ordering them, its definitely a major source of growth. discounts were eating into profit margins!! haha

 

[Skeva31776]

Should have bought when discount was available. Dont wait for next update to MACs just buy one, otherwise you just be torturing youself each day you see your buddies with them, MACs are the laptops to have

 

[brand]

Should have bought when discount was available. Dont wait for next update to MACs just buy one, otherwise you just be torturing youself each day you see your buddies with them, MACs are the laptops to have

Apple does not make MACs they make Macs.

 

[Rivix]

tons of college students ordering them, its definitely a major source of growth. discounts were eating into profit margins!! haha

HaHa. Yeah right. If anything, the discount encouraged college buyers (yeah, I know you're being sarcastic).

But the discound wasn't just for notebooks and desktops. I use it for an Airport Extreme. I shall miss the extra savings...

 

[Scepticalscribe]

My understanding is that the free iPod offer was not designed to extend beyond, firstly, the issuing of the revised lineup (in other words, it was an excellent way to win students' loyalty while clearing out old stock), and secondly, it was hardly designed to extend much into the academic year. Students will have done most of their buying by then, at least for that year. The same logic applies to the educational discount. It is most relevant at the start of the academic year, when most students purchase computers for their new courses. I'd agree with tobefirst; thus, I'd expect to see them again next year prior to the start fo the academic year.
Cheers

 

[MowingDevil]

Doesn't the college discount go all year?

The FREE iPod offer is the same every year....it hasn't changed. It comes in during the summer and ends in September. Happened last year....and the year before that etc. It will be back again next year. Same w/ the $100 towards a printer offer.

It doesn't apply to new notebooks or iPods because its about moving the old stock. Common sense to me.

 

[BRETTrobison]

Yes, I noticed the reduced discount the other day. This is really disappointing because many college students buy laptops from Apple. If Apple really wants to keep cutting away at the margin between Mac and PC, then it needs to keep the discounts or even increase them. Another point is that Apple boasted on having billions of dollars in the bank so we all know that they can afford giving the discounts. In my opinion, Apple should take a hit with discounts to take a larger chunk of the market. It would be well worth it.

 

[Saladinos]

Yea, the reduced student discount is really annoying. Creative professionals are feeling that Apple is ignoring them, and with the reduced discount, Apple seems to be abandoning its winning strategy in the education market.

The white macbook has actually gone up in price in the UK, and the LED cinema display is $1,133 over here.

You really have to wonder what's going on at Apple. I'm losing a lot of respect for them.

 

[mx12]

Student Developer Discount

One option is to become a student developer for $99. You save quite a bit more than you do through the Education store. A MacBook Pro is $1599 through the developer store, whereas in the Education store it is $1899.

Also, you'll receive a free copy of snow leopard if it's released during your year long membership.

 

[MowingDevil]

So, aside from $99, whats the criteria to becoming a "student developer?"

 

[FF_productions]

Yes, I noticed the reduced discount the other day. This is really disappointing because many college students buy laptops from Apple. If Apple really wants to keep cutting away at the margin between Mac and PC, then it needs to keep the discounts or even increase them. Another point is that Apple boasted on having billions of dollars in the bank so we all know that they can afford giving the discounts. In my opinion, Apple should take a hit with discounts to take a larger chunk of the market. It would be well worth it.

They are greedy bastards. Cutting down on the EDU discounts, WTF, Apple..are you guys kidding?

 

[sushi]

Cutting down on the EDU discounts, WTF, Apple..are you guys kidding?

Personally, I think that this is a mistake.

My guess is that they are floating a change to see if it has any impact on sales. And depending on the impact, adjust from there.

 

[InvalidUserID]

Fortes fortuna adiuvat

I was poking around at the Stanford bookstore to see the new MBPs and the discount appears to be intact. Of course, this could be the university discount and not Apple's.

As for the iPod deal, as someone mentioned, it was a promo. Promotions are for a set time which is now expired.

When you see a good deal, you have to be ready to jump on it.

 

[ntrigue]

Clearly, they became aware of the increasing demand for Apple in class and are capitalizing.

FWIW, you're speaking about a corporation that could make 42% margin on a $99 iPhone but they sell it for twice that. Psst big part of why I'm invested in Apple.

 

[Phrasikleia]

I was poking around at the Stanford bookstore to see the new MBPs and the discount appears to be intact. Of course, this could be the university discount and not Apple's.

I believe the full $200 discount is still available on the higher end MBP. They slashed it in half on the 2.4 GHz model only.

 

[illegalprelude]

I believe the full $200 discount is still available on the higher end MBP. They slashed it in half on the 2.4 GHz model only.

negative. All MBP are $100..im not sure about the 17" but know for a fact that the 15's are all $100 off

 

[MowingDevil]

negative. All MBP are $100..im not sure about the 17" but know for a fact that the 15's are all $100 off

I just got a $200 discount on my 2.53 MBP in Australia....its the same in Canada as both countries have only had the 2.4 drop to $100. Pretty sure its the same in the US but not sure. What country are you in?