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Buy MacBook or Wait?

P

PC1492

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 19, 2007
11
0
Hello, I'm looking to purchase a MacBook and with the $100 rebates on Amazon, it's almost too tempting. Should I buy one now, or wait until Leopard? 5 months is a while from now, and this will be my first Mac (although I do use them in Graphic Design in school) and I don't want to make any buying mistakes. Anyone willing to give some feedback?

Also, I'm looking at the low-end model, it's perfect for me, except I'd like a Superdrive. I just can't justify another $200 for that though.
 
i would buy it now. Leo is still several months away, and it really isn't too much.

If I were in your position, I wouldn't get the superdrive, but get an external DVD-RW, because they burn stuff much faster, and are probably cheaper than the internal one.
 
Also, the actual Apple Store has the NEW (as of this week) 2.0ghz Core 2 Duo models with 1GB of memory and 80GB hard drive for $999 with student discount (which you're probably eligible for since most students are). The 2.16ghz Core 2 Duo models with Super Drive, 1GB memory, and 120GB hard drive are $1,199 with said discount. Note that isn't "just" a SuperDrive for an extra $200 - there is also more storage and faster processor.

That probably is a better deal than whatever Amazon has.
 
PC1492 said:
Hello, I'm looking to purchase a MacBook and with the $100 rebates on Amazon, it's almost too tempting. Should I buy one now, or wait until Leopard? 5 months is a while from now, and this will be my first Mac (although I do use them in Graphic Design in school) and I don't want to make any buying mistakes. Anyone willing to give some feedback?

Also, I'm looking at the low-end model, it's perfect for me, except I'd like a Superdrive. I just can't justify another $200 for that though.
Click to expand...

The $100 rebate mostly covers the (likely) cost of Leopard ;)

I'd say it's as good a time as any to buy.

I think we'll likely see another MB update this year, probably around Leopard's launch. So, better hardware, but about half a year away. Of course, when that comes out, the "next" model is just about half a year away too... you can go on like that forever :)
 
Wow, thanks for the fast responses everyone! From the positive feedback, I'm going to purchase as soon as possible from Amazon. I noticed someone mentioned the student discount, well Amazon brings the price down to $999 as well, but with free shipping and no tax as well. Thanks for helping out a future mac owner! :D
 
PC1492 said:
Wow, thanks for the fast responses everyone! From the positive feedback, I'm going to purchase as soon as possible from Amazon. I noticed someone mentioned the student discount, well Amazon brings the price down to $999 as well, but with free shipping and no tax as well. Thanks for helping out a future mac owner! :D
Click to expand...

Ahem... The Apple Store also includes free shipping, and is tax-free, and also gives you $100 towards various printer choices, including a fine HP Printer / Scanner / Copier with memory card readers... which will be free after Apple rebate, if you chose to take up that option.

So there really is no point in giving your money to Amazon unless your last name is Bezos.
 
dpaanlka said:
Ahem... The Apple Store also includes free shipping, and is tax-free, and also gives you $100 towards various printer choices, including a fine HP Printer / Scanner / Copier with memory card readers... which will be free after Apple rebate, if you chose to take up that option.

So there really is no point in giving your money to Amazon unless your last name is Bezos.
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware of that. Do you have to show proof to Apple that you're a student to get the discount?
 
alwaysaangel said:
I'm pretty sure it charges tax...but maybe that varies by state? It definitely added tax when I was trying to add up how much a MBP would be.
Click to expand...

Yes, I also got charged sales tax. But it may still be a good deal if I can get the free printer.
 
I recently bought an iMac from Amazon and with the rebate it was cheaper than a refurb from the Apple store. I also just ordered a refurb Macbook (black) from Apple but had to pay the tax.
 
I'd love to have the Santa Rosa....but i just cant wait another 6 months. Using XP as opposed to OS X for that long is a horrible thought. Getting mine in a few days.

I'm also getting the ComboDrive. I hardly ever backup or do anything in regards to DVD's. So not only will i have a sweet new MacBook, but also for a steal at the educational price of AUD$1499.....cant beat that =)
 
Agree that this is the time to buy a MacBook. Otherwise you will probably be waiting until October (?).
 
Scarlet Fever said:
i would buy it now. Leo is still several months away, and it really isn't too much.

If I were in your position, I wouldn't get the superdrive, but get an external DVD-RW, because they burn stuff much faster, and are probably cheaper than the internal one.
Click to expand...

I think you'd just made me make up my mind.

I've been torn between buying the combodrive macbook (£600) and the superdrive one (£710) because the specs are almost exactly the same (I won't miss .13Ghz of CPU) and I was planning on getting a 160gig external HDD at some stage and so I'd just replace the 80 with the 160 anyway. That wouldn't void my warranty, would it?
 
No I am pretty sure that exchanging ram and harddrive on the macbook will not void your warranty. Apple publishes a how-to on their homepage describing the procedure.

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/MacBook_13inch_HardDrive_DIY.pdf

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/MacBook_13inch_Memory_DIY.pdf


I went for the low-end MB model just released as well. The price is also attractive now and Leopard is a long way off, and I kind of need a new lappy now. My soon-to-arrive macbook is currently stuck in Eindhoven, possibly on the road to Denmark.
 
I'm also interestd in a Macbook, or perhaps a MBP.

How loud are the Macbooks? When doing stuff like Word processing, browsing the internet or iTunes, do the fans run?

I really can't stand fan noise. I once had a PB G4, which was completly silent, fans came only on while gaming.

How are the MB or MBP regarding fan noise?

Thanks
 
MacChicken said:
I'm also interestd in a Macbook, or perhaps a MBP.

How loud are the Macbooks? When doing stuff like Word processing, browsing the internet or iTunes, do the fans run?

I really can't stand fan noise. I once had a PB G4, which was completly silent, fans came only on while gaming.

How are the MB or MBP regarding fan noise?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I only found that the fans revved up when really pushing the processor with video and sometimes with Flash applets.
 
imMAColata said:
No I am pretty sure that exchanging ram and harddrive on the macbook will not void your warranty. Apple publishes a how-to on their homepage describing the procedure.

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/MacBook_13inch_HardDrive_DIY.pdf

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/MacBook_13inch_Memory_DIY.pdf


I went for the low-end MB model just released as well. The price is also attractive now and Leopard is a long way off, and I kind of need a new lappy now. My soon-to-arrive macbook is currently stuck in Eindhoven, possibly on the road to Denmark.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice.

I just want to spend some money! I kind-of want a laptop and I could justify to myself spending £600 more than I could spending £710 ;-).
 
I pulled the trigger yesterday. I had a $1300 best buy gift card...I used it towards the mid-white one.

My friends made fun of me for buying a laptop without a dedicated graphics card.......sometimes people just don't get it.

This will be my very first mac...and I am so looking forward to it.
Should arrived at my house in like 3-4 days.

To answer...now is the time to buy. I might buy leopard...with student discount naturally.
 
I just noticed that the Amazon rebate expires at the beginning of next week, and I was planning on buying the new Macbook sometime next week, so that's pretty much eliminated. Does anyone know if they plan on extending it? As for the student discount through Apple, do they require proof of being a student?
 
"SALES TAX
Apple Store purchases will include sales tax based on your shipping address and the sales tax rate in effect at the time your order is placed. If you phone in your order, the Apple Store sales representative will provide an estimated dollar total of your order including tax and any applicable shipping charges at the time you place your order. If the sales tax rate for the state to which your order is being shipped changes before the product is shipped, the rate in effect at the time your order was received in our system will apply. The proof of purchase that Apple mails to you will include any applicable sales tax."

Not entirely clear but here in Hawaii, before we had the Apple Stores purchases made through the on-line store would not be charged sales tax. Once the brick and mortar Apple store went up the implementation of sales tax followed.
 
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