Buying a notebook at apple store instead of online. Any advantage?

[-Escher-]

I'll be buying my first MAC (PB 15'' or ibook intel...) next week after MWSF.

I'm wondering if it is worthed to buy it from the store instead online. I'll be paying tax (8%) but in the other hand I can actually check the machine before buying it (screen, RAM slots, battery, etc).

SO I ASK:

1-Do they let you check the machine before paying for it or you must get a closed box...

2-I'll put as much RAM as possible. Do they put it in the store? I mean: Do I have necessarely to buy it online if I want a costumized product?

THANK YOU!

 

[CanadaRAM]

I'll be buying my first MAC (PB 15'' or ibook intel...) next week after MWSF.

I'm wondering if it is worthed to buy it from the store instead online. I'll be paying tax (8%) but in the other hand I can actually check the machine before buying it (screen, RAM slots, battery, etc).

SO I ASK:
1-Do they let you check the machine before paying for it or you must get a closed box...
2-I'll put as much RAM as possible. Do they put it in the store? I mean: Do I have necessarely to buy it online if I want a costumized product?
THANK YOU!

They should have no problem with you checking the machine. Buy it with the stock RAM and then add memory yourself later, from a reputable third-party seller. You'll pay much less, it doesn't void your warranty, and its easy to do

Thanks
Trevor
CanadaRAM.com

 

[adk]

If you want a BTO mac you have to buy online. But you shouldn't buy ram from Apple anyways, it's a total rip-off. Buy it third party and install it yourself, it's really simple. And also, if there's an apple store in your state you'd have to pay tax online too, so really the only advantage of buying online is that you get it right away.

 

[aquajet]

1-Do they let you check the machine before paying for it or you must get a closed box...

2-I'll put as much RAM as possible. Do they put it in the store? I mean: Do I have necessarely to buy it online if I want a costumized product?

1-Don't know about that one. You can always ask...

2-Yes. But if you want to upgrade the hard drive, you'll need to order online

 

[-Escher-]

How much would I save buying RAM from a third party?
Usually PB comes with 512. Is it on the slot or on the disk? To upgrade to 2 GB should I buy 1.5 or 2? I'm confused....

 

[kahos]

I doubt they will let you open the box before paying.

Where i work, the customers must pay for the product first, then they can open the box. If they're not satisfied, we will refund them. It works this way because we must offer a 10% discount on opened box, otherwise who would want to buy one over a sealed box?

I know best buy and the apple store are quite different but i wouldnt be surprised if they applied the same rules.

 

[wPod]

How much would I save buying RAM from a third party?
Usually PB comes with 512. Is it on the slot or on the disk? To upgrade to 2 GB should I buy 1.5 or 2? I'm confused....

the PB comes with a 512 stick. and there are only 2 slots available in the PB. so, you will need to buy 2, 1 GB sticks if you want the full 2GB.

if youre looking to buy a new product right after MWSF, youll probably want to order on line because if you do that you will likely get the PB/iBook on the first day they are available (usually new announcements from apple actually arrive in stores a few weeks or more after they are announced) if any new products are announced and available in store on the day of the announcement (like the iPod shuffle was) then they are often sold out very quickly.

oh yeah, for opening the box. . . they will let you open the box after you pay for it, but should you return the computer for any reason (which i doubt you will) then they will charge a 10% re-stalking fee.