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Clearance 24" or student discount updated 24"

J

jronan2

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 4, 2009
10
0
im sure im not the only one out there contemplating which choice is best.
Here is my buying situation and would like advice from any imac user wishing to do so:

At the apple website, using the student discount, i can can the newly updated 24" imac for 1499 (100 discount)..2.66, 4 gb, 640 hd, 9400 nvidia integrated
or....
i can purchase the previous generation 24" 2.8, 2 gb, 320GB hard drive
ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memoryy for a whopping 1,299 with my student discount

as i student i am very price sensitive and use the computer for basic operations...no video editing or any other sophisticated use... no gaming either...i would appreciate the advice..thank you all
 
jronan2 said:
im sure im not the only one out there contemplating which choice is best.
Here is my buying situation and would like advice from any imac user wishing to do so:

At the apple website, using the student discount, i can can the newly updated 24" imac for 1499 (100 discount)..2.66, 4 gb, 640 hd, 9400 nvidia integrated
or....
i can purchase the previous generation 24" 2.8, 2 gb, 320GB hard drive
ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memoryy for a whopping 1,299 with my student discount

as i student i am very price sensitive and use the computer for basic operations...no video editing or any other sophisticated use... no gaming either...i would appreciate the advice..thank you all
Click to expand...

I'm also having this dilemma. But, I think the older version is the better deal here. You are saving 200+ and you get dedicated video. Just upgrade the memory and you're set. No need to drop the money on the newer model which isn't going to benefit you in any way with the tasks you hope to accomplish with it.
 
I'd go with the 2.8 version.

- Faster processor.
- Faster, better, DEDICATED graphics
- Super cheap to upgrade the RAM.

Get the 2.8 and then pick up a 4GB set from Crucial and you're set.

The only advantage of the 2.66 is the larger storage space and DDR3 RAM. Storage is so cheap, I find it irrelevant to even mention, and an additional $200 for DDR3 just can't be justified by me.
 
I had the same problem yesterday. I Posted this in the "I ordered an iMac Thread" but its relevant here too:

I bought the old 2.8 24" from the clearance section in the ED store, and even though it was still available last night, Apple upgraded me to the new 2.93 24 inch, for the same price, and It is getting delivered tomorrow.... Anyone else get such a steal? I was going back and forth between the old model and the new base model, glad I went with the old one!
 
antdfsc said:
I had the same problem yesterday. I Posted this in the "I ordered an iMac Thread" but its relevant here too:

I bought the old 2.8 24" from the clearance section in the ED store, and even though it was still available last night, Apple upgraded me to the new 2.93 24 inch, for the same price, and It is getting delivered tomorrow.... Anyone else get such a steal? I was going back and forth between the old model and the new base model, glad I went with the old one!
Click to expand...

Did they give you additional info? Are they replacing any of those clearance 2.8'ers with the new model?
 
antdfsc said:
I had the same problem yesterday. I Posted this in the "I ordered an iMac Thread" but its relevant here too:

I bought the old 2.8 24" from the clearance section in the ED store, and even though it was still available last night, Apple upgraded me to the new 2.93 24 inch, for the same price, and It is getting delivered tomorrow.... Anyone else get such a steal? I was going back and forth between the old model and the new base model, glad I went with the old one!
Click to expand...

that's amazing. I wish I had that luck.... :D

congrats!
 
antdfsc said:
I had the same problem yesterday. I Posted this in the "I ordered an iMac Thread" but its relevant here too:

I bought the old 2.8 24" from the clearance section in the ED store, and even though it was still available last night, Apple upgraded me to the new 2.93 24 inch, for the same price, and It is getting delivered tomorrow.... Anyone else get such a steal? I was going back and forth between the old model and the new base model, glad I went with the old one!
Click to expand...

Wow! Congrats! Has anyone else gotten this deal?
 
antdfsc said:
I had the same problem yesterday. I Posted this in the "I ordered an iMac Thread" but its relevant here too:

I bought the old 2.8 24" from the clearance section in the ED store, and even though it was still available last night, Apple upgraded me to the new 2.93 24 inch, for the same price, and It is getting delivered tomorrow.... Anyone else get such a steal? I was going back and forth between the old model and the new base model, glad I went with the old one!
Click to expand...

I was thinking of getting a new Mini but then seeing these clearance 2.8 iMacs for $1299 at the EDU Store, I have been contemplating getting one. I'd pay $100 more than a Refurb ($1199) just to know that it never had any problems yet.

I was planning on upgrading from a 20" monitor to a 24" anyway.

Was there anything else that you added to your order? a printer or anything?
What type of shipping? Standard free?
How long after you ordered did you get an email saying they upgraded you?
The first confirmation email or another one later?

That's crazy to get the current $1799 model for $1299

I just pulled the trigger on the clearance 2.8, hoping that I get an upgrade, but it is still a great deal anyway. I'll post what happens here.
 
it was the standard configuration, no extras, no printer, standard shipping. The original confirmation email I got said the 2.8, when it came time to ship, it was changed to the 2.93 with out any other notice.
 
same question

I have a similar question. I am debating whether to get a new iMac or an older, refurbished (perhaps the clearance, since it has greater resale value (in new box)) 2.8 GHz.

Most of my use is standard student stuff, browsing, office, some coding (for class), and light gaming. About the extent of my gaming will be perhaps starcraft 2 when it comes out and PCSX2 on windows through boot camp. Does anyone know if the old 2600 HD Pro is good enough for this? Since the processors are exactly the same, just the 2.93 is an overclocked 2.8, I think I am going to get the older one to tide me over until newer ones with 10.6 come out, then I'll sell this one.

Any help? Thanks
 
I picked did the same thing last year and picked up an older gen 24'' iMac for about that price. I have had no regrets. I would say go for the 2.8 Model.
 
ctro82 said:
I have a similar question. I am debating whether to get a new iMac or an older, refurbished (perhaps the clearance, since it has greater resale value (in new box)) 2.8 GHz.

Most of my use is standard student stuff, browsing, office, some coding (for class), and light gaming. About the extent of my gaming will be perhaps starcraft 2 when it comes out and PCSX2 on windows through boot camp. Does anyone know if the old 2600 HD Pro is good enough for this? Since the processors are exactly the same, just the 2.93 is an overclocked 2.8, I think I am going to get the older one to tide me over until newer ones with 10.6 come out, then I'll sell this one.

Any help? Thanks
Click to expand...

2600 HD Pro would be fine for light gaming through bootcamp
 
I'm trying to make the exact same decision using my student discount. I'm a newb and this is actually going to be my first mac. I'm going to be using a lot of Adobe programs, Video Editing, and also hoping I can do some gaming....Diablo 3 maybe? If not I have my xbox.

Is is possible that the new updated iMac(compared to "older" ones) will be better in any way when Snow Leopard is released? What should I do?

I want my first mac experience to be awesome, without spending $1800.
 
Deal

I think that the 2.8 Ghz iMac education clearance is great deal for 1299.

Lately, I was looking at the new Mini, low end Mac Pro, mid-range 24" iMac, and Dell core 2 quad and i7 hackintosh. I never really considered the iMac seriously until lately bc I dislike All-in-Ones and thought that the are over priced. And Glossy

At the same time I wanted to upgrade from a 20" to 24" especially S-IPS screen. It is crazy to think that I can get a whole core2duo iMac with a 24" screen for the same price that I paid for the Apple 20" Cinema Display in 2003.

Anyway, the iMac and Mac Pro were a budget stretch, but the 2.8 iMac was a good deal at 1299 EDU Clearance. I bit the bullet.

I didn't get the super duper upgrade mentioned in this thread but will probably keep the 2.8. You shouldn't expect one at that great pricing anyway.

My one problem is that Apple online store and retail are separate, so my $260 in retail credit can't be applied to the online store. Reasonable from a business point of view but lame as a consumer. In this economy, I can't find any friends or family to trade $260 Apple retail credit for $200 cash.
 
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