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iMac i7 buy online or instore
- Thread starter kcnish
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I live in the UK and should be ordering mine from Currys, as I can get 8% discount.
I'm happy with an off the shelf model, but will you be wanting a BTO model?
I'm happy with an off the shelf model, but will you be wanting a BTO model?
The store is easy if one is local to you but you will only get a stock configuration, which of course may be fine for you. No SSD, additional HD or Ram. I am sure they can upgrade the ram for you but I would recommend doing it yourself to save some cash.
Understand at the store though, you cannot check out the computer until after you pay for it. Then you can check it out all you want and if you find an issue you can go into the queue for a genius just like everyone else, no special treatment just because you just bought it....so much fun.
If you are considering online, go with Macmall. No tax, no shipping, $2,149.99 to your doorstep.
troutspinner
Understand at the store though, you cannot check out the computer until after you pay for it. Then you can check it out all you want and if you find an issue you can go into the queue for a genius just like everyone else, no special treatment just because you just bought it....so much fun.
If you are considering online, go with Macmall. No tax, no shipping, $2,149.99 to your doorstep.
troutspinner
i7 is BTO, thus it's usually only available through the online store. If you have a store near by that has it in stock, then go and pick it up. It's always easier to deal with possible issues if you can walk there with your machine
I bought my i7 from the Apple Store in Liverpool. Last I checked, Regent Street and Covent Garden stores in London stocked them. Mine is good, no yellow tinge, humming etc.
Best thing is, if it does not work or something is wrong, you bring it back to the store and do a swap, no need to wait for them to collect it and get you a new one.
Best thing is, if it does not work or something is wrong, you bring it back to the store and do a swap, no need to wait for them to collect it and get you a new one.
If you look on eBay they are selling a few brand new i7's with lots of upgrades (more ram and applecare warranty) without having to pay nearly the amount of extra cash that the mac store charges for these add ons.
Plus, its free shipping also and no taxes....if you find the right auction that is.
I plan on going this route when the time comes to make my purchase.
FWIW, I also bought my i7 at the store. It was made in the USA, I don't know if that is a coincidence or a standard but from what I have seen posted, USA made iMacs do not seem to have the yellow screen issues as much. Mine was and still is perfect......knock on wood!
Another FWIW. I bought mine at the King of Prussia Mall and had to carry that big box to my vehicle. It's about 35-40 lbs and ackward to carry. I did not have an issue with it but I did feel kind of dorky.
troutspinner
Another FWIW. I bought mine at the King of Prussia Mall and had to carry that big box to my vehicle. It's about 35-40 lbs and ackward to carry. I did not have an issue with it but I did feel kind of dorky.
troutspinner
Not True..
iMac #1 "Made in USA - BTO" i7 w/8GB RAM and wired keyboard (WD HD, Hitachi Optical Drive) = Returned due to cracked LCD, bad yellowing and bad gray banding.
iMac #2 "Made in USA - BTO Replacement" i7 w/8GB RAM and wired keyboard (Loud Seagate HD, Hitachi Optical Drive) = Returned bad yellowing.
iMac #3 "Made in China - In Store" i7 w/4GB RAM (WD HD, Sony Optical Drive) = Returned due to dead pixels. No yellowing or gray banding.
iMac #4 "Made in China - In Store Replacement" i7 w/4GB RAM (Quiet Seagate HD, Hitachi Optical Drive) = Returned due to bad gray banding. No yellowing
iMac #5 "Made in USA - In Store" i7 w/4GB RAM (WD HD, Pioneer Optical Drive) = my only complaint is an audible oscillation from the lower portion of the machine. Fan, or? It is not too bad and I would rather have a little noise over a crappy display. I also heard similar noises from at least one of the other machines. Never really cared about testing the noise as the display was always the problem.
IMO, the only thing that I can see as a constant (having had these 5 iMacs in the last 6 weeks) is that the BTO's that I got had the worst displays of them all. They both had significant yellowing and gray banding on the bottom. The 3 in store were pretty darn good in comparison.
I have to offer my recommendation of not buying a BTO imac and getting one from the Apple Store.
Also, this last iMac had the buzzing when turning the brightness down from full brightness to about 50%. This noise has gone away after performing a SMC reset.
I am on second i7 mac that I bought in the store. Both made in USA with WD HDD and they both had yellow tinged screens
Im beginning to think the China made macs have whiter screens. As all the models in the apple store had decent screens but they were all core i3 machines with Seagate drives. Assuming those were Chinese builds.
Im beginning to think the China made macs have whiter screens. As all the models in the apple store had decent screens but they were all core i3 machines with Seagate drives. Assuming those were Chinese builds.
I just ordered an i7 2.93 fully loaded with everything but RAM (only need 8 gigs for now). I did it online through the Apple Store, because as far as I know that's the only way to get the 2 TB HD and 256 GB SSD.
I really hope my screen is alright. If it's not, do I just take it to the Apple Store and have them fix it? I've never had a problem with my current 24" iMac bought in 2007.
I really hope my screen is alright. If it's not, do I just take it to the Apple Store and have them fix it? I've never had a problem with my current 24" iMac bought in 2007.
You can do that or you can phone them up and they will send one to pick it up and return it to you when finished, without charge if you are on the applecare protection plan.