PC user with questions about switching

[NOSintake]

ok, first off, great forum you have here. hopefully being here, i can learn more about macs. ive been using PC since i was little, and i got linux a few months ago, so im not completely PC. but i do have some questions about iMacs

1) is there a new iMac coming before school starts up again? i want a desktop for school, so i can have my laptop purely for windows, linux, and taking to class.
2) should i wait til leopard comes out for macs to get one?
3) does apple offer a better discount than just $100? i personally think thats a little small for a student discount

 

[mpw]

1) It's possible, but I reckon September/Octtober is more likely.
2) I would, but Tiger's grrrrrreat too. * starts humming it's gonna be grreat, it's gonn be grreat*
3) Where in the world are you? They normall run a 'back to school' offer late summer, I think the last couple of years it's been an iPod/Mac bundle.

 

[zelmo]

3) Where in the world are you? They normall run a 'back to school' offer late summer, I think the last couple of years it's been an iPod/Mac bundle.

Isn't that bundle usually for laptops only?

 

[stuff99]

Isn't that bundle usually for laptops only?

yesiree

the ipods dont usually come with imacs

 

[NOSintake]

unless its an 80GB ipod, its not going to work either way. hopefully leopard will be out, and mayb even a new version of the imac before i go back to school

 

[YanMasaryk]

To answer in part your third question you get much larger discounts for college than high-school.

 

[janey]

To answer in part your third question you get much larger discounts for college than high-school.

apple has no discounts for high school students, only higher ed.

 

[NOSintake]

apple has no discounts for high school students, only higher ed.

the $100 is my college discount. would i get more by going to an apple store?

 

[janey]

the $100 is my college discount. would i get more by going to an apple store?

nope. unless you want software too, software is online-only.

you also get edu discount for AppleCare if I'm not mistaken.

 

[EngBrian]

yesiree

the ipods dont usually come with imacs

This is false information. Looking at last years promotion. Even MacPros were included in the back to school ipod and mac promo.

 

[scienide09]

you also get edu discount for AppleCare if I'm not mistaken.

That's right. You do online, at least. I cannot comment on in-store purchase of AppleCare, though I assume it's the same.

 

[juanster]

apple has no discounts for high school students, only higher ed.

from what i understand, they do have discount for H.S in some states as well.

 

[headhammer]

here's another two cents:

i think it's very, very likely that apple will be releasing new imacs at wwdc.
they're long overdue for an update, and even if they aren't updated at wwdc, i can guaruntee that apple will not wait as long as september. an update will come at some point in june, if not before.

i'm putting my money on june 11, though.

 

[YanMasaryk]

Janey- that may be the case in the US but certainly not in the UK.

 

[plinden]

the $100 is my college discount. would i get more by going to an apple store?

Does your college have a store? College stores often have bundling deals on top of the student discount making it cheaper for staff and students (although, for instance in UC Berkeley it's usually something like free AppleCare)

 

[Tara Davis]

If you don't need a computer until next fall, then it certainly doesn't do you any harm to wait until then. Computers always get better and cheaper over time, and that includes Macs. The later you buy, the better the system will be.

That said, if you need a computer now, there's nothing wrong with Apple's current line-up. I LOVE my first-gen MacBook. The current iMac is a pretty sweet set-up. The mini line is starting to get a little long-in-the-tooth, but I'm betting there will be an upgrade to them very soon. For those who can afford it, the Mac Pro is so impressive, it's scary.

 

[NOSintake]

so what kind of things can i expect to see if and when they make an update?

 

[Tara Davis]

so what kind of things can i expect to see if and when they make an update?

Nobody knows for sure. This entire web site is dedicated to following rumors about exactly that sort of thing.

 

[janey]

I cannot comment on in-store purchase of AppleCare, though I assume it's the same.

Yep, I got mine in-store at the Grove. They just need the usual ID.

from what i understand, they do have discount for H.S in some states as well.

Actually, other than homeschooling (and I assume this is more for the parents), there is no such link on http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/routingpage.html

And just in case this was not clear, I meant that non-higher-ed students cannot get education discounts. Teachers, administrators, and staff at K-12 schools can, as well as the school itself.

Janey- that may be the case in the US but certainly not in the UK.

Not sure what you're talking about..what's not the case? I'm pretty sure UK is higher ed students only too, unless you're talking about AppleCare, then I wouldn't know.

 

[NOSintake]

oh, ok. i guess ill just wait a few weeks and see if there are any updates

 

[mustang_dvs]

oh, ok. i guess ill just wait a few weeks and see if there are any updates

Bear in mind that a number of states and the District of Columbia now have a tax-free week/weekend around the end of the summer, for back to school purchases. The advantage is that you can combine it with the Apple student discount, and any Apple promotions for some pretty dramatic savings -- my sister-in-law got a MBP at student price, paid no tax, got a free iPod nano and got Office 2004 for free (IIRC) from the Apple Store at Southpoint, last August.

 

[mduser63]

This is false information. Looking at last years promotion. Even MacPros were included in the back to school ipod and mac promo.

Yep, I got a free iPod nano when I bought my iMac last summer.

 

[Cormier6083]

I am in dire need of a Mac.... Windows is driving me up the wall. I don't even use it anymore.... except for now