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Returning my 20" iMac for a MBP... Should I get credit instead?

O

odedia

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Nov 24, 2005
1,047
157
Hi Everyone.

On Sunday I'll be returning my 20" iMac to the store. I was pretty certain i'd be getting a MBP instead (I'm returning because I realized that portability was very important to me), but all the debates on this forum got me thinking. Should I just get a store credit and wait for a Rev. B instead? A very hot laptop doesn't sound too great for me, plus all the whinings complaints are not adding to the pro side. Besides, there might be a chance of upgraded specs in may due to lowered pricing of the core duos, right?

hmmm... dilemas, dilemas.... BTW, I don't really HAVE to have it immediatly, I would just prefer if I did...

Thanks!

Oded S.
 
I haven't been a big promoter of the MBP, but if you take your iMac back you are going to be paying quite a large penalty in the form of a restocking fee (at least if you are returning it to an Apple store). However, they might just waive the penaly if you buy the MBP. Something to think about.
 
danny_w said:
I haven't been a big promoter of the MBP, but if you take your iMac back you are going to be paying quite a large penalty in the form of a restocking fee (at least if you are returning it to an Apple store). However, they might just waive the penaly if you buy the MBP. Something to think about.
Click to expand...

Hi Danny,

I live in Israel, we don't have apple store here. Amazingly, Apple's reseller in Israel was willing to replace my iMac for a MBP with no extra charge. I hope he'd be willing to give me store credit instead. at any case, I paid for the iMac 700$ more than it costs in the U.S., and will pay about the same for the MBP if I get it. Apple's pricing in Europe are EXPENSIVE.... and even more expensive with the reseller in Israel :)

Oded S.
 
danny_w said:
If you take your iMac back you are going to be paying quite a large penalty in the form of a restocking fee (at least if you are returning it to an Apple store). However, they might just waive the penaly if you buy the MBP. Something to think about.
Click to expand...

Dream on. I bought my first mac ever at the Apple Store- a 17" iMac, and found it did not work as well as I expected (or had been promised!). I tried to exchange it at the Apple Store for a 20", and they would not bend an inch on restocking fees. Honestly, they could not have been bigger a**holes about it. Needless to say, rather than upgrading to a bigger/better Mac, Apple lost the sale totally, and a potential customer in the process.

My Credit Card company got me the restocking fee back, too.

I have heard some Apple Stores might be better. But I took this to Ron Johnson (VP of the Apple Stores), and he backed up the restocking fee. It is their policy- even on exchanges- and they will not budge.
 
carfac said:
Dream on. I bought my first mac ever- a 17" iMac, and found it did not work as well as I expected. I tried to return it to the Apple Store for a 20", and they would not bend an inch on restocking fees. Honestly, they could not have been bigger a**holes about it. Needless to say, rather than upgrading to a bigger/better Mac, Apple lost the sale totally, and a potential customer in the process.

My Credit Card company got me the restocking fee back, too.

I have heard some Apple Stores might be better. But I took this to Ron Johnson (VP of the Apple Stores), and he backed up the restocking fee.
Click to expand...
It is stories like yours that have caused me to vow to NEVER buy anything from the Apple store, either online or in person. After all, the Apple store is not the only (nor the cheapest) place to buy a Mac.
 
Got it!

Hi!

Just returned from replacing my iMac 20" for the MBP.

And I must say, IT IS A BEAUTY.

I actually got a DISCOUNT on the laptop, because I was credited fully for the iMac even though I had about 3% discount on it at the time of purchase. Then again, I live in Israel so the prices are about 600$ more than in the U.S. :) It's all relative isn't it...

So far I must say I am impressed. Yes, the screen is a little smaller, and to my eyes, it is nowhere NEAR as bright as the iMac 20"'s screen (I don't know why Steve said it's as bright as a cinema display, it just doesn't look like it. And yes, brightness is all the way up). But it's still a great machine. The alluminum alloy is so much better than the iMac's scratchable while plastic.

Other than that? in the couple of hours I had it, it did not get too hot (Actually it did not get hot at all). I have a W8613 revision, if that means anything. I did hear the whining everyone's been talking about, but I must say I was shocked it was so minor. From all the threads on this forum, I expected the hall of doom. What I got was your usual average laptop's hiss. Photo booth does indeed solve it until a better fix will come along.

All in all, I am very satisfied.

Oh, and one small word of advise: This 1.83 laptop with 1.5GB of ram feels light years faster than the 20" iMac 2.0Ghz with 512mb. Get more ram, it's a world of difference.

Thanks.
 
j26 said:
Just as a side note, I always thought that Israel was in Asia.

World Atlas Map
Click to expand...

Only geographically.

Israel is a member of the europian community in all business-related, political and sports-related aspects. Yeda computers in Israel is working with Apple Europe.

Thanks.
 
But geography is important.

Okay, there is a, shall we say, policical decision to engage Israel in the "Western" world, largely due to Israels unique position, but still it is part of Asia, or have several centuries of cartographers been wrong all along?

I'm not making any comment on Israeli policy here, but if all of your neighbours are Asian countries in what we refer to as the Middle East, how could Israel be in Europe? Turkey is on the borderline, and it is half in, half out. There is not such grey area with Israel.


<Back on topic>
Glad to hear you got a good deal on the MBP and I will bear your advice in mind on the RAM when I get my 20' iMac later in the year.
 
It's like you said.

Turkey is a part of Europe. So is Greece and Cyprus. They are all located in the middle east. It's not all geography.

Besides, if we weren't tied to Europe, Macabbi Tel Aviv would have never been the 2-times consecutive champion of Europian Basketball (Going on a third one soon - go Maccabi!!! :) )

Oded S.
 
Yes, it's more expensive (20" iMac compared to entry level MBP).

You get a similar computer with these pros and cons:

smaller screen
a bit slower CPU on MBP(I doubt you'll notice any difference)
smaller, slower HD on MBP(HD size will be important, speed - i doubt you'll notice)
better build quality on MBP in my opinion (high grade alluminum alloy instead of plastic)
great portability - has battery, heck of alot lighter.

other than that - i think everything else is the same. Another plus in my book is that I could get a big screen and attach it to my MBP. I can't get a laptop and attach it to an iMac. So that beautiful 20" screen is stuck with the included hardware only. I know the iMac has dvi output, but I won't get another screen to hoot up to the already big 20" display... just my opinion.

Oded S.
 
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