I've done a bit of calculating, and I've come to the conclusion that I barely have enough for a Macbook. If I sell some of my old stuff, I should have enough for a white 2Ghz model (My ideal one). Problem is though, if I buy one I will be completely broke. It's probably not so serious because I'm 13, but when you're spending all of your money, it's pretty serious regardless of age. Should I buy one? (I'll probably wait after WWDC to see if there's anything I like even more)
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Should I get a Macbook? (Or whatever happens at WWDC)
- Thread starter Mammoth
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Well, do you want it? If you do, and you know it wont put you in great financial pain, then go for it.
well no....the question is do you really NEED it?? If it is going to break your piggy bank buying it I wouldn't suggest doing so. You should always have extra savings incase you need to buy something you really need.
I don't really need it, but I can't think of something I do need, and my mom put some horrible account restrictions on my account (can't install programs, open dmgs, open system prefs, etc.) so having my own computer could do me some good. All I really need is a good alibi to tell my mom.
I can relate to your want of a MacBook, but since you already have an iMac, ask yourself really need one. I'm just a few years older, and was also struck by how nice it would be to have a MB to compliment my iMac, but I just can't justify spending $1300 on a notebook when I don't have the slightest need for it. (now if a cheeper ultra-portable came along...)
Write a list of everything you would do with it, and then decide if the list is worth spending all your money. If it is, go for it and be happy, but if not you probably made a wise decision.
Write a list of everything you would do with it, and then decide if the list is worth spending all your money. If it is, go for it and be happy, but if not you probably made a wise decision.
If he was 25, I would say don't break the piggy bank, but at 13, piggy banks are meant to be broken.breakfastcrew said:
If you want it, and have enough money for it, and think you'll get $1300 (or whatever) out of it, f-it. Go for it. 
I would say you should totally go for it, except for these couple things:
1. You already have a nice iMac
2. You said your mom has put a lot of restrictions on your user account, so I'm confused how you could go buy a MacBook and have her approval on it. I mean I know you'd be paying for it, but since it seems like she might be a little protective, what makes you think she would let you get your own MacBook and not have any restrictions? Could ya get away with it?
1. You already have a nice iMac
2. You said your mom has put a lot of restrictions on your user account, so I'm confused how you could go buy a MacBook and have her approval on it. I mean I know you'd be paying for it, but since it seems like she might be a little protective, what makes you think she would let you get your own MacBook and not have any restrictions? Could ya get away with it?
sonictonic said:
I'm a bit worried about buying a Macbook with her looming over me, but as far as I know, the only way I could get away with it is buying it without her knowing and somehow proving to her I'm responsible enough to have one. (Really crazy idea)
And the restrictions on my account render my iMac less useful than my PC which doesn't have restrictions.
You can do it really easily using Terminal. I'm not gonna tell you but with a bit of research, you can find it out I'm in the situation as well (but 2 years older). I have a nice G4 tower but need the portability of the MB for 6th form so i am upgrading. Get a job, it doesnt matter if it is just a paper round. I get the old babysitting, and something else small. During the holidays, go and help your dad work. I got £100 today from doing so and if you do that, you will quickly raise the money.
I'm in the situation as well (but 2 years older). I have a nice G4 tower but need the portability of the MB for 6th form so i am upgrading. Get a job, it doesnt matter if it is just a paper round. I get the old babysitting, and something else small. During the holidays, go and help your dad work. I got £100 today from doing so and if you do that, you will quickly raise the money.Mammoth said:
OK...explain to me the things that you cannot do with the "restrictions" in place?
Further, it's one thing to break the bank to buy something you want. It another thing entirely to break the bank and buy something you want behind your parents back, especially a $1000+ something.
Personally, I think you should talk to your mom first before you buy anything. Heck, my wife and I have an agreement to talk about purchases over $200.
Play Ultimate said:
I don't see how he's buying the MB behind his parents back. He's going to need a parent to withdraw the cash, take him to the Apple store or give him their credit card number, so it's not as though he's going to just show up with a new MB.
You'd be better off getting your mom to remove the restrictions. Hell, OS X is pretty much bullet-proof. Even if you managed to install every program that'll run on OS X, the computer shouldn't break like XP would. And if it did, your mom's user prefs are all located in her settings, so you just backup her user folder before wiping and reinstalling, and there's no harm done.
Save the $1300 and get a nice camera, some DVD's, a wii, and take up a nice hobby like model railroading or RC airplanes.
Save the $1300 and get a nice camera, some DVD's, a wii, and take up a nice hobby like model railroading or RC airplanes.
buffalo said:
He really could. You weren't a sneaky enough kid, that's all.
Talk to your parents about removing the restrictions, and don't spend the money.
Been there, done that. The answer? "No." She won't let me install programs "because I'll fill it up with junk" on a 250GB drive. She doesn't seem to trust me with anything, she thinks I'll break anything I set my hands on.Abstract said:
Dude mammoth... based on all that's been said, I really think its not a very good idea to go get one now. Come on... this isn't a minor purchase. It's a BIG one. It's a big one for ADULTS who don't have to answer to parents. If you went through with this, I'd bet your mom would be pretty peeved.
I suggest you talk to her, start lightly, and keep goin at it. Keep trying and don't take no for an answer, but remain repsectful. Eveentually, she may cave in. Prove yourself and you can get one without worrying about hiding it, being sneaky, and getting your butt beaten
I suggest you talk to her, start lightly, and keep goin at it. Keep trying and don't take no for an answer, but remain repsectful. Eveentually, she may cave in. Prove yourself and you can get one without worrying about hiding it, being sneaky, and getting your butt beaten
..any ideas as to how I would prove myself?sonictonic said:I suggest you talk to her, start lightly, and keep goin at it. Keep trying and don't take no for an answer, but remain repsectful. Eveentually, she may cave in. Prove yourself and you can get one without worrying about hiding it, being sneaky, and getting your butt beaten
Tell her you would never go behind her back.Mammoth said:
Prove to her that you know how to properly use a computer and find a website that talks about how secure OS X is. Then show it to her.
Abstract said:
Haha, I guess I really am that naive.
So you go out and get it on the debit card... You then hide the bill and never use it in front of the parents??? Doesn't sound like a great plan to me.
I'm sort of in the same situation as you. If I buy a new Macbook which I really want then I'll end up with no cash and I have to start college on the 27th of this month. I barely have enough to afford a refurbished 1.83 MacBook but I really want it for school and taking my girlfriend out really doesn't help me much. But I look at it this way, I'd rather have a new Macbook and be broke than a 1 year-old Gateway Notebook with Windows XP and $1200