UK User To Purchase Mac Mini in USA

[LEET1973]

Hi Guys

After several years on the dark side (PC) i've finally decided to cross over into the light and get myself a Mac. I've had iPods for years and just ordered my iPhone 4 hence it seems to make sense.

My main uses are: internet browsing, e-mail, personal finances, word processing, spreadsheets, photos and of course iTunes. A Mac Mini would seem to be a perfect fit.

I'm off on holiday to the USA soon and i've been doing my sums:

UK: base model £650
UK: upgraded processor and 4GB memory cost is £850

USA: base model £508 (including sales tax)
USA: same upgrade as above £690

So basically i can get the upgraded model in the USA for around the same money as the base model in the UK.

The question i have is:

Will i be able to buy the upgraded model (processor+memory) in an Apple store in the USA? Or can they order it in for me.

I've been trying to find an e-mail address for an Apple store in Las Vegas so i can ask the question or even pre-order it but no luck.

Any help much appreciated.

 

[miles01110]

Will i be able to buy the upgraded model (processor+memory) in an Apple store in the USA? Or can they order it in for me.

Highly unlikely and no. They don't have in-store pickup, and don't typically sell BTO models in store.

 

[Vic 20]

For the money you save, I would still be inclined to buy a mini from the UK. If anything goes wrong at least you can send it back with no explanation. As for software etc. definitely buy it in the states, it's amazing the price difference

 

[a2applegirl]

There is a third option. Buy the server edition of the mini in the US. It comes with the 4 gb ram and the upgraded processor and you get 1tb of hard disk with the faster (7200 rpm) disk speed.

The server edition is $999 and is not a build to order option so it is always in stock. It comes to about the same price as the upgraded client edition.

 

[stefimke]

For the money you save, I would still be inclined to buy a mini from the UK. If anything goes wrong at least you can send it back with no explanation.

Do you really have to go back to the country were you bought your Apple product when you need service? That's odd.

 

[BlindSoul]

I bought my Mac Mini in America and in Apple Israel they said the warranty can be used in Israel too. You should call Apple UK And ask them.
Now if you want to upgrade the CORE and RAM you must go to the Apple Store and buy the regular Mac and then to request for an Upgrade. When i was there they told me first i gotta pay and then i can upgrade. So yeah...

 

[Giuly]

I bought my Mac Mini in America and in Apple Israel they said the warranty can be used in Israel too. You should call Apple UK And ask them.
Now if you want to upgrade the CORE and RAM you must go to the Apple Store and buy the regular Mac and then to request for an Upgrade. When i was there they told me first i gotta pay and then i can upgrade. So yeah...

Pretty hard to desolder the CPU and solder in another one for some Apple Store salesmen, huh?


Serious, if they offer any kind of the 2.66GHz model in the Store, you're fine. It's cheaper to upgrade the RAM and HDD yourself anyways, and you can put a 750GB drive in for the same price Apple charges you for the 500GB Build-to-order upgrade.

However if you're unlucky and they check you at the airport in the UK, they make you pay the VAT, which makes the thing even more expensive than buying it in the UK Apple Store.

 

[old-wiz]

However if you're unlucky and they check you at the airport in the UK, they make you pay the VAT, which makes the thing even more expensive than buying it in the UK Apple Store.

You might get stuck with a fine for trying to sneak it through without declaring it.

 

[Westyfield2]

Do you really have to go back to the country were you bought your Apple product when you need service? That's odd.

My MacBook Pro (& extended AppleCare) was purchased in the USA, in the 5th Avenue Store to be precise .
Haven't had any problems getting it worked on here in the UK by both an Apple Authorised Repair Centre and then (once one finally opened nearby) an Apple Store. In the three years its had a new keyboard/trackpad/topcase (they had to replace it like-for-like with a USA one), a new charger, a new battery and a new logic-board (nVidia graphics issue).


My iPad is from the USA too (got it before they were out here) so hopefully that'll be as painless too.


One thing I would add is that my experience is of a "portable computer", and Apple might see it differently for a "desktop computer".