The Apple Products Thread

Since I'm starting University shortly and I'm getting sick of relying on an old family desktop, I've been thinking about getting a laptop... and the MacBook looks like the best option so far. My only real exposure to Apple computers was my terrible Visual Art Design class which sort of put me off Macs... but that was mainly my teacher's fault, not the computer's.

I think I'll stick with the white 13-inch 120GB option since it's cheaper and space shouldn't be that much of a problem - I've already got an external hard drive and the desktop has two hard drives installed in it. The only thing I'd really have on it is my music (I am sick of sharing iTunes with other members of the family - so much clutter!) and the random movie/TV show/comic whatever.

So, is there anything specific I should know? I've been browsing through the Apple site looking at the specifications and that and I think I'm pretty happy with this choice. I'll probably go and take a physical look sometime this week. I think if I get one before April 13th I can get a rebate.
 
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ProjectX2 said:
So, is there anything specific I should know?
Click to expand...

The only thing I would say would be what you're already doing - go take a look at one, hands-on. If you're going to an Apple store, the people there are awesome at answering questions. Tell them just what you said here - you are thinking about a Mac, you haven't used them that much, and was wondering what you need to know.

As far as the computer itself that sounds like a pretty good choice. Doesn't sound like you need a Pro.
 
Update!

Went to Apple store. Looked at products. Interested in aliminium 13-inch 160GB MacBook. The guy told me about the MacBook Pro. I asked about any deals. He tells me they're doing Applecare bundles at the moment - buy any Mac and Applecare and they'll throw in Microsoft Office for Mac, a case and a wireless mouse. Originally I was just going to get the MacBook on its own but the extended warranty/service from Applecare and the wireless mouse and Office would be good to have...

So, do any of the Mac users here have Applecare? I'm wondering if it's worth the extra $400 to $500 this bundle would be, considering I still don't know which computer I will get at the moment.
 
Gemini said:
Sounds like a Customer Protection Racket to me
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it's an extended warranty, it's optional, how in the **** is that a protection racket?


projectX2 said:
Update!

Went to Apple store. Looked at products. Interested in aliminium 13-inch 160GB MacBook. The guy told me about the MacBook Pro. I asked about any deals. He tells me they're doing Applecare bundles at the moment - buy any Mac and Applecare and they'll throw in Microsoft Office for Mac, a case and a wireless mouse. Originally I was just going to get the MacBook on its own but the extended warranty/service from Applecare and the wireless mouse and Office would be good to have...

So, do any of the Mac users here have Applecare? I'm wondering if it's worth the extra $400 to $500 this bundle would be, considering I still don't know which computer I will get at the moment.
Click to expand...

That's a hell of a deal, Office for Mac (Home/Student) is like 200A$ alone. Honestly, I generally don't get extended warranties. With that said, I have AppleCare on my iMac and will be getting it on my MacBook Pro (you have up to a year after purchase to buy it). It saved my butt a couple month ago when the motherboard went bad in my iMac. I was JUST outside my free year of free service, had I not had AC, it would have cost me around $700 (parts and labor), when they had it apart they'd found that my display was failing and replaced it as well, all for a whopping $0.

AppleCare for an iMac in the States is $149, the total costs of repairs without it would have been in the neighborhood of a new iMac. So, I'd like to think it paid for itself.


for ****s, I went to store.apple.com/au/ to price the bundle

Office.......... $194.65
Applecare.....$419.00
BT Mouse.......$99.00
Bag...............$50.00+

Total...........$762.65


So if they're offering you the bundle for $400-500 that's a hell of a deal. The caveat is, do you use/need Office, and do you use/need the mouse? If you answer no to these, see if there are other bundles, or put off getting AppleCare, there are better deals on Amazon and eBay (looking at eBay AU, it's about half the price), and to answer your unasked question, no you don't have to buy AppleCare from Apple, you can buy it from any trusted reseller. (I got my AC for my MacBook Pro from Amazon for $275, it retails for $349)
 
Gemini said:
Slow up hot rod

It was a shortpacked reference

Sorry
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Yeah, see, the problem is, not everyone knows what Short Packed is. Secondly, this is flat text, there's no verbal inflection to point out sarcasm, so it reads no different than the billions of anti-Mac posts strewn over the net.
 
ProjectX2 said:
Update!

Went to Apple store. Looked at products. Interested in aliminium 13-inch 160GB MacBook. The guy told me about the MacBook Pro. I asked about any deals. He tells me they're doing Applecare bundles at the moment - buy any Mac and Applecare and they'll throw in Microsoft Office for Mac, a case and a wireless mouse. Originally I was just going to get the MacBook on its own but the extended warranty/service from Applecare and the wireless mouse and Office would be good to have...

So, do any of the Mac users here have Applecare? I'm wondering if it's worth the extra $400 to $500 this bundle would be, considering I still don't know which computer I will get at the moment.
Click to expand...

Apple Care is TOTALLY worth it. I had mine in a couple of months ago because it was spoiling a large percentage of DVD writes. They replaced the mother board, DVD drive, and a couple of other things. All covered - no charge. I would definitely recommend it, especially on a laptop.
 
Thanks for the info, Skotti (and E!). At the moment, it sounds perfect but I'll continue to look around and see if I can get some even better deals. I'm really excited!
 
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skotti-chan said:
Yeah, see, the problem is, not everyone knows what Short Packed is. Secondly, this is flat text, there's no verbal inflection to point out sarcasm, so it reads no different than the billions of anti-Mac posts strewn over the net.
Click to expand...

Chillax

You beat your step-brother up yet?
 
Today I went to another store which offered me the 13-inch aluminium 160GB MacBook, Microsoft Office, Applecare, wireless mouse and case for $2500 AU. So I took it.

Quite pleased with the deal and very excited to start using it.
 
ProjectX2 said:
Today I went to another store which offered me the 13-inch aluminium 160GB MacBook, Microsoft Office, Applecare, wireless mouse and case for $2500 AU. So I took it.

Quite pleased with the deal and very excited to start using it.
Click to expand...
That's awesome. Congrats on the purchase.
 
Mac system update.


10.5.7


as well as a security update for Safari 3 and Safari 4(b).
 
News from WWDC 09



New MacBook Pros (available today)

3 sizes: 13" 15" and 17"

FW800 added to the 13", SD card readers on the 13" and 15"

Prices start at $1199 and $1499 for the 13"

$1699, $1999, $2299 for the 15"

$2499 for the 17"


Airs are cheaper too, starting at $1499



Now they're talking bout Snow Leopard. An upgrade from 10.5 to 10.6 will recover around 6GB of HDD space. App opening is 45+% faster, overall OS kernal upwards to 400% faster.

Talking about Safari 4, it as the first browser to score 100/100 on the Acid 3 test. 50% increase in Javascript performance.


On to Quicktime X (10).... Whole new UI (looks very minimalist, like QuickLook), soft controls (meaning they fade off screen after a few seconds). Ooooo video editing from inside Quicktime.

Dock Expose, you're able to scroll through folder contents while they're in the Dock.

*insert a bunch of under the hood stuff about Snow Leopard*


*insert stuff about Exchange support*

O.O Snow Leopard will cost $29 for Leopard users.

On to the iPhone.

40 MILLION iPhones/iPod Touches have sold so far.

Streaming video and Push notification are FINALLY being added.

Medical apps, more games, etc in the App Store.

100+ new features for iPhone OS 3.0

cut n paste, undo, landscape keyboard across all apps, MMS (altho, AT&T won't be ready for it till late summer. Fail.), Universal Search, iTunes Rental and purchasing of movies/tv, Tethering (via USB or Bluetooth), Autofill, Find My iPhone (uses MobileMe and the built in GPS, to locate your iPhone, remote wipe is also an option), Peer to Peer gaming, new physical accessories (like blood glucose meters).

More stuff about games.

More stuff about medical industry acceptance

More stuff about apps

90minutes in, still no iPhone/iPod Touch hardware updates :(

WOOHOO!! iPhone OS 3.0 will be available June 17th.


iPhone 3GS!!!

S is for Speed apparently >.>

more ram, faster processor, new camera, OpenGL support, HSDPA support (woot! faster cell service!), 3MPx auto focus camera, video recording (ooo and on phone editing), Voice Control, Compass, Hardware encryption (instant data wipe, etc).

improved battery life too. The 3G got 6 on Wi-Fi, 7 on Video, 24 on Audio, 10 on 2G talk and 5 on 3G talk. 3gS gests 9 on Wi-Fi, 10 on video, 30 on audio, 12 on 2g talk and 5 on 3g talk.

$199 for the 16GB model
$299 for 32GB
Available June 19th

the iPhone 3G 8GB stays on market for $99 (available today)


And that's the end of WWDC '09.

I'm so hyped about this stuff it isn't funny.
 
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