[minton7]

There's a discussion at macrumors ( http://forums.macrumors.com/showthre...threadid=93127 ) saying the next ibooks will be announced on tuesday. The site referenced is in german ( http://www.macgadget.de/ ).

[discotronic]

Sounds about right. The iBook has been getting an update every six months for the past 2-3 years.

[Voch]

Works for me. I've resisted the upgrade temptation but I just played with my coworker's iBook G3/800 today (as a former iBook/500 owner I miss the form factor) and it'll be hard to resist, especially if they drop the price. If it's $999, supports Core Video, and the specs get further away from those of my TiBook (667Mhz vs. 1.2Ghz on the current high-end, 30GB HD vs. available 60GB HD, 8X CDRW vs. 24X CDRW, Airport vs. Airport Extreme) I may have to splurge...

Voch

[im_noahselby]

I think the specs and upgrade information supplied by that rumor site seems believable enough, but the timing seems somewhat off. Until some rumor sites get on the rumor wagon, I'm not buying it!

Noah

[kpne1home]

As long as the battery life stays about where it is or gets better I will be happy.

[villalobos]

Originally posted by discotronic:
Sounds about right. The iBook has been getting an update every six months for the past 2-3 years.

And shipping on iBooks is now 3-5 business days, whereas it used to be same business day...

[im_noahselby]

MacRumors has posted this on page one! We all know what that means...

Noah

[Kissargi]

i have an ibook on order at the nearest apple centre for collection on wednesday, if apple releases new ibooks on tuesday do you think ill get a discount?

[kpne1home]

Originally posted by Kissargi:
i have an ibook on order at the nearest apple centre for collection on wednesday, if apple releases new ibooks on tuesday do you think ill get a discount?

If not they will give u the newer one.

[Lancer409]

coool

[Kissargi]

Ive already put down a 20% deposit tho and the ibook is physically sitting in the apple centre stock room just waiting for me to pick it up. If they don't offer me a discount or an upgrade, would i be within my rights to argue for it?

[A Ghost Is Born]

Do you think that I can exchange my 12" 1 GHz model that I bought (last wednesday with my education discount) for a new model or a discounted price? I spoke with several sales reps (in store and over the phone) about whether or not I should wait. they all told me to act now, though they knew that I didn't need it immediately and was willing to wait for a newer model.

your thoughts

[im_noahselby]

Originally posted by A Ghost Is Born:
Do you think that I can exchange my 12" 1 GHz model that I bought (last wednesday with my education discount) for a new model or a discounted price? I spoke with several sales reps (in store and over the phone) about whether or not I should wait. they all told me to act now, though they knew that I didn't need it immediately and was willing to wait for a newer model.

your thoughts

If it's a BTO machine, I believe you are out of luck (another reason I NEVER order BTO macs). However, with standard config machines, you have 15 days? or so to bring it back if you aren't happy with your purchase for a refund or a new machine. Depending on the location you bought your iBook you may be charged up to a 20% re-stocking fee.

I'm not to sure, though, but good luck with whatever it is you decide to do.

Noah

[A Ghost Is Born]

Originally posted by im_noahselby:
If it's a BTO machine, I believe you are out of luck (another reason I NEVER order BTO macs). However, with standard config machines, you have 15 days? or so to bring it back if you aren't happy with your purchase for a refund or a new machine. Depending on the location you bought your iBook you may be charged up to a 20% re-stocking fee.

I'm not to sure, though, but good luck with whatever it is you decide to do.

Noah

It wasn't a BTO. I bought a 12" iBook w/an airport extreme card (that they installed for me). My location has 15 day return policy w/10% restocking fee if it's open (which it has been). If there is a price drop (as mentioned in the article) as well as a processor boost and an extra 10GBs of storage then I am in. My 10% restock fee would drop me to about $900 bucks (if the new entry level unit is $900 as expected then I should be good). Would the Apple Care that I purchased qualify on the new unit? The salesman said that he registered it for me. I opened the box up but I am not sure what to do with the contents. Also, on the reciept it mentions that Educational discount purchases do not qualify for return. Does this mean that I am sunk?

I would hate to think that Apple would have this poor of customer service. I am sure that some people may take advantage of the return policy but my situation is a little unfair. I was told by several reps that no update was coming, let only a price drop. I know that they aren't likely to tell me but to flat out lie does discourage my purchase of my first Mac. My argument is that if i like the OS enough and the mac experience I will likely buy a high end iMac or low end PowerMac next semester. They have a great oppertunity for Apple to gain a customer for life. If they don't understand and respect my concerns then they risk my future business. I would understand if i bought the iBook weeks/months ago but I didn't. I bought it just days ago.

If I don't get the answers that I want at store level should I consider going to a district manager or to corporate (or is it not worth it?) I would imagine that all the good customer service stories I hear about apple, they would work out a deal with me. I don't mind not getting a refund. I just want the extra speed and storage.

[wunderkind]

If AppleCare is registered, you are out of luck and will have to buy a new one for new iBook. AppleCare is tied to a machine (not the owner). You can check if it is registered, by logging in to your AppleCare account on Apple Support page.

[A Ghost Is Born]

If it's already registered (though i didn't do it and will try to fight it), I can purchase apple care on the new iBook sometime next semester when i get some grant money? Or do i have to do it at point of sale?

[discotronic]

Originally posted by A Ghost Is Born:
It wasn't a BTO. I bought a 12" iBook w/an airport extreme card (that they installed for me). My location has 15 day return policy w/10% restocking fee if it's open (which it has been). If there is a price drop (as mentioned in the article) as well as a processor boost and an extra 10GBs of storage then I am in. My 10% restock fee would drop me to about $900 bucks (if the new entry level unit is $900 as expected then I should be good). Would the Apple Care that I purchased qualify on the new unit? The salesman said that he registered it for me. I opened the box up but I am not sure what to do with the contents. Also, on the reciept it mentions that Educational discount purchases do not qualify for return. Does this mean that I am sunk?

I would hate to think that Apple would have this poor of customer service. I am sure that some people may take advantage of the return policy but my situation is a little unfair. I was told by several reps that no update was coming, let only a price drop. I know that they aren't likely to tell me but to flat out lie does discourage my purchase of my first Mac. My argument is that if i like the OS enough and the mac experience I will likely buy a high end iMac or low end PowerMac next semester. They have a great oppertunity for Apple to gain a customer for life. If they don't understand and respect my concerns then they risk my future business. I would understand if i bought the iBook weeks/months ago but I didn't. I bought it just days ago.

If I don't get the answers that I want at store level should I consider going to a district manager or to corporate (or is it not worth it?) I would imagine that all the good customer service stories I hear about apple, they would work out a deal with me. I don't mind not getting a refund. I just want the extra speed and storage.

People working at the Apple Store know about as much as we do about updates to a product so I don't see them telling you lie. You would have to pay the restocking fee if you wanted to upgrade. On the other hand they will give you a small amount of money (not sure of the actual amount) if you bought the Mac within 10 days of the announced update to the product. The amount of the refund will probably be the difference between the original cost and the amount they will be selling that generation for new.

Your best bet is to stick with what you have and take whatever refund amount they are willing to give you. The AppleCare won't transfer and the odds of getting a refund is not very good. Good luck trying to fight it because you could have told the sales person not to register it. Take the money and upgrade your RAM or pick up an external firewire hard drive.

I'm not trying to be an ass here so please don't take it that way. There is no guarantee that the iBook will get an update this Tuesday. Looking at the when updates have happened in the past it would seem that it is time. On the other hand, anyone could have said it is going to happen just because of how the updates have come in the past.

Be happy with what you have. Computers are always getting updated and it will always be that way.

[A Ghost Is Born]

are you sure that they will give me a refund of the difference? I wouldn't mind taking store credit if they won't swap units for me. I could use some ram.

I didn't register the AppleCare i don't know if the apple rep did or not but I was nevered offered a choice in the matter (most likely i would have said yes but that's besides the point).

[iDaver]

I'm pretty sure discotronic is right about the 10 day policy. If a new model comes out within 10 days of your purchase, you're entitled to exchange yours for the newer equivalent model or get a refund equal to any reduction in price. I can't remember where I heard this but I believe it's on Apple's website somewhere. If your Applecare is registered, you would likely have to settle for a small refund if there is any, due to any price reduction. Good luck.

[bookofjames]

Originally posted by discotronic:

Be happy with what you have. Computers are always getting updated and it will always be that way.

granted. but it sure does suck to know that your mac is outdated before it reaches ur door.

[jamil5454]

I have a quick question while everyone else is asking...


I ordered a stock 12" iBook last wednesday night and it still has an Order Status of "Open". What does this mean? I checked the Order Status explanations but they didn't make much sense.

Also, If they DO update the ibooks tomorrow, and my order is still in "Open" state, should I cancel/postpone the order for the newer one?


I feel like everyone else...

[iDaver]

Originally posted by jamil5454:
Also, If they DO update the ibooks tomorrow, and my order is still in "Open" state, should I cancel/postpone the order for the newer one?

I think I'd cancel the order right now and wait to see what happens this week, if I were you.

[A Ghost Is Born]

Originally posted by bookofjames:
granted. but it sure does suck to know that your mac is outdated before it reaches ur door.

well, it's not so much that it's outdated (for what I will be using it for, it will not be) but rather it's knowing that if I had waited less than a week I would have got a slightly better machine for the same, if not cheaper price. My argument is that many sales reps told me to purchase now. that the ibook wasn't going to be updated until tiger came out (by several reps). I will not play up the argument that the reps lied to me (because I am willing to accept that they have the same limited amount of knowledge as we do) but insisting that I buy now. Well guess what! I got a big bite in my butt when I find out that the models will updated very soon. If I can get a small boost in processing speed or a little larger hard drive then damn it i want it!

[drive-thru]

Originally posted by A Ghost Is Born:
well, it's not so much that it's outdated (for what I will be using it for, it will not be) but rather it's knowing that if I had waited less than a week I would have got a slightly better machine for the same, if not cheaper price...

As everyone who's been here for a while and seen these types of threads month-in month-out says "If you need it now then buy it now, if you can wait then do so." If you didn't follow this policy then that's too bad, if you must have the latest and greatest then you should learn to wait for a revision.

For those of you hoping that Apple will swap your week-old iBooks for brand new ones, this is Apple's policy:

Originally posted by Eug Wanker in another thread in the Powerbook forum:
Price protection
If Apple reduces the price on any product within 10 calendar days of shipment, you can request a refund or credit of the difference between the price you were charged and the current price. To receive the refund or credit you must contact Apple within 14 business days of shipment. To request a refund, just fill out the form below.

Upgrade protection
We will fulfill your order with the most current version available at shipment time. If the current version changes between the time you place your order and we ship it, you will be asked via email to confirm your order. If you have a question about upgrade protection for an item in your order, please fill out the form below.

Sorry if this seems like a rant, but it sort of is. Every forum has at least one "I want a new mac should I wait?" thread every month and the same advice is always given "Buy now if you need it now, if you can wait...wait." As a result I have no patience for people who complain about revisions causing their week-old macs to be rendered completely useless. (I know some of you are just asking what the policy is on this sort of thing). To say that the AppleStore staff lied to you is taking it a bit far. They don't know when the updates are coming and they're hardly going to tell you to wait for months if they can get themselves a sale right now (it's called retail).
Apple tend to stick fairly closely to update cycles, the iBooks are often updated towards the end of the year in time for Christmas (late 2001 iBook anyone?). If you were that worried about getting the very latest iBook you should have done your research. If you couldn't wait another week and needed an iBook for a particular deadline then you can't really complain.

[A Ghost Is Born]

Originally posted by drive-thru:
As everyone who's been here for a while and seen these types of threads month-in month-out says "If you need it now then buy it now, if you can wait then do so." If you didn't follow this policy then that's too bad, if you must have the latest and greatest then you should learn to wait for a revision.

For those of you hoping that Apple will swap your week-old iBooks for brand new ones, this is Apple's policy:

Sorry if this seems like a rant, but it sort of is. Every forum has at least one "I want a new mac should I wait?" thread every month and the same advice is always given "Buy now if you need it now, if you can wait...wait." As a result I have no patience for people who complain about revisions causing their week-old macs to be rendered completely useless. (I know some of you are just asking what the policy is on this sort of thing). To say that the AppleStore staff lied to you is taking it a bit far. They don't know when the updates are coming and they're hardly going to tell you to wait for months if they can get themselves a sale right now (it's called retail).
Apple tend to stick fairly closely to update cycles, the iBooks are often updated towards the end of the year in time for Christmas (late 2001 iBook anyone?). If you were that worried about getting the very latest iBook you should have done your research. If you couldn't wait another week and needed an iBook for a particular deadline then you can't really complain.

I understand what you are saying about the staff lying. I will retract that comment. As for pushing for the sale due to it being retail. These guys have seen me in come in over the last few weeks. They knew that I was patient and willing to wait for a newer model. They respected the fact I wanted to get the most out of my money. I was assured by two of them that the ibook wasn't going to be updated until Tiger (considering that I am impressionable and trusting, i believed them). Am I mad at them? no. Did I need the ibook then? nope. Do I need a boosted ibook? no. Do I want to have the latest model? would be nice. I did my research and again it's why i went to them for their thoughts. In my experience in retail computer sales, we are well informed of new models and updates. I figured these guys would be the same. My mistake is naively trusting the associates and not distinguishing their opinion between that of fact. Also, so you aren't confused about whether or not I am complaining. I am not. I am just trying to gather knowledge from a pool of experienced mac users as to what I should do based on my circumstance.

[iDaver]

Apple's upgrade secrets are guarded like no others. Employees are not allowed to know when upgrades are coming any more than anyone else. It's unfortunate you didn't visit these forums before your purchase because you might have heard that it was likely there would be an upgrade to iBooks around this time of year, if past upgrades are any indication.

[AleroLeanne]

Holy cow...I'm so excited!!! I've been waiting for an update since the beginning of September and I can't wait to get a new iBook. I predicted the 19th...I hope that date is true. If so, I'll be ordering my very first iBook!!! Yipeee!!! I hope it's true!!!

[drive-thru]

Ok, 'A Ghost Is Born' in that case all you can do is talk to Apple (call them or go into the store) and explain your situation and ask them about what they are willing to offer you, if anything. They don't owe you anything, especially if your purchase doesn't fall within the conditions in the policy I posted above (best to try to find that policy on apple.com - I got it from the forums so make sure it's official) although if you bought your iBook more than 10 days ago you're out of luck.
If you can have a chat with the employees who told you that there wouldn't be any updates until Tiger then that may get you somewhere, but I would be it would just get you an apology at most, it depends on how understanding they are. It may be best just to call Apple and talk to someone else about the situation, then you can at least say that the store employees mislead you instead of telling you that they didn't know (if they expressly told you there would not be an update until Tiger then they misled you because they shouldn't, and clearly didn't, know this is the case).

For future reference, stick around the forums and you will pick up on Apple's tendancy to update their product lines at particular times.
This site http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/ seems to give a reasonable prediction of impending update dates, based upon average update time for each product line.

If you don't get any luck from Apple, just remember that you have the best consumer portable computer around (except the newer ones...which will be better than yours).
I'm still using a G3 800 iBook, and I'm a graphic design student.

[A Ghost Is Born]

Originally posted by drive-thru:
Ok, 'A Ghost Is Born' in that case all you can do is talk to Apple (call them or go into the store) and explain your situation and ask them about what they are willing to offer you, if anything. They don't owe you anything, especially if your purchase doesn't fall within the conditions in the policy I posted above (best to try to find that policy on apple.com - I got it from the forums so make sure it's official) although if you bought your iBook more than 10 days ago you're out of luck.
If you can have a chat with the employees who told you that there wouldn't be any updates until Tiger then that may get you somewhere, but I would be it would just get you an apology at most, it depends on how understanding they are. It may be best just to call Apple and talk to someone else about the situation, then you can at least say that the store employees mislead you instead of telling you that they didn't know (if they expressly told you there would not be an update until Tiger then they misled you because they shouldn't, and clearly didn't, know this is the case).

For future reference, stick around the forums and you will pick up on Apple's tendancy to update their product lines at particular times.
This site http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/ seems to give a reasonable prediction of impending update dates, based upon average update time for each product line.

If you don't get any luck from Apple, just remember that you have the best consumer portable computer around (except the newer ones...which will be better than yours).
I'm still using a G3 800 iBook, and I'm a graphic design student.

Oh I am sure that the 1GHz ibook will be more than enough to cover my needs. I am a secondary education major (in social studies field). I do some photo editing on my Windows based PC w/GIMP. I haven't downloaded GIMP on the iBook yet but I have been really busy with school. I bought the iBook last Wednesday so I will try to contact Apple. I would greatly appreciate a price difference (if there is a price drop). If they will swap me, cool. If not, no big deal. I would be more than glad to work out something like extra RAM. The money refunded would be recycled back into the ibook. Let's see what Apple does tomorrow. It seems pretty immeninent.

thanks for the advice. again, i don't won't to be percieved as complaining. I just want to get the best deal for my money. I would gladly trade processing power for more RAM. That's much more functional to me than speed.

[jamil5454]

For my case, perfect circumstances would be:

-The ibook are indeed updated tomorrow
-My order still hasn't shipped by tomorrow
-Apple sends me one of those confirmation emails asking if I want to exchange for a newer model.

I ordered completely stock last wednesday

*crosses fingers*

[Voch]

MacRumors is now reporting specifications. Just a speed bump of 1.2Ghz 12" through 1.33Ghz 14".

EDIT: no word on video upgrade (see the post below this one )...sorry Kissargi...they said NOTHING about the video on the MacRumors page. The MacRumors forum folks are discussing that one now.

Voch

[Kissargi]

i was hoping for a better video card, but oh well. The speed boost will be good if its joined by a price drop

[jamil5454]

It seems like apple does have some sort of policy towards recently upgraded products...

I just called Apple and they said that if your order hasn't shipped and they update the product within 10 days or your purchase, you automatically get the updated item. If the item has already shipped but it's before the 10-day mark then you can get a price/return/credit of the difference or something?

Basically this agrees with Eug Wanker's post in another forum(a few posts before this). I never thought I would say this, but, I'm glad my order hasn't shipped yet!

[im_noahselby]

I don't think anyone should give their hopes up for a 64MB video card in the iBook. Remember, the PowerBook just got its 64MB video card in it's last revision... I bet it will be the same 32MB graphics card, but I could be wrong. We'll just have to wait and see.

I don't think it will be a very exciting revison. Better than the last one, that much is for sure. But users expecting PB features/specs are in for a major letdown.

As always, we'll just have to hope for the best!

Noah

[A Ghost Is Born]

This is fantastic!

I called my Apple store. They are willing to give me either the refund amount ($100) or the new model plus $13. I think I am getting the new model!

p.s. they also said that the Apple Care on my current unit will be linked to the new model
i don't know why i was concerned about this. super friendly folks at apple.

[Voch]

Originally posted by A Ghost Is Born:
This is fantastic!

I called my Apple store. They are willing to give me either the refund amount ($100) or the new model plus $13. I think I am getting the new model!

p.s. they also said that the Apple Care on my current unit will be linked to the new model
i don't know why i was concerned about this. super friendly folks at apple.

Excellent!

Voch

[discotronic]

Originally posted by A Ghost Is Born:
This is fantastic!

I called my Apple store. They are willing to give me either the refund amount ($100) or the new model plus $13. I think I am getting the new model!

p.s. they also said that the Apple Care on my current unit will be linked to the new model
i don't know why i was concerned about this. super friendly folks at apple.

Glad to hear that it worked out I just order a refurb 14" 933MHz for $799. Apple had them first thing this morning in their Special Deals section. Looks like Apple made two people happy today.

[drive-thru]

Originally posted by A Ghost Is Born:
This is fantastic!

I called my Apple store. They are willing to give me either the refund amount ($100) or the new model plus $13. I think I am getting the new model!

p.s. they also said that the Apple Care on my current unit will be linked to the new model
i don't know why i was concerned about this. super friendly folks at apple.

Glad to hear it. Enjoy your new iBook.