[asb819]

Hi everyone,
I'm interested in getting a new iBook, and to save some money with the educational discount and the free iPod offer. My main questions are not directly iBook related but I wasn't exactly sure where they'd belong. #1: Is it possible to use the educational discount in an Apple retail store, or is it strictly online? #2: Is there any way to get a full refund for the iPod mini after I cut out parts of the box to send with the rebate form, or is there no way around the 10% repackaging fee? Now I do have one [multi-part] iBook question, and I'd search it but it's getting late and I may as well just throw it in with the other two... I know that the 4200rpm drive can be quite limiting with some apps, so how hard would it be for me to replace it with a faster drive? Would it be wiser to stay in warranty and use a 7200rpm FW hard drive? Is the firewire a bit of a bottleneck?

Thanks for the help,
-Ari

[galarneau]

Originally Posted by asb819

#1: Is it possible to use the educational discount in an Apple retail store, or is it strictly online?

You can get the educational price at a retail store, but you can't do any custom configurations.

Originally Posted by asb819

#2: Is there any way to get a full refund for the iPod mini after I cut out parts of the box to send with the rebate form, or is there no way around the 10% repackaging fee?i

What you're asking is dishonest if I understand correctly. You want to get the iPod rebate, but return the iPod, essentially getting $179 of the iBook price? Not ethical, even if you could pull it off... which you can't. Once you cut out the UPC code on the box, there is no way the Apple Store will take it back. If you don't want the iPod, just sell it. I'm sure someone would want an iPod mini for $150-160.

Originally Posted by asb819

Now I do have one [multi-part] iBook question, and I'd search it but it's getting late and I may as well just throw it in with the other two... I know that the 4200rpm drive can be quite limiting with some apps, so how hard would it be for me to replace it with a faster drive? Would it be wiser to stay in warranty and use a 7200rpm FW hard drive? Is the firewire a bit of a bottleneck?

That's up to your skills with taking apart computers. I had an iBook G4/800 that I put a faster drive in. It's not easy, but if you take your time, and keep track of where all the screws go, it's not a huge ordeal.

Personally, I'm planning on getting a new stock 12" iBook with the edu discount this weekend after I get paid, and then putting in an 80GB 5400rpm drive and a Pioneer K05 DVD burner.

[asb819]

Thanks for the help. I wouldn't want to do anything unethical, so maybe that isn't the best option. Sounds like eBay it is!