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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Desktops > Ideal config for 2500$

Ideal config for 2500$
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nikoz1200
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Dec 27, 2006, 08:15 AM
 
Im getting myself a mac pro as a late christmas present, and am budgeting 2500-3000 plus tax. What configuration would you guys get (combo of ram, processor, hd video) ie which would you give highest priority to. I thought the 2.6 with 160 gigs an 1 gig ram. i can always upgrade the ram and will be buying more hds later anyway.

of course i am waiting until after jan10. any suggestions?
     
CheesePuff
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Dec 27, 2006, 12:32 PM
 
1) Buy online not from the Apple store and pay no tax.
     
brokenjago
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Dec 27, 2006, 04:22 PM
 
^^ what he said
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jfobart
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Dec 28, 2006, 02:07 AM
 
Doesn't matter about online versus store... if there is an Apple Store in your state, you'll have to pay sales tax for an online transaction through the Apple store.

I get hit every time, be it online or in store.

Now if you buy from another online retailer that doesn't have a physical location in your state, you should be in the clear for sales tax...
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brokenjago
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Dec 28, 2006, 06:01 AM
 
There's a Mac sales place that sells from Oregon, "the land of no sales tax."

Can remember their names though.
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mduell
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Dec 29, 2006, 12:10 AM
 
Even if you don't pay the sales tax at the time of purchase, you still have to pay the use tax at the end of the year.

I'd go with the 2.66, 160GB/1GB from Apple and add 400-500GB ($120-140) and 2-4GB from Crucial.
     
mBurns
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Dec 29, 2006, 12:17 AM
 
Originally Posted by brokenjago View Post
There's a Mac sales place that sells from Oregon, "the land of no sales tax."

Can remember their names though.
I've been there. There is also an apple store. I think the Mac place was Mac Squad or something. They had a cool little museum with all these mint vintage macs.
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utw-Mephisto
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Dec 31, 2006, 03:49 AM
 
Wasn't he actually asking about a config hehe ?
     
mitchell_pgh
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Dec 31, 2006, 02:54 PM
 
Does that price include a monitor?
     
fast shadow
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Jan 11, 2007, 06:31 PM
 
Is the XT1900 worth the extra money over the base nvidia card?
     
mduell
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Jan 11, 2007, 10:26 PM
 
I'd buy the stock configuration from Amazon (remember, even if you buy out of state to avoid sales tax, you're supposed to pay use tax at the end of the year) and add 2-4GB RAM.
     
stwain2003
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Jan 11, 2007, 10:41 PM
 
Buy from PowerMax.com!!! That's where the "land of no tax" came from!!
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SirCastor
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Jan 11, 2007, 11:32 PM
 
There's a Mac chain in Oregon called "The Mac Store". It used to be called "The Computer Store". There was also PowerMax, but they're unrelated.

The folks at the Mac Store are way cool.
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cgc
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Jan 12, 2007, 12:08 AM
 
I bought my Mac Pro from Apple online and got the student discount (about $200 plus a free iPod Nano). The Nano's are all gone but the educational discount always applies (if you are a student). I think the only reason you'd pay sales tax is if they ship fram a warehouse in your state (I live in CA so I paid).

I'd recommend getting 2GB of memory from OWC or Crucial. The Radeon 1900XT smokes the stock 7300 card for gaming but my 7300 is still plenty fast (and I game).
     
gangster
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Jan 12, 2007, 03:14 AM
 
Buy from Amazon to get the free shipping, no tax, and a rebate that usually doesn't exist elsewhere. Also, the ati 1900 video card is a huge improvement and worth every penny imo and i have one.
     
   
 
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