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Semstudent · Dec 5, 2006, 12:05 PM

I recently sold my PowerBook and my G4 PowerMac is on ebay now. Where do I buy my iMac, in your opinion? I've used the Apple Store for most things (on-line) but I see Mac Connection has a package deal with rebates, I won't need Parallels or the printer, so I figure I can sell them on ebay. Any benefit to buying from Apple directly? Any better deals? vendors? that I don't know about? Thanks for any constructive responses.

C.A.T.S. CEO · Dec 5, 2006, 08:41 PM

I buy direct from Apple. I prefer to get my stuff straight from the plant it grows on!

foo2 · Dec 5, 2006, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by Semstudent

I recently sold my PowerBook and my G4 PowerMac is on ebay now. Where do I buy my iMac, in your opinion? I've used the Apple Store for most things (on-line) but I see Mac Connection has a package deal with rebates, I won't need Parallels or the printer, so I figure I can sell them on ebay. Any benefit to buying from Apple directly? Any better deals? vendors? that I don't know about? Thanks for any constructive responses.

Buying from Apple is a ripoff - avoid it. You must pay tax, and there are no rebates.

From Amazon, you avoid taxes, and you get rebates - easy rebates, easily tracked, easily done.

murdoc158 · Dec 6, 2006, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by foo2

Buying from Apple is a ripoff - avoid it. You must pay tax, and there are no rebates.

From Amazon, you avoid taxes, and you get rebates - easy rebates, easily tracked, easily done.

Hello, I checked out Amazon and did not see anything to upgrade the iMac. I wanted to upgrade the RAM, hard drive, and video card. Can these be done by online retailers, or only through Apple? Is it possible to upgrade these myself and not void any kind of warranty?

foo2 · Dec 6, 2006, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by murdoc158

Hello, I checked out Amazon and did not see anything to upgrade the iMac. I wanted to upgrade the RAM, hard drive, and video card. Can these be done by online retailers, or only through Apple? Is it possible to upgrade these myself and not void any kind of warranty?

That's the issue with Amazon - stock configs only. If you need an upgraded HDD and video card (buying the 24"?) then Apple's the only game in town.

Buy RAM elsewhere. Always. (Unless you get a mini....)

murdoc158 · Dec 6, 2006, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by foo2

That's the issue with Amazon - stock configs only. If you need an upgraded HDD and video card (buying the 24"?) then Apple's the only game in town.

Buy RAM elsewhere. Always. (Unless you get a mini....)

Yes I am planning on the 24". RAM elsewhere you say. I will check google and see how involved adding RAM is. Hopefully it's not brain surgery. Any particular brands to shop for?

I planned on buying this at the end of the year. I did some more reading that Leopard should be out in spring 2007. Is this something I should wait for? I don't really NEED an iMac right now, but if it is worth it to wait I can.

Thanks!

edit: RAM installs right at the bottom of the monitor. Thank you Apple!

foo2 · Dec 6, 2006, 07:59 PM

If you own a small phillips screwdriver and have average 40 year old eyes and manual dexterity, it should take you about 5 minutes to upgrade the RAM, and you will save $100 or more.

You can always wait. Prices go down, not up, and as new models are released, sales on old ones (stock ones, granted) are drastic - I paid $750 for my iMac 20" 512MB/2.0DC/250GB/SuperDrive at Fry's about a month or so ago. Retail on it at introduction was...$1699, I think. Never pay retail.

Do you want to wait or do you want the Mac now?

Thunderbird · Dec 9, 2006, 02:37 AM

I just bought my new Mac from Ecost.com. The price was slightly lower than Amazon, there were no rebate hassles to deal with, and going through ebates I got an extra 2% off, making it the best deal I could find. I ordered on Monday, and had the machine on Wednesday with standard ground shipping.

boazh · Dec 9, 2006, 02:55 AM

Buy from your local Apple store. If you are lucky like me you will get awesome service. As for tax, I don't pay sales tax on anything in my state (OR) I also get a corporate discount because I work for Merrill Lynch... 6-8%... I got my G5 there, White MacBook, 24" iMac and recently a MacBook Pro C2D... I love them all, especially the last one

rclay6612 · Dec 9, 2006, 09:29 AM

It pays to shop around. For instance, the 1.83 mini that I'm eyeing is 799 at Frys.com, 799 with a 25 rebate at Amazon, and 799 at Smalldog.com. But, the Apple Store has the same model in a refurbished unit for 699 with the same warranty. All my kids college notebooks have been Apple Store refurbs and they've always worked and looked like new. Always check the refurb store. It's the red tag on the right side of the Apple Store page about halfway down.

rclay6612 · Dec 9, 2006, 09:35 AM

By the way, the 24" you mentioned above (slightly different graphics card) is on the refurb store right now for 1699.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL....7.1.5.1.6.5.0

RPC

charleskdavis · Dec 9, 2006, 10:50 AM

The best place to buy any computer, Apple or otherwise, is from a VAR. They can order custom configurations, will help you determine exactly what is best for you. Cost is very competitve and you cannot get their knowldege direct from a company, big box store, or online only store. Will you have to pay sales tax, in most states you are still required to pay sales tax even if the online store doesn't charge you.

foo2 · Dec 9, 2006, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by charleskdavis

The best place to buy any computer, Apple or otherwise, is from a VAR. They can order custom configurations, will help you determine exactly what is best for you. Cost is very competitve and you cannot get their knowldege direct from a company, big box store, or online only store. Will you have to pay sales tax, in most states you are still required to pay sales tax even if the online store doesn't charge you.

Why would you buy from a VAR if you can get the same setup for less elsewhere? I buy on price, and I typically don't buy custom configurations (Apple hardware, even base hardware, is now good in stock configs - the one example where I'd be tempted to buy from a VAR/Apple is the iMac 24" with 7600 gfx); RAM is something I'd never buy from Apple, so that's a nonissue.

I don't think most people actually pay sales tax (aka usage tax) unless the store charges. Call me crazy....

Since that's another 8% or so for many of us, that's a significant additional expense.

Amazon.com, with the rebates and with no tax & free shipping, has, still, what I consider the best deals. Since I do buy Macs quite a bit, I'm on the lookout for better deals - has anyone found anything better?

(Again, let me note that there are some better deals if you have great timing - I got my iMac 20" 2.0CD / 250GB / 512MB / SD for $750 at Fry's when the C2Ds were released...)

deeper · Dec 9, 2006, 01:56 PM

If you've looked lately, Apple's ram upgrade prices are very competitive. (At least for macbooks.)

foo2 · Dec 9, 2006, 02:05 PM

Basically you get 512MB free if you do it yourself.

For the MBP, OTOH, Apple charges a huge premium for the 2GB stick ($750), vs. $300 or so online.

bstone · Dec 10, 2006, 01:41 PM

Amazon. Check pricegrabber.com. Amazon always comes up best.

Amazon had a 17" iMac Core 2 Duo cheaper than my school had it for students. No tax, free shipping, amazing.

Semstudent · Dec 10, 2006, 03:04 PM

Wow, great ideas and conversation everyone. I have purchased refurbs a few times but I had discounted buying there again until I asked a question of one of the "chat" consultants this morning. I found out that I can buy my iMac there and a printer and as long as I put the printer rebate for my MBP C2D & Canon with an iMac and printer, I can get the full $200 back. Then I can sell the printers for 100% profit. That offsets the sales tax and will allow me to get more machine for what I'm seeing for lesser equiped machines on Amazon and elsewhere. Of course, that's unique to my situation. Thanks again for all the input!

Semstudent · Dec 14, 2006, 03:46 PM

And now the update.... Today I ordered the 20" iMac from the refurb page of Apple.com, it seemed to me to be the best value overall for the hardware and price. Thanks again!

CheesePuff · Dec 15, 2006, 03:09 PM

I'd also give a vote for Amazon.com

It has free shipping, no tax, and the $75 or more rebate, plus if you have not signed up for the Amazon Visa card you get $30 off instantly on the order and no interest for 6 months (when I signed up)

NordicMan · 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by foo2

If you own a small phillips screwdriver and have average 40 year old eyes and manual dexterity, it should take you about 5 minutes to upgrade the RAM, and you will save $100 or more.

You can always wait. Prices go down, not up, and as new models are released, sales on old ones (stock ones, granted) are drastic - I paid $750 for my iMac 20" 512MB/2.0DC/250GB/SuperDrive at Fry's about a month or so ago. Retail on it at introduction was...$1699, I think. Never pay retail.

Do you want to wait or do you want the Mac now?

I have installed my RAM upgrades myself easily on Macs, like you say about the iMac, it is usually simple. Which RAM upgrade saves 100$? From Crucial it looks to me like a 2GB kit is 355$, and a 1GB stick is 177. On the Apple Store site, getting the 2GB upgrade, 2x1GB, costs 175$. OWC has a 2GB kit for 240$. The only less expensive alternative I can see than Apple(using t hose two suppliers) is a total RAM 1.5GB upgrade, which would be 50$ cheaper at OWC.

You find good RAM less expensive elsewhere then, yes, or are you speaking about the 3GB option?

foo2 · Dec 17, 2006, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by NordicMan

I have installed my RAM upgrades myself easily on Macs, like you say about the iMac, it is usually simple. Which RAM upgrade saves 100$? From Crucial it looks to me like a 2GB kit is 355$, and a 1GB stick is 177. On the Apple Store site, getting the 2GB upgrade, 2x1GB, costs 175$. OWC has a 2GB kit for 240$. The only less expensive alternative I can see than Apple(using t hose two suppliers) is a total RAM 1.5GB upgrade, which would be 50$ cheaper at OWC.

You find good RAM less expensive elsewhere then, yes, or are you speaking about the 3GB option?

Crucial is shockingly overpriced. I routinely buy 1G sticks of SODIMMs for $90-ish - try NewEgg.com for better pricing.

NordicMan · Dec 17, 2006, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by foo2

Crucial is shockingly overpriced. I routinely buy 1G sticks of SODIMMs for $90-ish - try NewEgg.com for better pricing.

My, that is less, isn't it? And you are obviously satisfied with the results. Hmm, I will have to check on pricing for my G5. Thanks for the thought. I have never purchased from Newegg, although certainly have seen their ads and heared about them.