Poll: How did you pay for your most recent Mac?

[MacRumors]

Vote: Poll: How did you pay for your most recent Mac? (http://www.macpolls.com/?poll_id=320)

[Sabenth]

Dont belive in credit so saved up and paid in full

[Nermal]

Bought it with my dad's credit card, and paid most of it back to him immediately, and the small remainder a little while later. I'm about to buy a new Mac, and I'll probably end up doing the same thing.

[Xero]

Used the College fund, yeah baby!

[caveman_uk]

Originally posted by Sabenth
Dont belive in credit so saved up and paid in full
Trust me...it exists!!! ;)

Anyway, I bought my powermac on credit card and it was paid off next payday. Before that my ibook was on interest-free credit.

[redAPPLE]

one thing i wonder. there are some people who do not own a mac, but they still read the polls and maybe read the forums.

that is rather interesting.

did they found the poll by chance?

[ckwm]

Interesting that most people paid in full up front. Does that mean that Mac owners are relatively well off (sort of mac = merc and PC = ford)?

[MattG]

I almost always put everything on my Amex card and pay it off when I get the bill. I try to avoid using my check-card online...don't like giving out that number!

[Bear]

Originally posted by ckwm
Interesting that most people paid in full up front. Does that mean that Mac owners are relatively well off (sort of mac = merc and PC = ford)? Or people saved up before buying.

[vwcruisn]

yea i paid for mine with an amex card.. 0 percent interest for a year which is plenty of time to pay it off.. shoot its almost paid off already :D

play now.. pay later!

[Sabenth]

Yep its sure there i just dont like it..

Seen to many good friends go from been ok to been not ok due to credit ..

there own fault i know.

i think were all to dependent on credit anyways these days

[edesignuk]

I couldn't afford it all up front at once, but I paid about a 50% deposit, then the rest in 6 months @ 0% interest :D

[Sabenth]

Just dawned on me it was cheaper to buy my Mac than it was to buy my PC. which by the way is younger than my Mac and hasnt lasted as long as the Mac. .Its now havignproblems with the cd bunner ahaha gad

[Mr. Anderson]

My most recent mac was purchased by my work.....my next mac purchase will probably be purchased through credit card.....

[Wonder Boy]

Dad and mom bought my ibook for me as a graduation gift from Uconn (#1 men and womens basketball programs baby)

[AnotherMortal]

I drove down to VA, and paid cash for my G4 Cube. For my iBook, I bought on credit card, and just recently transfered the balance to another 0% interest card. I'm selling the iBook tho and paying off the card.

I too, hate credit cards. Thats why I'm paying it off.

[ckwm]

Originally posted by Bear
Or people saved up before buying.

True, but not everyone has apple sized savings. In the UK, the average household debt is £6,800 with 23% of the population relying on credit for day-to-day expenses. Saving up is no option.

More here. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3281871.stm)

[machinehien]

I've bought two Macs and one PC on credit, enough to learn not to do it again.

[bousozoku]

I used the last of my savings bonds.

[davebl]

I let my company buy new 1ghz 12" Powerbook.

If they wouldn't have picked up the tab, then it would have gone to Mr. Visa, and then he would have been paid for in full when the bill showed up.

My local Apple rep tells me he will buy a computer on CompUSA's "no payment for 18 months plan" and sell it at the end, then buy another computer.

He hasn't paid for a computer in 3 years.

[eric_n_dfw]

Used the good-old 6 month no interest/no payment to grab a floor-model Dual G4 500 this past spring at CompUSA. Then, before the 6 months was up, sold my old G3 400, the G4 ZIF upgrade and couple of other things on eBay which more than paid for the Dual G4.

[tace]

paid with credit than transfer balance to low interest.

[iShater]

Paid with a Discover to get the cash back and paid it off when the bill came. I HATE having any balance left over unless it is a 0% promo, and even that I try to pay it ASAP. Doesn't leave much for the saving account, but feels much better than having credit card debt.

Now, if I was planning to buy a $2000+ machine, I am sure I would be looking for a 0% loan from somewhere.

[Wash!!]

my B/W G3/17"display got when the company I worked for when under, my G4 got when my company got the new G5 1.8GHz and they just gave me the old one as the bean counters said that they where not worth it to resell them(suckers!!!):D

now can't wait to get the 17" laptop home!!

[mrsebastian]

long story short, my work paid for my pb17 to get our corporate discount and then paid back work in two payments.

[dricci]

Dumped the cash into my checking account and used my debit card. The bank actually called to confirm I made the purchases because of the large purchase amount and because I never had used my debit card through that checking account before.

[Raid]

Well the last mac I purchased was my TiBook a couple of years ago. The only reason I got it was because one of my 'employee benifits' is a $5,000 interest free loan to go towards the purchase of a new computer. I already had a decent desktop computer (at the time) :) and I decided if I was going to get a laptop, this would be the best way. So I got the loan, paid for it on my credit card (which I got Airmiles for) and now I pay $50 out of my biweekly paycheck to pay it off.

Funny, but I will actualy pay off my car (that I got 6 months after my TiBook) faster than this laptop! :D But at 0% why pay it off faster...unless I wanted to get another loan for a G5....

[Counterfit]

Parents paid at the store with a credit card. I then transferred the entire cost, minus $13, to their bank account. The $2400 came from savings bonds my grandmother gave to me when is was 4-7 years old. They were intended for buying a new instrument, but that was taken care of by getting an absolutely amazing deal on a(n old) Besson Prestige. Okay, most of you don't know what that is, it's a euphonium (a small tuba :rolleyes:). New models go for $10,000+, I got mine (old and used, but still has an amazing sound) for $1000, as a graduation gift. man I love that horn

[SeaFox]

Originally posted by ckwm
Interesting that most people paid in full up front. Does that mean that Mac owners are relatively well off (sort of mac = merc and PC = ford)?

No, some of us are buying USED Macs. I bought my current Mac (a 7300) on ebay for about $130.

[Java]

For some reason, I can't find the option for "sold my internal organs" to pay for my Mac.

Just kidding. Paid mine half up front and half on credit.

[renikm]

hehe, i bought my pb 12" from a private party so I had to pay cash and come up with the money in like a day.

If i recall correctly I borrowed 500 bucks from a friend, some from my grandparents, made a withdrawal from my checking acount and finaly a cash advance from my credit card. What a pain.

However everybody got paid back within 2 weeks and I'm still loving my laptop...

[jkojima]

I used a combination of personal funds and what I like to call the "generous grandmother" factor.

I like having the funds up front, even if it means delaying the purchase, because as long as I've been a student I've had a quite variable income structure not conducive to carrying lots of debt.

Once I graduate and earn a stable income, I will likely leverage a future purchase through a bank loan if I can get a low rate.

[macboygrey]

Thanks Mom and Dad! I love my new G5 w/ 2 GB of RAM, the 250 GB drive, Bluetooth, SuperDrive, Dual 2.0 Ghz processors etc...

Now I just need to upgrade from this half broken 17 inch CRT....

[eyelikeart]

My first 3 Macs were paid outright. My 4th bought by Apple Loan.

[jxyama]

i've bought two Macs and an iPod... all on my credit card, promptly paid off.

i generally don't buy things i can't immediately pay off.

[MacFan25]

My parents bought it for me, but I'm not sure how they paid for it.

[sethwerkheiser]

for our iBook my wife and I paid about 75% of with cash that we saved, and the remaining 25% we stuck on a credit card which we've been paying off for awhile.

Our next iBook we hope to use all cash.

[Wonder Boy]

Originally posted by jxyama
i generally don't buy things i can't immediately pay off.

Same here.

[killmoms]

Bought my PowerBook and an iPod, thinking it'd get here in time for me to get the rebate. Parents used the credit card, since I don't have one and was just a little under for cash. Didn't get the rebate, but wrote them a 2300 dollar check. I'll pay the rest when I get it. ^_^

--Cless

[Fahd]

Used someone elses credit card and bought a whole lot of stuff, including a G5, a PB12" and an iPod. What else should I buy?

Just kidding, apple loan!

[g808]

paid w/ credit card, but paid my bill in full.

[scem0]

Im about to spend $2,100 on a dual 1.8....

all my own money.

I am 16....

that is a ****load of money.

And by a ****load I mean every cent I've earned by entire life...

will it be worth it?

I really hope so.

scem0

[redAPPLE]

Originally posted by scem0
Im about to spend $2,100 on a dual 1.8....

all my own money.

I am 16....

that is a ****load of money.

And by a ****load I mean every cent I've earned by entire life...

will it be worth it?

I really hope so.

scem0

finally switching hmm? :p

[Dippo]

Originally posted by redAPPLE
one thing i wonder. there are some people who do not own a mac, but they still read the polls and maybe read the forums.

that is rather interesting.

did they found the poll by chance?

I don't own a mac, and never have.

But I do plan on buying one in the future.

I guess you could call me a "future switcher"

I have been mac rumors for a couple of years though :)

[a1291762]

I was bought my first Mac (iMac DV 400) by my dad. It served me faithfully until I replaced it two weeks ago. I'll certainly be keeping it around for my kids or donating it to someone else since it still goes just fine.

I bought my Wife's iBook (12" 700Mhz G3 16MB Radeon) with a credit card only because it's easier than carrying around several thousand dollars of cash. I had the cash in a back account and paid off the card when the bill came.

My most recent Mac is a Sawtooth that I got for free! (written off company asset suspected dead but wasn't). I've upgraded it with a Radeon 8500 (purchased from eBay using direct deposit) and Powerlogix G4 1.4Ghz (credit card but paid off when the bill came in). I've "borrowed" a monitor from work (an old, unused 19" CRT that's "workstation" quality so it's still good) that I'll have to replace when I leave.

I was going to get an eMac but litterally days before I made the purchase, I stumbled on the Sawtooth.

The only way I'd consider borrowing money to buy a computer is if I used my computer to make money. Like if I was an artist or something.

Link

[CrackedButter]

just recently bought a 15" PB and i got the 20% ADC discount on it, saving me £400 then i sold my iBook for £800 leaving me to pay off £800 on the credit card.

[wdlove]

My most recent purchase was a 15" PowerBook for my wife. We used American Express, they also had a special discount in November.

[1macker1]

my job also paid for mine, then i paid them back with no intrest!

[Stinkysteve]

Drove 477 miles round trip and paid cash to a fellow member of this forum to buy a 12 inch G4 iBook.
This was to replace an aging Pismo, which I will still keep after I get the display problem fixed.
It was worth every penny of the price and mile of the drive!
Besides, I couldn't see taxing my credit card got a new PowerBook when I will be wanting a new computer in a few years again!

Thank you, OKComputer!

[Marlon_JBT]

Is there a hidden choice that says "Parents"? Heh, my dad paid for it with a check. It was the biggest check I have ever seen. :-)

[MrMacMan]

I stole it.

Then the cops came after me...

Then the took it back.

The next day my parents bought the machiene...


:rolleyes:

[~Shard~]

I hate credit and put as little on my credit card as possible - when I do, I pay it off in full the day I get my statement in the mail. I know far too many people who are in debt up to their eyeballs due to credit cards, and the lure of paying a "minimum amount".

So for my Mac, it's cash all the way - simple, quick and dirty. I wouldn't have it any other way. :)

[Gymnut]

Apple Education loan. Still paying off my Dual 1ghz MDD.

[mc68k]

my 9600/300 i payed for w/paypal

now running 10.3.1!

[SeaFox]

Originally posted by MrMacman
I stole it.

Then the cops came after me...
Then the took it back.
The next day my parents bought the machiene...
:rolleyes:

I stole one of my past ones (a IIci). They were going to throw it out probably they said. It was too old to be useful to them. But they couldn't just give it to me or even sell it to me because of some stupid red tape with the bean counters.

So a couple days later I was working the late shift and boxed it up and walked right out with it. Security desk didn't say anything (of corse, people are always walking out with boxes and bags so it wasn't anything spectacular).

What I wish is that I had swiped the Powerbook 3400c I'd had access to a few days before.

[scem0]

Originally posted by redAPPLE
finally switching hmm? :p

nah I have a mac and a pc. Ive always been a mac user, I was just unable to buy a mac when I needed a new computer.

scem0

[wdlove]

Originally posted by ~Shard~
I hate credit and put as little on my credit card as possible - when I do, I pay it off in full the day I get my statement in the mail. I know far too many people who are in debt up to their eyeballs due to credit cards, and the lure of paying a "minimum amount".

So for my Mac, it's cash all the way - simple, quick and dirty. I wouldn't have it any other way. :)

I don't hate credit cards, they are a nice convenience. You are correct the lure of paying the "minimum amount" is very dangerous. It is the interest that is a killer. I pay off my credit card bill each month in full. For a large purchase like a computer, I use my home equity line of credit. It has a much lower interest rate and its tax deductible. My wife likes its use.

[ddbean]

re-fi
:)

[manitoubalck]

Last mac was an LC 475, that was given to me, so I payed nothing.

[pimentoLoaf]

Intended to get pb15, but they weren't in stock, put name on list, then someone I was with suggested getting the 17 'cause it only a few hundred more.

Alas, my card wasn't able to grab the 17 plus software plus tax, so...

Paid back that someone the next day by check whilst I used my card for programs and some online things.

[abhishekit]

i bought my ibook recently...i never save so dint have a dime in my bank account....did some juggling...one of the credit cards had 0% apr on cashadvances..so i transferred money from them to my bank account...
then i bought the ibbok with another credit card..(it wz becoz it wd take 4 days for the money to be transferred and i couldnt wait any longer)...
and the 0% period gets over in march...i m pretty much screwed actually...but still the ibook makes it worth... :)
cheers

abhi

[~Shard~]

Originally posted by wdlove
I don't hate credit cards, they are a nice convenience. You are correct the lure of paying the "minimum amount" is very dangerous. It is the interest that is a killer. I pay off my credit card bill each month in full. For a large purchase like a computer, I use my home equity line of credit. It has a much lower interest rate and its tax deductible. My wife likes its use.

Fair enough - I shouldn't have said I hate credit cards, moreso I am aware that they can be an evil trap of convenience, due to the high interst rates, and I always pay mine off the day I receive my statement as well. So "hate" was probably too strong a word. ;)

[Sailfish]

Paid cash!

[wdlove]

Originally posted by Sailfish
Paid cash!

I congratulate you on your strength. I wish that my wife and I had the discipline to pay in cash. Wish I could be debt free.

[SeaFox]

Originally posted by wdlove
I congratulate you on your strength. I wish that my wife and I had the discipline to pay in cash. Wish I could be debt free.

I wholeheartedly agree with that.

But such goals are a loooong way off. :(

[asgardn1]

I paid about $2200 for the MDD itself including the extra HDs, memory, and PCI cards I bought. When all was said and done, I spent about $6500 for everything. But that included a 20" Cinema display, Final Cut Express($99 bundled), Creative Suite, Painter, Lightwave, Office, a 6X8 Wacom Tablet, and a few other toys.

[5300cs]

All the machines I own, my wife paid for on her credit card. She wants frequent flyer miles, and I just pay her back when I get my paychecks. With the expensive hardware I buy it works out for both of us :) I'm looking at a 17" PB now ...:D