Best Buy MacBook Air Experiece

That's where I bought my Air and I thought it was great! The Apple specialist was very helpful with my purchase, pointing out all the Pros and Cons of the Air vs Pro. It was $100 cheaper than the Apple Store too. I think my total was around $1600. $1200 for the Air, $49 for the sleeve, and $200 for the BestBuy warranty (which I thought was a good deal because it covers accidental damage. I'm not the best with computers...)
I would definitely buy another computer from them.

Jb07 said:

That's where I bought my Air and I thought it was great! The Apple specialist was very helpful with my purchase, pointing out all the Pros and Cons of the Air vs Pro. It was $100 cheaper than the Apple Store too. I think my total was around $1600. $1200 for the Air, $49 for the sleeve, and $200 for the BestBuy warranty (which I thought was a good deal because it covers accidental damage. I'm not the best with computers...)
I would definitely buy another computer from them.

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Apple offers $50 student discount for Airs and you get a $100 itunes card so just to confirm, it was really $50 more if you qualify for the Apple student discount, right? Also, is the Best Buy warranty better than Applecare? I don't have any experience with it.

Blu-Ray said:

Apple offers $50 student discount for Airs and you get a $100 itunes card so just to confirm, it was really $50 more if you qualify for the Apple student discount, right? Also, is the Best Buy warranty better than Applecare? I don't have any experience with it.

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From what he said, bestbuys will cover accidental damage. AppleCare will not. AppleCare+ will cover accidental, but is only available on the iPhone and iPads I believe.

Also you have 30 days (45 days with Premier Silver) to return it for any reason. It's nice to be able to play with it for month to see if you really like it or not.

alphaod said:

Also you have 30 days (45 days with Premier Silver) to return it for any reason. It's nice to be able to play with it for month to see if you really like it or not.

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I would like to point out that premier silver reward zone members have 60 instead of 45 days. It was updated a few weeks ago.

https://myrewardzone.bestbuy.com/silver/benefits

Blu-Ray said:

Apple offers $50 student discount for Airs and you get a $100 itunes card so just to confirm, it was really $50 more if you qualify for the Apple student discount, right? Also, is the Best Buy warranty better than Applecare? I don't have any experience with it.

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I'm kind of confused on what you're asking in your first question.
But I don't know if the BestBuy warranty is "better" but it is for me because it covers accidental damage. It also includes tech support for 1 year and all that stuff. I will most likely end up getting AppleCare though just to be extra safe. So if you are a klutz like me, the BestBuy warranty is probably better. I'm a big klutz so it gives me peace of mind. Just before I started typing this I had my computer on the charger and tripped on it and it went falling to the floor.
MagSafe, right?

Anyone know if they sell the 8GB RAM version?

I wish that they sold the MacBook Air 13 inch with 256 GB SSD and 8 GB RAM with i5 processor. I mean, I want a better deal but it's just 50 dollars more so I guess it doesn't bother me as much as it probably should haha.

JasonR said:

I wanted 8 GB of Ram as well...but couldn't turn it down for the price. $1300 before taxes is a smoking deal for what I got.

The only place I've seen the 1.8/8GB/256SSD was BTO...

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Yes, but B&H have 2.0/8/256GB, which is cheaper than buying directly through Apple (if you want Applecare or if you don't live in NY)

the difference in price between bb (with discount plus 6.5% tax) and amzn ($6.00 discount and NO tax) was about $45 in favor of BB. i bought mine on the amzn store card so NO payment for 12 months and 30 day return. I also am a silver card holder at BB and get 45 day return and 18 months same as cash. so if i return my amzn mba i save $45 and have six more months to pay. not sure if its worth the hassle. thoughts?

I will say this: Geek Squad Protection is not a warranty. Basically no big retail anymore deals in warranties, as they usually just take a manufacturer's crappy terms (defects in workmanship and manufacture) and make them longer...not a lot of point to that.

Modern plans available from retailers are typically protection - similar to insurance, but with no deductibles, and maintenance built in. In the case of Geek Squad protection, it does do your defect stuff, but it also covers your accidents, normal wear (power cables), stuff like that. Obviously Apple's is the best in the industry about actually taking care of their customers, but if you're droppy like me, GSP is a god send. Add to that, Apple only has ~180 locations in the US, Best Buy has ~1100, so if you live in a relatively small city (100K) like I do, the nearest Apple store is 2 hours away, vs BBY which is 5 minutes away. I'll pay for convenience any day.

Also, 60 day returns for Premier Silver are pretty legit, and premier silver gets upgraded to expedited shipping on bestbuy.com orders for freezies.

Why is everyone saying that Bestbuy will give you a $100 gift card with a student discount? The only discount Bestbuy is offering is $100 off for students. Can someone confirm this $100 gift card business????

JasonR said:

I just came from best buy with a shiny new 13" MacBook Air 1.8/4GB/256SSD. Ended up spending a total of about $1400.00. They have a silent promotion going on giving $100 off to students and a $100 gift card. Furthermore, the reduced the price of the Air to $1300 after discounts then charged me for the $100 gift card, thus reducing the tax. Ymmv!

The Best Buy Manager was really cool, and actually was the one who told me about the $100.

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Semaphoric said:

Why is everyone saying that Bestbuy will give you a $100 gift card with a student discount? The only discount Bestbuy is offering is $100 off for students. Can someone confirm this $100 gift card business????

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I didn't get a $100 gift card tonight. I'll check tomorrow with a phone call.

I ought to add, for those people who wanted more hard drive but didn't want to pay the jump from $1199 to $1499, get on this deal. I wanted the i7/8/256 but with a student discount at apple and after tax, it would have cost me $1710. The base would have cost me $1207 after student discount/tax. I'm compromising by meeting the middle. A bonus is I got 30 days to try this out. If I still have a hankering for i7/8gb, I can return it without restock just like Apple Store.

Happy Thursday everyone! Off to play with my first Apple Macbook!

It's so frustrating these stores wont carry the 8GB upgrade for the air. Even the damn apple store.

Sounds Good said:

Anyone know if they sell the 8GB RAM version?

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they do, however they need to order it to store. You can pay and get discount, but need to order it through what they call express lane

fenderbass146 said:

they do, however they need to order it to store. You can pay and get discount, but need to order it through what they call express lane

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Are you ta
King about best buy gettingthe 8gb?

I got my 2011 MBA from Best Buy too. They also matched the $100 student discount and the $100 Best Buy gift card (in my opinion so much better than an iTunes gift card).

Nychot said:

Are you ta
King about best buy gettingthe 8gb?

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I work there...

You actually cornered the floor worker at Best Buy? Good job.

JasonR said:

All Best Buy stores are not the same. The best Buy in Roseville, CA gave me $100 off plus a $100 gift card on a 13" 1.8/4GB/256GB Macbook Air without one problem. They gave me $50 off immediately plus $50 with an .edu email address, plus the gift card. Total on the laptop before tax was $1300.

I have no reason to make that up.

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ah I see, makes sense now. They didn't give you the full discount of $100 for students, but rather $50 of it and gave you a $100 GC. The first $50 off should be already included thanks to their sale they have on-going right now that anyone can utilize.

My brother bought a similar 13" MBA got the $60 off SALE price, then used the $100 off coupon (with .edu address/student ID), no gift card. So $160 total of cash off a 13" MBA. I'd rather take that than $100 off cash and $100 best buy gift card haha. But either way you make out very nicely!