Free iPod Touch with Mac Purchase for College Students?

[MacRumors]

Apple is expected to launch its Back to School promotion tomorrow, and on the eve of its launch, we've learned that Apple is indeed going to be making it their biggest ever.

According to our sources, Apple will be offering a free 8GB iPod Touch ($299) to college students who buy a qualifying Mac (MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac Pro). Alternatively, students may choose to get an 8GB iPod Nano ($199). The promotion will run from June 3 to September 15th, 2008.

With this aggressive promotion as well as the rumored 3G-capable iPhone launch, Apple is rapidly expanding their Touch OS X platform over the next few months, giving developers a large audience for their iTunes Store apps and games.

There remains one uncertainty, however. When Apple releases the 2.0 firmware for the iPhone and iPod Touch, iPod Touch owners will be required to pay a small fee for the upgrade. Customers who purchase an iPod Touch now may be required to pay this fee when the upgrade arrives in late June. More details may be available tomorrow or at WWDC next week. More details of the Back to School promotion, including eligibility should be officially announced tomorrow.

Article Link

[Grimace]

Holy iPod Touches Batman!! That would be an incredible deal!

[smartalic34]

WOW! I wish I had to buy a MBP now instead of 2 years ago.... an iPod touch for free.... wow

[Applepi]

Good to know as I will be purchasing a new Macbook Pro in the next few months.

[Tallest Skil]

Originally Posted by Applepi

Good to know as I will be purchasing a new Macbook Pro in the next few months.

+1, baby; me too!

[canucksfan88]

holy!!

now i wish i waited to buy my macbook =(

if its true....thats a crazy deal

[blairbeckwith]

That's like 25% off if you planned on buying both anyways

[twoodcc]

now will this work with a macbook air?

[Anaxarxes]

Originally Posted by smartalic34

WOW! I wish I had to buy a MBP now instead of 2 years ago.... an iPod touch for free.... wow

I bought my first iMac at May 20th with my student discount.

I'm so sad. No free iPod touch for me?

[DOUGHNUT]

if this is in fact true, i wonder if you'll be able to use the $299 to subsidize a 3G iPhone purchase. That would be a super deal (and makes sense since college kids want the coolest thing on the market)

[VanMac]

Almost a good enough excuse to get another computer !!

[Squonk]

Or, I wonder if you can use $299 toward an iPod Classic. [I already have an iPhone.]

[blakintosh]

Originally Posted by VanMac

Almost a good enough excuse to get another computer !!

Thats exactly what i thought!!

[hiimamac]

Originally Posted by VanMac

Almost a good enough excuse to get another computer !!

Broken Arrow Ranch? Do you know a Basil Gaynor? Indian Crusader?

Just wonder what the odd's are that this is the same Broken Arrow Ranch?


As I incoherently ranted yesterday (and knew it, dag nab it, I knew I should have reviewed my post)......

I think the promo, while focusing on the TOUCH is really going to be about the new .me .mac... I'm also betting that newer ones with camera's and maybe service to get on-line out side of wi-fi might be coming, this way, they can really start to focus on the windows users... Just hope we don't get lost.

[runplaysleeprun]

NOOO. My MBP came on Friday. Am I screwed?

[twoodcc]

Originally Posted by runplaysleeprun

NOOO. My MBP came on Friday. Am I screwed?

now that's a good question. i'm not sure

[jmorrison0722]

Originally Posted by runplaysleeprun

NOOO. My MBP came on Friday. Am I screwed?

As long as it wasn't a special config order, you can carry your MBP to an Apple store after they announce the promotion and return it, then purchase it again with the iPod. The promotion simply requires the iPod and CPU must be purchase together on the same receipt. (at least that's how it's been done in the past)

If it was special order, you must return to the Apple Store online, and you'll pay a restocking fee and possibly loose out on upgrades you purchased. Apple online generally refuses to accept RAM once it's been installed.

Your best bet is to go to a physical Apple store. Ask for a manager and explain it to them.

[Dmac77]

That is a great deal, they have to be trying to clear stock on the ipod touches.

Now begins my rant. Why am I not considered a student to apple? I am going into the 10th grade, I am a considered a student by everyone, but not to apple. I have a valid student ID, but still I am not considered a student, because I don't attend college, yet. Apple really needs to apply their student discount to high school students!!! End Rant.

But really that is an amazing deal!

Don

[Humblebee]

This is fantastic. I've been waiting months to get a mbp. I've saved up and waited for the acceptance letter, then saved up and waited some more for the summer deal, and finally it's all come together!

Originally Posted by Dmac77

Why am I not considered a student to apple? I am going into the 10th grade, I am a considered a student by everyone, but not to apple. I have a valid student ID, but still I am not considered a student, because I don't attend college, yet. Apple really needs to apply their student discount to high school students!!! End Rant.

I'm pretty sure the student discounts go through the colleges, that is, the colleges probably have to pay something, or Apple has a deal with them (makes the colleges promote them or something of the sort). High schools are, for the most part, public and state-run, so they probably don't see giving them discounts anymore to their advantage than giving everyone discounts.

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by smartalic34

WOW! I wish I had to buy a MBP now instead of 2 years ago.... an iPod touch for free.... wow

Then just buy another macbook. It's a good enough deal that if you quality you could buy a MB and then re-sell the unopened box for a $200 loss and score an iPod Touch for $100.
With a $200 markdown I bet you could line up a buyer before you buy the MB.

I bet we see a lot of colage students selling "as new, un opened box" iPod Touches at $100 off or un-used MBs at $200 off retail.

[extraextra]

Wow. Does this mean updates are imminent? Don't they do this when they want to clear stock? They did it with the minis and nanos.

[Kilamite]

Originally Posted by extraextra

Wow. Does this mean updates are imminent? Don't they do this when they want to clear stock? They did it with the minis and nanos.

It is the 8GB iPod Touch, which they are probably clearing out stock.

[DOUGHNUT]

Originally Posted by extraextra

Wow. Does this mean updates are imminent? Don't they do this when they want to clear stock? They did it with the minis and nanos.

updates most likely in september right after promotion ends. Apple has been doing september updates for iPods for the past few years.

[berkleeboy210]

Am I Missing Something?? Why isn't the MBA included in this. I'm a student and am buying one next week.

[Mal]

Originally Posted by berkleeboy210

Am I Missing Something?? Why isn't the MBA included in this. I'm a student and am buying one next week.

Don't assume that it doesn't count. This article likely just overlooked the MBA. I can't imagine they wouldn't include it, the MBA and iPod touch are almost a perfect pair.

jW