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$200 off Base 13" Air @ Best Buy Fri & Sat only
- Thread starter mj1108
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Bought a new macbook air
i was on the fence about buying a macbook air to replace my much older macbook and this was enough reason to make the upgrade
i was on the fence about buying a macbook air to replace my much older macbook and this was enough reason to make the upgrade
This is a great deal... I don't need a laptop until this summer because ill be going to grad school starting in the fall, but now I'm debating if I should jump on this deal or wait until a refresh. ?!?
There will be an update before Fall '13. Wait. You will regret it if you don't.
Hell, there might even be two updates by then, you just never know with the Mac lines.
While it's true a MacBook Air update will likely be out in a few months, what exactly will that update offer that this one will lack? And before anyone jumps to the default "RETINA" response then lets not forget that Retina came at a surprisingly high added cost and many of us who were waiting for Retina felt like we were punched in the gut when we saw it would cost 40% more to have it. And when it comes to the Air, is Retina really necessary for a machine meant to be an ultralight?
I'm not trying to be negative, but the guy said he's a college student and the 2012 MBA is an amazing machine that has few drawbacks so if a deal like this comes along then you really have to decide whats a better purchase. Buying "last seasons Mac" at a big discount vs waiting 6mo for next seasons price gouge with no discount?
Im so tempted to get one that found open item + 10% off just on price alone but truthfully don't think i need it. Im just wondering how long an (latest model) 11 air with 128gb would last? 3 or 4 years? just kinda hard for to me justify since i have the latest iPad and a hand me down macbook (late 2006)thats still alive and kicking
I'd probably go for it. I doubt we'll see a true Retina Display MacBook Air in 2013. We'll probably just see a price cut on the 13" rMBP. The 2012 Air is very nice and these prices are better than Apple refurbished prices.
It will be close to 10 months before they will need the Mac, I feel we might even see two updates to the MBA in that time period. (Early '13 and Late '13)
The latter update may even change form factor. It may not be Retina, but you will get more for your money buying an MBA in Late '13 versus now, even consider the $200 discount we have right now. (You will be eligible for Apple's student discount in the future, for what it's worth) 8GB of ram may be the norm on the base model at that point too. Ivy Bridge will be gone and the integrated graphics will be significantly better.
If you're one that doesn't tend to be envious of the latest and greatest however, you may not mind. This deal was great for people like me that needed a laptop *now*. I'll still love it come a year from now, but if I didn't need one and *could* wait, I sure would wait for the '13s to show their face.
The latter update may even change form factor. It may not be Retina, but you will get more for your money buying an MBA in Late '13 versus now, even consider the $200 discount we have right now. (You will be eligible for Apple's student discount in the future, for what it's worth) 8GB of ram may be the norm on the base model at that point too. Ivy Bridge will be gone and the integrated graphics will be significantly better.
If you're one that doesn't tend to be envious of the latest and greatest however, you may not mind. This deal was great for people like me that needed a laptop *now*. I'll still love it come a year from now, but if I didn't need one and *could* wait, I sure would wait for the '13s to show their face.
Here's a table that I compiled for the various MacBook's at Best Buy. The new price for the MBA's is only through today, but the 10% off open box runs through next Saturday. Pre-tax and pre-RZ certs earned of course. (Sorry about the formatting)
Best Buy Open Box Mac Database
1/26/13
Description Model # BB New BB OB BB -10% OB
2012 MBA 11" i5 1.7 4/64 MD223LL/A $799.00 $826.99 $744.29
2012 MBA 11" i5 1.7 4/128 MD224LL/A $899.99 $904.99 $814.49
2012 MBA 13" i5 1.8 4/128 MD231LL/A $999.99 $979.99 $881.99
2012 MBA 13" i5 1.8 4/256 MD232LL/A $1,299.99 $1,218.99 $1,097.09
2012 uMBP 13" i5 2.5 4/500 MD101LL/A $1,099.99 $979.99 $881.99
2012 uMBP 13" i7 2.9 8/750 MD102LL/A $1,419.99 $1,236.99 $1,113.29
2012 uMBP 15" i7 2.3 4/500 MD103LL/A $1,709.99 $1,480.99 $1,332.89
2012 uMBP 15" i7 2.6 8/750 MD104LL/A $2,079.99 $1,811.99 $1,630.79
2012 rMBP 13" i5 2.5 8/128 MD212LL/A $1,614.99 $1,406.99 $1,266.29
2012 rMBP 13" i5 2.5 8/256 MD213LL/A $1,899.99 $1,636.99 $1,473.29
2012 rMBP 15" i7 2.3 8/256 MC975LL/A $2,079.99 $1,811.99 $1,630.79
2012 rMBP 15" i7 2.6 8/512 MC976LL/A $2,649.99 $2,307.99 $2,077.19
Best Buy Open Box Mac Database
1/26/13
Description Model # BB New BB OB BB -10% OB
2012 MBA 11" i5 1.7 4/64 MD223LL/A $799.00 $826.99 $744.29
2012 MBA 11" i5 1.7 4/128 MD224LL/A $899.99 $904.99 $814.49
2012 MBA 13" i5 1.8 4/128 MD231LL/A $999.99 $979.99 $881.99
2012 MBA 13" i5 1.8 4/256 MD232LL/A $1,299.99 $1,218.99 $1,097.09
2012 uMBP 13" i5 2.5 4/500 MD101LL/A $1,099.99 $979.99 $881.99
2012 uMBP 13" i7 2.9 8/750 MD102LL/A $1,419.99 $1,236.99 $1,113.29
2012 uMBP 15" i7 2.3 4/500 MD103LL/A $1,709.99 $1,480.99 $1,332.89
2012 uMBP 15" i7 2.6 8/750 MD104LL/A $2,079.99 $1,811.99 $1,630.79
2012 rMBP 13" i5 2.5 8/128 MD212LL/A $1,614.99 $1,406.99 $1,266.29
2012 rMBP 13" i5 2.5 8/256 MD213LL/A $1,899.99 $1,636.99 $1,473.29
2012 rMBP 15" i7 2.3 8/256 MC975LL/A $2,079.99 $1,811.99 $1,630.79
2012 rMBP 15" i7 2.6 8/512 MC976LL/A $2,649.99 $2,307.99 $2,077.19
Yep. Even if "retina" comes to the macbook air this year it will cost an additional $500
like it does on the macbook pro ($1199 vs $1699).Exactly. Do you really want to pass on a big discount and have to wait an additional 6 months just so you can get price gouged at full retail?
I don't...
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Just bought an Open-Box Base Model 13in MBA for $850 after tax and the 10% off coupon at a semi-local Best Buy location. Battery had 2 Cycles on it and it was completely clean!!
The more I thought about it the more I realized there was no reason for them not to honor their price match policy. The lame excuse didn't help them either.
I snagged a base 13" and its great but the 4 gigs of ram has me worried for the long run. I've got 60 days to try it so who knows
I have my 2011 MBA with 4 gigs of RAM and it's still a fantastic machine. I still love it as much as the day I got it. Of course it does all depend on what you use it for, but I can't see myself upgrading from this for at least another year or two at least.
I snagged a base 13" and its great but the 4 gigs of ram has me worried for the long run. I've got 60 days to try it so who knows
4 gig of RAM has never been an issue for me so far. My 13" MBA works like a champ.
Well I purchased an 11" Air 128 4gig from Best Buy on Dec 29th. It was an open box and marked down. I talked them down more to $879 and they threw in a Superdrive. I went back today and they wouldn't give me any additional off. The guy told me I got a great deal and my unit would actually be $849 with the open box discount and I wouldn't get the Superdrive. He said the guy that did it could get int trouble. Not sure if he was lying but I wasn't going to press the issue too much. I have enjoyed mine for almost a month and its not going back.
Good for you. They have gotten full of them selves. I have been sharing my story with everyone I can find, and even filed a complaint with the BBB.
Too bad - always like to hear those stories of getting even more back.
Glad you are enjoying your AIR!
Thanks OP, been looking to purchase an MBA for portable use. Picked up the 11.6" for $899. What a great deal.
I snagged a base 13" and its great but the 4 gigs of ram has me worried for the long run. I've got 60 days to try it so who knows
Good lord, what do you folks do with your machines? It wasn't long ago I was running and HP with 512mb of RAM and a core solo chip. Thing ran great.
I snagged the base 13 air last night over the phone with best buy and picked it up today. I cannot wait to get it home. Replacing the first unibody macbook that still runs pretty solid. Gonna sell it for a couple bills if I can get it.
Good lord, what do you folks do with your machines? It wasn't long ago I was running and HP with 512mb of RAM and a core solo chip. Thing ran great.
I snagged the base 13 air last night over the phone with best buy and picked it up today. I cannot wait to get it home. Replacing the first unibody macbook that still runs pretty solid. Gonna sell it for a couple bills if I can get it.
RAM is one of those things where the more you have, the more you use. I was fine even using a Windows 7 virtual machine with 4GB. I recently switched to a 13" rMBP and like the additional RAM (of course, on the MBP forums, people complain about not being able to put in 16GB
). The Best Buy promotion was a good deal, and I'm guessing we'll see more of it in the coming months. Good luck with the MBA. If you are replacing an original unibody MacBook I think you'll be in for a treat.