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ADC discount vs Normal HE Discount

koobcamuk

koobcamuk

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Oct 23, 2006
3,195
10
Simple question...

I just heard about the ADC and it sounds pretty cool. There is a one off discount off hardware, and I am thinking of getting a MBP and a new ACD 20" to go with it.

Would these totals be more or less with either discount?

i.e. is it worth paying the ADC fee to get even more money off the MBP and screen - or is it not worth it at all?

BTW it's the HE discount I am after, not the normal student one (not sure if there's a difference).

Thanks,
Martin
 
I wouldn't imagine the difference is huge TBH, the HE discount (in the UK) gives you 16% off all hardware, vs 8% with normal educational discount.
 
I had a conversation with the apple people the other week about this. "Almost exactly the same" discount applied to the HE stuff as the ADC one I think he said. Either way, unless you really want the mantle of 'Student Developer' and the things that brings, as I understand it a copy of OS X and a t-shirt, you might as well get the regular HE discount.

OS X under the HE discount is still less than the cost of the ADC membership anyway.
 
There are about a zillion topics if you search concerning this but it doesn't sound like ur US. However, not sure what a HE discount is. For the USA, ADC is the best deal and significantly better for pro models and pro models with upgrades. Just don't buy the warranty from there.

"You pay $99 for the package. You get a free t-shirt and a copy of the OS and a monthly mailing. Eventually, if things don't change leopard will come our way. Then you get a "once in a lifetime" discount. This discount is pretty significant. In the US it is about $101 difference from EDU prices once you factor in the intial $99 you pay to join. Also if you choose upgrades its also cheaper saving you more.

This is in reference to the MBP pricing.

word of advice since you are in [if you qualify for the EDU discount] college. DO NOT BUY THE WARRENTY FROM the ADC store.

You can buy items from any store you qualify for. So buy the MBP in the ADC store along with upgrades saving you at the very least $101, but more if you upgrade then you save another $100 for the warrenty at the EDU store....I know I am a loser and figured this all out."

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/276471/
 
I think the ADC discount is 20%

So what its really comes down to is, is if that extra 4% over the higher discount rate equates to more of a saving than the membership would cost.
 
Factor in the cost of Leopard as well.

In the US ADC it all depends on what computer you get and what upgrades, if it pays or not. The base MBP or Mac Pro make it worth the cost of membership alone. Then you get Leopard which alone makes it worth it. Add in a few upgrades and you can write me a check for the great advice I've given. If your from the USA. Not sure how well it works out for other countries.
 
BigPrince said:
Factor in the cost of Leopard as well.

In the US ADC it all depends on what computer you get and what upgrades, if it pays or not. The base MBP or Mac Pro make it worth the cost of membership alone. Then you get Leopard which alone makes it worth it. Add in a few upgrades and you can write me a check for the great advice I've given. If your from the USA. Not sure how well it works out for other countries.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I am from the UK though. We spell it cheque for money and check for examining something or to determine quality etc...
 
According to my observation (US Price & as a student):

if you are to buy a MacBook, educational discount is better

if you are to buy a MacBook Pro, ADC discount is better

both counting the $99 membership fee, but does not cover the situation of selling the OS X from ADC membership on eBay or Amazon.
 
airfang said:
According to my observation (US Price & as a student):

if you are to buy a MacBook, educational discount is better

if you are to buy a MacBook Pro, ADC discount is better

both counting the $99 membership fee, but does not cover the situation of selling the OS X from ADC membership on eBay or Amazon.
Click to expand...

Im 99% sure selling the OS would be illegal as its not a retail copy, you get "given" it so you can develop on the platform. I havnt read the small print but I assume that this is the case.
 
I work in higher ed and have had my eyes on a Mac Pro for some time. I stumbled on the ADC store to compare what a savings it would be for a MacPro with some options and it seems I would save something around $350 (after tax) with ADC vs. higher ed discount. I did not see anywhere where it was asking me to verify my membership (don't have one). I even went as far as the checkout page (to compute tax) and was given a section to enter my credit card. I would imagine there's a section to verify one's ADC membership, otherwise wouldn't most people be able to checkout?
 
olemed said:
I would imagine there's a section to verify one's ADC membership, otherwise wouldn't most people be able to checkout?
Click to expand...

All ADC orders are automatically placed on hold through Apple's ordering system. ADC orders must be manually verified by Apple's developer relations before processing/shipping.
 
olemed said:
I would imagine there's a section to verify one's ADC membership, otherwise wouldn't most people be able to checkout?
Click to expand...

After you buy it, you get an unactivated ADC account. Login, and then you'll need to verify. See the faq. Once verified, you'll be activated and you'll notice more links in your nav, stuff to do, etc.
 
ADC was definately worth it in the US for a MBP purchase. However, it makes it more fun if you need to return it; they don't like to take them back. At least, in my experience.
 
MacDonaldsd said:
Im 99% sure selling the OS would be illegal as its not a retail copy, you get "given" it so you can develop on the platform. I havnt read the small print but I assume that this is the case.
Click to expand...

The Mac OS X versions distributed with the ADC membership are in fact retail copies. They are bit for bit copies of the original version including the retail EULA. Therefore, yes you can use it for personal use.

However, pre-release software (Select and Premier only) is bound by another EULA. Hardware and software purchased from the ADC store must be used development purposes.

http://developer.apple.com/membership/pdf/terms.pdf
 
It's sad to see all the people interested in ADC memberships for savings when they have no interest or qualifications that make them a developer.

If you're a student, use a edu discount.
If you're actually a developer, join ADC and use your discount when and if you want to.

If you're neither of the above, save your money and buy a computer.

And stop looking for loopholes.
 
Wait wait....so if I have a student ADC membership, I will get a final copy of Leopard when it comes out later, not just seeds, for free?

I just made my one-time hardware purchase a week ago.
 
roland.g said:
It's sad to see all the people interested in ADC memberships for savings when they have no interest or qualifications that make them a developer.

If you're a student, use a edu discount.
If you're actually a developer, join ADC and use your discount when and if you want to.

If you're neither of the above, save your money and buy a computer.

And stop looking for loopholes.
Click to expand...

Well I think its only natural to want to save money.

Its not reallly a "loophole" since the only qualifications are being a college student. If Apple really had a problem with it, I am sure they would of closed this "loophole" a long time ago.

They might hope that it might actually instill people with little or no interest into the right direction.

I think it would be stupid for someone who qaulifies for something and not take advantage of it.
 
roland.g said:
It's sad to see all the people interested in ADC memberships for savings when they have no interest or qualifications that make them a developer.
Click to expand...

I wonder how many of the people who join ADC for no reason other than the discount screamed when Apple charged for the Airport N updater (or whatever it was called).
 
roland.g said:
It's sad to see all the people interested in ADC memberships for savings when they have no interest or qualifications that make them a developer.

If you're a student, use a edu discount.
If you're actually a developer, join ADC and use your discount when and if you want to.

If you're neither of the above, save your money and buy a computer.

And stop looking for loopholes.
Click to expand...

How can they verify that one really is a developer? Or do they verify?
 
They don't verify.

And the discount seems to be about 18%, based on the fact that I saved nearly $700 off the purchase of my Mac Pro ($2900 vs $3547).
 
airfang said:
According to my observation (US Price & as a student):

if you are to buy a MacBook, educational discount is better

if you are to buy a MacBook Pro, ADC discount is better
Click to expand...

This is what I found as well. The difference in Macbook prices was about $25. The difference in MBP prices was closer to $100. I was only looking at the notebooks, but the biggest savings appeared to be on the 15" MBP when compared to the regular HE pricing.

Apple also states that both HE and ADC discounts vary by region, etc., so YMMV.
 
It's sad to see all the people interested in ADC memberships for savings when they have no interest or qualifications that make them a developer.

If you're a student, use a edu discount.
If you're actually a developer, join ADC and use your discount when and if you want to.

If you're neither of the above, save your money and buy a computer.

And stop looking for loopholes.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with saving money.
 
The ADC discount is a straight 20% off pre-tax price. As such, it won't "save" you money over the HE discount until >2k total cost round about.

In addition, you get the benefit of a free upgrade to the most current OS for that year.

So, for this year that means a free Leopard upgrade.

But for a bit of perspective, say you want a 3000 dollar mac pro or macbook pro. After ADC, total cost is 2500. That's a cool 500 dollar savings compared to the 300 via HE and a free OS upgrade to boot. Nothing to sneeze at. Toss in Cinema screen and your looking at possibly saving 600 or more over the standard HE discount.
 
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