Apple Launches 2011 Back to School Promotion

[indiebass]

It's a disappointment, no matter how you spin it

I will be returning to school this Summer. It's been 10 years since I was a student, and I will need to upgrade all of my hardware (I have an old yet still functioning, at the moment, MacBook) and have been waiting for the Sandy Bridge Macbook Air to come out, and for the Back to School promotion.

For me, as an older student who will be doing intensive research and demanding a lot from my hardware, an iTunes gift card is practically useless. For grad school, I need good equipment, not music/games. A discount on an iPad would have been ideal, allowing me to use the iPad and laptop in tandem for presentations, showing others how seamlessly Apple products work together AND getting me used to using iOS and using a tablet so when I graduate, I would already have the skills to use them effectively AND it would encourage me to go out and buy the newest, latest and greatest on my own and at full price as I reenter the workforce.

I know that what's done is done, as far as the back to school promotion is concerned, but this is a HUGE missed opportunity for Apple. And whether you think it's fair or not, they've established certain expectations with this promotion in the past, and a huge change like this *of course* will make make people sad and angry. I don't think it's about a sense of entitlement among students, but Apple certainly doesn't help itself by keeping these things so secret and not managing expectations.

And some of you have said: "if you're dropping $2,000 on a computer, the $100 difference in the promotion shouldn't make a big difference". I'm here to tell you that, at least in my case, it does. That extra hundred dollars is the difference in the size of the hard drive, or the processor, the optical drive or any number of decisions when putting the computer together. What will probably happen to me is that I'll no longer be able to budget in AppleCare, which is a real shame. For some of us who are students, that little extra makes a huge difference.

I'm not one of those people who will say "I'm not getting a Mac because of this new promotion". I've been a loyal Mac user since way before many of this forum's members were born. But with the lack of incentives this year, and a competitive marketplace, I'll certainly be looking at other tablets to see if they can offer me a product at a price point that I'm able to live with.

 

[hayesk]

Apple hypocrisy at it's finest once again. It's like parents giving their kid money with strings attached.

Uncle Steve gives one hundred bucks but the says you can only use it if you spend it on his products.

What an ASS!

www.whitewhine.com

 

[RCGMac]

How Many People Complaining Are Actually Students?

I am wondering how many people on here complaining about this promo are actually students. I wish Apple would make it a bit more work to actually prove you are a student. I think a lot of people abuse the student discount and Apple knows this, hence why you no longer see discounts on iPods and other things.

It is 2011, how many students don't have an iOS product? Apple has seen that many people just turn right around and sell the BTS iPod online afterward, hence causing Apple to lose a sale.

I like that the free giftcard can be used in any of Apple's content stores, including the iBookstore. Sure, the lack of a free iPod is disappointing, but I think most people could get some decent usage out of the free card, or just sell the card online for $70-$75.

Still the best deal is Amazon if you aren't wanting to customize anything...

 

[Mlrollin91]

Can't believe no one has pointed out that this might mean that they won't be launching new iPods this year. Isn't the BTS promotion usually used to clear out old stock?

I thought that two days ago and when I saw the end date of Sept. 20th I figured we wont have an early Sept media event. The promotion is to clear out old stock, I think this whole iPhone 5 being delayed has really screwed up the usual cycle.

 

[gorcman]

After more than 30 years of using exclusively Apple products and raising my family on them, we will have to be buying 3 pcs (yecch) instead of the 3 macbook pros we had been intending to buy when Apple did its normal ipod promo. We do not need or want anything form the app store so this promo is useless to us and the competition's back to school offer is just too great. If only we could use the $100 coupon towards ipods, Apple would not be losing 3 good lifetime customers. More actually, because we all like to be compatible on our platforms and the rest of us will be migrating eventually too.

So, not getting an a free ipod touch is enough to sway you away from 30 years of Apple loyalty? I don't mean to sound rude or anything, but isn't that a bit of an overreaction?

I understand this promo isn't as good as last year's, but then again, I never really found much value in them anyways. I bought my Macbook last summer from amazon instead of from the Apple store because, to me, saving on tax and the 5% off or so Amazon usually has, was greater in value than having to deal with the hassle of MIR for a product that has no purpose for someone with an iPhone already. Sure, I could resell the iPod touch they offered at the time, but IMO, it's too much hassle to come up maybe $50 ahead than if I had just bought from Amazon in the first place.

 

[ldellx3]

hi so i bought my macbook pro last saturday soo does this mean i can get this deal?

 

[radiohed]

After doing the BTS ipod promo for a few years, I can understand why people thought it would be coming again this year. But, at some point, it was bound to end. I can understand people being disappointed , but to be angry about it is a bit extreme. Apple is still giving a student discount, a free itunes card, and a free printer so you can't bitch. If people want to switch to a PC because of it, just to get a free xbox, let them. It would take a hell of a lot more than not getting a free ipod to make me switch to windows!

 

[RCGMac]

And some of you have said: "if you're dropping $2,000 on a computer, the $100 difference in the promotion shouldn't make a big difference". I'm here to tell you that, at least in my case, it does. That extra hundred dollars is the difference in the size of the hard drive, or the processor, the optical drive or any number of decisions when putting the computer together. What will probably happen to me is that I'll no longer be able to budget in AppleCare, which is a real shame. For some of us who are students, that little extra makes a huge difference.

The frustration is understanding, but I don't think we would have seen any discounts on iPads this year, the demand is still too high for them. In regards to your concern for AppleCare a few things to remember; you have one year to purchase AppleCare and Amazon is usually cheaper for AppleCare. Congrats and good luck with going back to school.

 

[bigp9998]

Does anyone know if it is possible to purchase a MacBook Pro from MacMall or Amazon due to lower prices and no tax, and then to buy AppleCare in an Apple Store with the EDU discount? Would be the best option for me at this point...

 

[Aviboy97]

Terrible offer, frankly. I dont care what anyone says. Microsoft are offering a far greater value of product - both in terms of worth and enjoyment - in the xbox, with computers that cost far less than a Mac.

I think it's legitimate to feel somewhat let down by this.

Microsoft is not a greater value. By offering an XBox they are trying to make up for the fact that Apple offers a better OS, UI and better hardware.

That being said, Microsoft is not stupid. With all the buzz around Apple's new OS X Lion, new MBP, MBA and iMac, they had to do SOMETHING to generate a buzz. Afterall, W7 is over a year and a half old. The PC market is stagnent and Apple's computer sales keep rising. I'm not saying Mac sales will trump PC sales, however, the younger generation has less tollerance for technology that does not work right, which Windows OS's are notorious for. More people are willing to jump to Apple than ever before.

 

[DavidG328]

^this.

Why are so many people accusing Apple of "ripping them off" with this promo? I'm getting $100 off my 13" MBP, $66 off AppleCare, a free $100 HP wireless printer and a free $100 App Store GC (going to grab Pages and Numbers) and this is somehow an injustice of some sort...?

I agree. Apple doesn't owe anyone jack ****. I hate it when people feel entitled to stuff that they truly are not.

 

[housecat]

dear everyone who is freaking out about the $100 gift card-

SELL IT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO USE IT.

jesus, i'm sure you can get at least $75 bucks for it, and thats $75 you had no business making if it weren't for this FREE promo. people need to chill out. go have a smoke or something.

 

[littlerabbit]

$25 credit vs. $100 credit

This whole App Store credit is kinda strange to me. I have been holding off to see what back-to-school offer they have, and have been putting my config in the cart for weeks...

There has been an extra $100 discount (on top of the education price) all along.

Now when you put the config in the cart, the $100 App Store gift card will be added to your cart also, and the total credit becomes $125, hence, $25 cash credit on your purchase.

But if you opt NOT to get the gift card, you will only get $25 cash credit, which is lame, I think.

 

[Mr Fusion]

People Here wouldn't be complaining as much if they saw next year's promo:

"2012 Back To School Promotion: Get a free Thank You card from Steve Jobs with the purchase of $2,000 or more."

It looks something like this:

"Thanks."

- Steve

 

[hayesk]

I'm not one of those people who will say "I'm not getting a Mac because of this new promotion". I've been a loyal Mac user since way before many of this forum's members were born. But with the lack of incentives this year, and a competitive marketplace, I'll certainly be looking at other tablets to see if they can offer me a product at a price point that I'm able to live with.

There have always been PCs cheaper than Macs by a few hundred dollars. So anyone claiming that this promo is driving them to Windows is full of %@. Even if Apple was giving away an iPod this year, it'd still be cheaper to buy a Windows PC and an iPod than buying a Mac and getting a free iPod. Sure, the PC is cheaper and probably is missing some features and battery life, etc. but it's the iPod that matters, right?

 

[Mr Fusion]

I agree. Apple doesn't owe anyone jack ****. I hate it when people feel entitled to stuff that they truly are not.

Hmm sounds like someone's sitting pretty with the free iPod Touch they got in last year's promo.

 

[ldellx3]

does anyone know if i can get in one this deal cause i bought my macbook pro last weekend

 

[Rodimus Prime]

I am wondering how many people on here complaining about this promo are actually students. I wish Apple would make it a bit more work to actually prove you are a student. I think a lot of people abuse the student discount and Apple knows this, hence why you no longer see discounts on iPods and other things.

It is 2011, how many students don't have an iOS product? Apple has seen that many people just turn right around and sell the BTS iPod online afterward, hence causing Apple to lose a sale.

I like that the free giftcard can be used in any of Apple's content stores, including the iBookstore. Sure, the lack of a free iPod is disappointing, but I think most people could get some decent usage out of the free card, or just sell the card online for $70-$75.

Still the best deal is Amazon if you aren't wanting to customize anything...

Apple has been leaving the world of education for a while and offering crappier and crappier discounts.
It used to be Apple was offering great deals to students and encourage them to get them. This would mean long term profits for the company because chances are a few years down the road they would buy a new mac and keep buying news ones every 4 years or so.
Now days Apple has pretty much said FU to pros that kept them afloat during the dark times. Now to students they are giving really crappy discounts.

Dell I know offers pretty nice discounts to students and the way to get those is generally order threw your school but it is a nice discount. I bought a new laptop a year ago. Yes I got a Dell Studio but guess what with the discounts apply I got a 2+grand computer for 1400. A Mac pro of a similar set up was at around 2200-2300. That is a 800+ delta. Now I needed Windows because of the course work but still 800+ delta for similar hardware is hard to beat.

Apple is more and more showing it is leaving the world of PC. This is just the next step. I would not be surprised in the future to see apple complete drop making computers completely.

There have always been PCs cheaper than Macs by a few hundred dollars. So anyone claiming that this promo is driving them to Windows is full of %@. Even if Apple was giving away an iPod this year, it'd still be cheaper to buy a Windows PC and an iPod than buying a Mac and getting a free iPod. Sure, the PC is cheaper and probably is missing some features and battery life, etc. but it's the iPod that matters, right?

More it would lesson the sting or push people over the edge. I know this is going to hurt Apple because a lot of people that were sitting on the edge will say screw it and go PC. Big time with the 360 deal going on.
This just leaves a bad taste in peoples mouth as it is showing Apples Greed. at giving 70 bucks of stuff way is not much. Used to be iPod was around 100-130 to Apple but not 70 bucks and over priced it stings. I found the iPod was much more useful that giving away the App store crap.

 

[vincenz]

Where exactly does it say the new MacBook Airs will qualify?

Are we taking assumptions for the truth again?

 

[Mr Fusion]

dear everyone who is freaking out about the $100 gift card-

SELL IT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO USE IT.

jesus, i'm sure you can get at least $75 bucks for it, and thats $75 you had no business making if it weren't for this FREE promo. people need to chill out. go have a smoke or something.

Will you buy mine for $200? If so I promise not to freak out any longer!!!

 

[FloatingBones]

I really worry about the future of our country when people say that Apple giving them a free $100 gift card is a bad deal. It just makes everybody sound so spoiled. Like you deserve free crap. Newsflash: You don't deserve anything. You aren't special.

Let's not forget: iCloud is free. Holy crap! Lion is only $30 (compare that to Windows major OS upgrades...) All iOS updates are free. Apple gives away SO MUCH STUFF, and they are not giving you a free $100 to the App stores if you buy something. That's a damn good deal!

The "future of our country"? A bit hyperbolic, no?

Perhaps. I think that @radiogoober was pointing to the perils of an entitlement mentality: They got deal XXX last year; we are entitled to at least that much!

When fewer believe they are entitled to such things, our country is indeed healthier.

It's still a better deal than nothing, of course, but it sucks a bit for those people who were waiting out for months till the promo dropped.

Exactly. Those people are equivocating their expectations of reality with reality. Apple never made that promise; nobody did.

One of the greatest parts of a college education is that the education comes from so many unexpected directions.

 

[Mr Fusion]

does anyone know if i can get in one this deal cause i bought my macbook pro last weekend

Return it and buy it again. Simple!

 

[anonmars]

There have always been PCs cheaper than Macs by a few hundred dollars. So anyone claiming that this promo is driving them to Windows is full of %@. Even if Apple was giving away an iPod this year, it'd still be cheaper to buy a Windows PC and an iPod than buying a Mac and getting a free iPod. Sure, the PC is cheaper and probably is missing some features and battery life, etc. but it's the iPod that matters, right?

No, the students on here that are going to get a Windows system instead of a Mac are just normal people that would rather have a free xbox than some iTunes giftcard to buy a bunch of useless software, stupid ibooks, or overpriced movies and music. And try to remember, normal people aren't like you. We're not Mac zealots buying Macs just because, we just want a good computer that works and if a company provides a sweet deal, then we'll take it instead.

 

[emulator]

That's their back to school? Pathetic. Students will choose or have already chosen the Xbox deal.

 

[indiebass]

There have always been PCs cheaper than Macs by a few hundred dollars. So anyone claiming that this promo is driving them to Windows is full of %@... Sure, the PC is cheaper and probably is missing some features and battery life, etc. but it's the iPod that matters, right?

I'm not sure you understood what I wrote when you quoted me. What I was trying to convey is that I'll still buy a Macintosh computer, because it is a good product, I'm comfortable with the OS and it works for me. But this changed promotion does squeeze the edges a bit.

For instance, I think the functionality of a tablet will be useful to me, as I said, for presentations or for other on-the-go minimal computing. And I'd love to have an Apple product that is designed to work with its brothers and sisters, but other devices will be able to compete on price and functionality, and most likely work just fine with a Macintosh computer. Without incentives from Apple, I have to seriously consider those other options- more than I would have otherwise. It will most likely turn out that I simply cannot afford a tablet of any kind.

And can someone correct me if I'm wrong? I thought the education discount used to be a flat 15%. I built a MacBook Air in the regular store and the education store and the difference was under 10%. What am I missing?