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Apple Updates MacBooks to Santa Rosa, GMA X3100

Value

I've read through this entire thread and one thing no one has yet mentioned is RESALE value. I imagine that a lot of these forum dwellers are interested in keeping up with the latest every year or so. Look around ebay a little. Macbooks that are a year old are selling for nearly 80% of original price. Wintel machines are nowhere near that. Wintel machines are paperweights in the resale market after a year.

If you are heavy into 3d gaming, DON'T GET A MACBOOK. It's that simple. For 95% of others, a mid-level Macbook can do anything they need, including their WinXP apps. And if you need the latest and greatest, sell on ebay in the spring when the next major update happens (pure guess on my part) and upgrade for net of a couple hundred $$.
 
flopticalcube said:
The bottom end MacBook is no longer a viable product, IMHO. Its produced so Apple can say "Starting from $1099..." to get people into the store. The first usable MacBook is the mid-range superdrive. Really expected better from Apple. This is what comes of a computer company that needs to maintain 30%+ margins.
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Well in 3 years I've used the superdrive in my Powerbook 3 times. Don't be so sure what makes a product viable or not. Not every user is like you.
 
kidwei said:
has anyone yet inquired about the macbook's availability in apple's retail stores yet?
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More then likely today in the US given the spyshots. I wouldn't hurt to call in before you go either. :rolleyes:

czeluff said:
Ok so let's compare the Blackbook with the Macbook Pro now, and let's use education prices for reference:

The Macbook pro may be $400 more ($1399 versus $1799), but look at EVERYTHING you get with it over the Blackbook:

2gb of ram versus that awful 2 512mb configuration
> 2" more worth of screen realty, as well as a higher resolution
8600gt versus the X3100...8600gt still pwns that thing
LED screen...why the hell didnt the Macbook get this?
Aluminum body, backlit keys, louder speakers.

oh yea and keep in mind if you wait until the Macbook Pro gets an update, then it'll be WAY better for $400 more...

cz
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And with those $400 you could build a better gaming desktop. :p

Who buys Apple RAM as it is. You're going to go get 4 GB of third party RAM for a MacBook or MacBook Pro.

The hard drive is easy to upgrade down the road as well in the MacBook.
 
Surely said:
As of right now, it looks like Apple hasn't changed their pricing in the Canada Store to reflect the strong Canadian Dollar. I call B.S. on that one.

Here is what I mean:

U.S. Store Prices for the three new MacBooks:
US Prices............ In Canadian Dollars after conversion:
$1099 USD............ $1039.22 CAD
$1299 USD............ $1228.34 CAD
$1499 USD............ $1417.46 CAD

Canadian Store Prices:
$1249
$1449
$1649

And let's not forget sales tax- in Canada, we're talking 14% tax on top of those high Canadian prices. If I take a quick drive down to Buffalo, NY, I can pay the U.S. price and only approximately 8% sales tax. Even if I have to declare the MacBook at the border, the duty fees I would have to pay would not come close to the more than $200 difference (over $320 difference including taxes). Oh, the cost of gas would only be around $50-60 to drive there and back, so it's still a big savings.

When Leopard was released, Apple priced it competitively in Canada to the US price, at $129 CAD. I expected them to do the same with the MacBook, considering our dollar is stronger than the U.S. and is still going up. I think that they've dropped the ball here. The price differences between products in Canada vs. the U.S. is a big story right now in Canada, and it's only a matter of time before this story appears on the news.

Guess where I'll be driving in the next couple of weeks? At least I'll be able to eat at The Cheesecake Factory.....
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Most Canadians were expecting a price equalization when the next update come. Disappointing. BTW, the update isn't even showing up on the Apple.ca site.
 
If I feel like I may ultimately upgrade this macbook to 4GB RAM, and want 2GB/2GB in each slot, do I have to buy it now configured for this? Or can I buy it as 1/1 and upgrade to 2/2 at a later date?
 
*takes a deep sigh of relief* Finally! I can get my MacBook!

On the other hand, I'm utterly pissed that the Canadian prices are still way too high. I feel like I'm being gouged. They had these MacBooks produced AFTER the Canadian dollar went up, so there's no excuse for the price to be this high.

And am I the only one that finds it absolutely preposterous that the BlackBook is $200 more for nothing but an extra 40GB of HDD space?

This is a really disappointing release :(
 
wildmac said:
Compare to Dell at the same price, and then assess your comments. And compare to Sony at the same price as well.
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There's a contradiction here. Either you say that a Mac is a Mac, and you can't beat the OS, so there's no comparison possible. Or you compare the Mac hardware to the Pc hardware, same price. And then, Mac falls way behind. Face the facts ! I'm not saying Pcs are better, I do both. I'm just realistic that's all, and that's what most Apple fan seem to lack.
 
Why the price became a big debate after the update?
It is still the same price as before.
 
Well, I'm happy with the update :) This is what I have been waiting for.

The graphics upgrade, installed with Leopard and higher RAM capabilities are good for me. I just want a small, portable laptop for Photoshop work on the move (and plug into a monitor at home).

I don't care if I can get a DELL for less, because I buy Macs because I want to use OS X - simple as that.

Gaming? I have a Wii and an XBox 360 - I think that's enough toys!

Just need to wait for the UK store to be updated and out comes my card.

The combo drive is still bit of a joke though...
 
Eidorian said:
Maybe you should consider high performance computing then.

I don't think a laptop is the best choice for your tasks.
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I didn't asked for a faster processor. And I said these small upgrades were welcome. You brought it up by speaking the faster fsb. I said that wouldn't matter. And if you can barely tell the difference in a big render, there is no way you can see it when surfing the web or doing spreadsheets without a stopwatch.

Bottom-line - Selling it with 1Gb instead of 2x512, better speakers and (why not) give away the mini dvi adapters would be better. Maybe for you it's better opening safari in less 0.02 seconds... Happy porn watching for you!
 
Surely said:
That still doesn't explain the Leopard pricing parity of $129 CAD and USD. Why were they able to do it with that product? I guess they have different pricing policies depending on the item? My feeble Canadian brain is confused :confused:
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I think part of this may have to do with other fees related to electronics products, such things as CSA that wouldn't apply to a software product. Just comparing a few products, Leopard, iLife'08, iWork'08, are all now the same price in the US and CA stores. This was covered a bit on the Global National report Dollar for Dollar. Another thing is that they are still rolling the numbers for the parts and supplies that were purchased before the Canadian dollar made its big surge in early Sept.

Although it still doesn't totally explain the price discrepancy. I suspect though that as long as the CAD stays strong, products released after MacWorld in Jan will see more price parity.

I hope Canadians realize that one of the main reasons our economy has grown in the last few years is because of the weak dollar we had. This meant that our exports increased, but now with our stronger dollar, other countries will be looking elsewhere for their supplies. If we flock across the border in droves to cash in on our strong dollar, we'll be weakening our own economy. I know this doesn't necessarily apply to Apple purchases since they're an American company anyway, but just keep it in mind. Hopefully it's only temporary until our own retailers start making the prices competitive.
 
Consultant said:
For those outside of US and compare your prices to the US prices.

There is a price difference not because Apple likes to do it that way, it's because of higher import taxes from your government. Apple is based OUTSIDE your country, thus will pay a higher import tax than companies based IN your country.

(Sidetrack: you have to consider that citizens of most countries DO get better services than those in the USA, such as inexpensive universal health care. In addition, be thankful you don't have a president who is not very bright, but I digress).
Click to expand...

I thought computers were exempt from import duties? Prices on other computer components are reaching US pricing, same with camera gear. No, I think Apple is taking advantage of its Canadian customers...I sent an email weeks ago asking them to explain the discrepancy. They never replied.
 
flopticalcube said:
The bottom end MacBook is no longer a viable product, IMHO. Its produced so Apple can say "Starting from $1099..." to get people into the store. The first usable MacBook is the mid-range superdrive. Really expected better from Apple. This is what comes of a computer company that needs to maintain 30%+ margins.
Click to expand...

You are completely absolutely wrong IMO (I couldn't possibly leave the H in). I have a first generation MacBook with the Combo Drive, and it is absolutely usable. It goes everywhere with me, it has so far been in five different countries, and it does everything I want it to do.
 
even though this is a very limited bump in some ways (40 mhz on the high end, nothing on the low end; still a combo drive (which is ridiculous, btw); no RAM bump, no HD bump), I'm still happy. Getting rid of that god-awful GMA 950 is long overdue, and the x3100 should be a nice upgrade! And the bump in RAM ceiling and faster fsb are welcome as well. I'd consider selling my core duo macbook and getting one if I were planning to stick to a laptop long term.
 
I'm a PC user looking to go Mac. I want the new macbook, but really was hoping for the all new aluminum version.

I have been looking at macbooks on ebay for about a year now trying to find a really good deal. Well, guess what? there are no good deals. people are selling their macs for just a few bucks under store prices because people know they can buy a mac for no taxes. I've seen almost one year old macbooks go for like 200 under store prices and pretty regularly i might add.

Here is my plan. Buy the midrange model, upgrade the ram myself to 4 gigs. Then in january if the rumor mill starts churning again about a redesign to come, i sell my macbook on ebay for just under what i paid and then buy the new macbook when it comes out. My loss is only a couple hundred bucks and really if you consider the usage i get out of it until then it's no loss. Especially if the new ones are cheaper as have been speculated.
 
Please folks i need help;

I just recieved an "old" Macbook 2.16/Superdrive/White yesterday.
I've installed Leopard an was disappointed about its graphic performance. As soon as the Dock is "big" and in 3D mode, exposé and spaces gets noticeably slow => :-(

Can this problem be solved by the X3100 ? When can first-buyers impressions be expected ?

I'm no gaming user, but student with <1% gaming usage. Could the change 950=>X3100 effect the possibility to play Starcraft 2 ?

I've already used CAD (CATIA V5) on the Macbook an it runs satisfying enough with a small group of parts. Can the graphical/ram/SR update majorly imrpove CAD performance?

Need help to decide if i should take advantage of the 14-day-return-policy. (Got an ipod nano for free with the back-to-school program)

Thankx for each answer...
 
TheBendingUnit said:
yes, that is something I really would like to know too! I've been waiting for months now for this macbook upgrade to buy my first Mac.

The things I will be doing with my macbook:
1. surfing, mailing, word processing,.. (daily use)
2. java development (eclipse)
3. playing some old games (with scummvm for instance... reliving the good old days ;))
4. and finally do a little bit video-editing by witch I mean creating some movies I made during our trips the last few years. (maybe 1 or 2 times a year)

I know that for 1,2 and 3 there won't be any problem (except maybe the lack of java 1.6 for the moment in leopard..damn I hope they do something about that fast!)
But untill now point 4 has always been my major reason for doubt between the a MB or a MBP.
What do you guys think? Is this MB enough for my needs or would you rather advise a MBP?

thanks a lot! :)
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For that kind of usage? Not a problem--sounds like simple iMovie work. It won't be as slick or as responsive as a Mac Pro, but I've created 3-5 minute teasers and videos using ibooks in the past. I doubt you'll have that much problems.
 
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