They charge you for the gift card so if you return the device, you don't profit from the gift card. But you get that amount reduced from the device, in addition to the regular edu discount, so the net benefit is whatever amount the gift card is for.
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Apple's 2024 Back to School Sale Launches, Up to $150 Gift Card With Mac or iPad
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Yeah.. still seems kind of a ripoff that they give you $150 off but you have to buy a $150 gift card. I’ll probably pull the trigger but I’m torn between the 13” and 15”.
Edu discount is separate and still there ($100 off MBA) plus you get a free $150 GC
MBA13 M3 base model is $1099 retail -- its $999 on edu store ($100 off edu discount) plus free $150 GC
They break it down as: $849+tax on laptop and $150 for GC -- still comes out to $999 ($150 GC amount isn't taxed so you also save some money on taxes)
Just pulled the trigger... wish I was taliking the money you guys are talking. 15" M3 MBA w/24GB RAM and 256G SSD $1758 total plus the wonderful tax we have in the US. Only thing I'm thinking of switching to Silver from Space Gray... stupid reason... my wife distinguishes my Apple (not work) from my work laptop (Grey).
Taxes are often higher elsewhere, like in Canada (HST) and Europe (VAT). The main difference in Europe is that the tax is hidden in the price.
Anyhow, I'm still impressed that my engraved iPad Pro went from ordered to processing to shipped all the same day. I'm in Canada, and I'm wondering from where it was engraved and shipped. I guess I'll find out once the tracking info gets updated.
Don't forget, AC+ is 20% off as well in the EDU store.
iPad Pro EDU total savings (for me) with gift card value - $240
iPad Pro EDU total savings (for me) with gift card value - $240
I’m still kicking myself, my 2015 MBP 16GBb 1TB is still running well.., just replaced the battery last year. Could’ve postponed the buy of the replacement and OCLP’d the OS up to Sonoma. Someone will get a good deal when I sell it.
Fellas, I haven't kept up with the rumors but is the M4 MBP going to be worth waiting for?
I have a 12' MBP w/ CD drive still & I feel like this is probably going to be the best deal for me to upgrade with education store pricing, 20% off AC & the $150 GC. Just curious, if you guys think it's worth waiting for.
This 12' can easily last me until then if needed.
I have a 12' MBP w/ CD drive still & I feel like this is probably going to be the best deal for me to upgrade with education store pricing, 20% off AC & the $150 GC. Just curious, if you guys think it's worth waiting for.
This 12' can easily last me until then if needed.
I have my engraved iPad Pro M4 11" now. 
I'm in Canada but it came from the US, in one day from ordering to delivery. Impressive. I had originally assumed engraving could add up to a week or so.
I actually got it before the Magic Keyboard, which was in the same order. Keyboard is coming tomorrow (Saturday).
2. There has never been a 12-inch MacBook Pro.
3. There has never been a 12-inch MacBook with a CD drive.
Don't tell me you're talking about a 12" G4 PowerBook... Cuz that is ancient, basically unusable to do anything modern.
I'm in Canada but it came from the US, in one day from ordering to delivery. Impressive. I had originally assumed engraving could add up to a week or so.I actually got it before the Magic Keyboard, which was in the same order. Keyboard is coming tomorrow (Saturday).
1. I assume you don't mean 12-foot MacBook Pro.
2. There has never been a 12-inch MacBook Pro.
3. There has never been a 12-inch MacBook with a CD drive.
Don't tell me you're talking about a 12" G4 PowerBook... Cuz that is ancient, basically unusable to do anything modern.
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Got my 11" M2 iPad Air yesterday -- the blue is lovely. It's been a while since I've had a full-size iPad (I'm trading in a Mini) and I'm impressed by how light they've become. Now I just need my keyboard next week to unlock its full potential.
I have my engraved iPad Pro M4 11" now.
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I actually got it before the Magic Keyboard, which was in the same order. Keyboard is coming tomorrow (Saturday).
1. I assume you don't mean 12-foot MacBook Pro.
2. There has never been a 12-inch MacBook Pro.
3. There has never been a 12-inch MacBook with a CD drive.
Don't tell me you're talking about a 12" G4 PowerBook... Cuz that is ancient, basically unusable to do anything modern.
Sorry 13" inch, but the 12' meant 2012. My bad....Haha. This one.
Ha, OK. BTW, the short form of 2012 in English usually is ‘12.
Yeah that is going to be a huge upgrade to a new M4 Apple Silicon MacBook Pro. However, any Apple Silicon machine would be a huge upgrade, but I’m personally waiting for M4 because I believe it’s going to get a base RAM upgrade. Depending upon what you do with your MacBook Pro, you may want 16 GB or more going forward, but in our case we just want 12 GB, and I’m hoping the new 2025 M4 MacBook Air gets upgrade to 12 GB.
Also, if you’re coming from a machine that old, a MacBook Air would also be a huge upgrade for you. But again, it depends on what you want to do with it. For us, it’s just an entry level machine. If it was my main work machine, I’d consider a MB Pro too.
I'm loving my blue 11" M2 iPad Air, and was really looking forward to the Magic Keyboard arriving today. The box arrived and it was completely empty. The pull tab was intact, but both ends of the box were open and it was either stolen or it slipped out. Unfortunately, Apple has to open an investigation before they can send a new one, so I'm looking at at least another week, which is really annoying.
Apple's yearly scam of people thinking they get something for free when they have to pay for the gift card smh
As @bookcase mentioned above, the only reason Apple does it this way is so if you return the item, it's not like you get to keep a free gift card out of it. You've still "paid" for the gift card, they just deduct the GC amount from the item.
So if you get a base 11" iPad Pro ($899 Education Price, plus receive a $100 gift card), the receipt will show a $899 - $100 = $799 iPad Pro price + $100 gift card = $899. You've paid the same $899 (same as if you had gotten a free gift card), and you've gotten the iPad + a $100 gift card.
But if you return the iPad, you only get $799 back, and you keep the gift card (given you easily could have just redeemed it already on something else).
So if you are aware of m1 macs, then m4 is going to be 50% faster in single core and 100% faster in multicore. Or 20/40 percent bump from m3.
Since i have m1, i am personally excited and waiting for m4 air before getting the cto model.
iPhone SE sounds nice, though I doubt Tim Apple is comfortable with being very generous.
I think an Apple Watch SE would be a good free item to include. Cheaper than an iPhone SE and its better than a $150 gift card or Airpods 2.
I dunno... is this really what people would prefer? I mean so many people have Apple Watches today (or iPhones), that giving away a free iPhone SE or a free Apple Watch SE, I think is much less practical for "many" people, than offering a gift card.
Obviously a straight cash discount is the best, as cash is most fungible. But after that, I think an Apple gift card that can be applied to anything Apple (hardware, accessories, or Apple subscriptions, AppleCare, iCloud / App Store, etc.) is second best.
If you were to get a free device, if you don't actually want/need it, you basically need to try and sell it to get "value" out of it... much more cumbersome.
Actually that gift card started to disappear already. Used it for iTunes, AppleCare, etc.. automatically