Well, this will be my first Mac so that technically does not apply to me. I just recently decided to "switch", but will still be running Windows as well. When I was looking to buy I heard about the BTS, so I figured I'd wait till it showed up before I pulled the trigger.
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Apple's Back to School Promo Launching Wednesday With $100 iTunes Gift Cards?
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Well, this will be my first Mac so that technically does not apply to me. I just recently decided to "switch", but will still be running Windows as well. When I was looking to buy I heard about the BTS, so I figured I'd wait till it showed up before I pulled the trigger.
You have been in this for a long time, so I believe you. But with a $100 gift-card, if that's what it is, I have lost the urgency. I mean, my PC is getting slower by the day but that xBox is looking very tempting now.
and I think -- just to prove that point -- they should raise prices on everything tomorrow.
Even though I get the point you were trying to make... if their research department determined that the profits per higher priced unit could outweigh the overall loss in unit sales from the lower price, they would do it in a heartbeat.
nah. their ideal profit model is based on the entire world having Apple devices so they can sell apps and generate consistently growing recurring revenue. They'd give devices away before they'd price them out of reach.
Yes, they charge sales tax apprpriate to your location. It depends on the offer terms, but usually this deal is only through Apple.
I'm not saying Apple is in any immediate danger, but this sort of logic has been the doom of many a company.
Anyway, I was planning on getting one of the new MacBook Airs when they come out, but if I can't get the free iPod, I might just get a refurbished/previous generation model instead if I can save some significant dollars. Can you still buy AppleCare for refurbished models, or are they sold as-is? I don't think I would go that route if you can't get AppleCare.
I am with you.. This was supposed to my "switch" to fan world however I'd need to rethink about Xbox
Back to School 2011
Disclaimer: This is my first post.
That being said, I called several university bookstores which are certified apple resellers, my theory being that they are less inclined to follow, rank and file, Apple's secrecy of any promotional news. My local bookstore had no information, and actually suggested that the BTS 2011 wouldn't occur. However, I called another bookstore, which I will not name so as to avoid causing them any issues, and the employee there told me that the promotion would, without a doubt, occur tomorrow, and that he did not know the details of the promotion, but he would find out at 7:30 AM tomorrow morning when they open up.
I've been following these forums for a while, so with that in mind take this with a grain of salt, but as for me, I'll be at the door at opening.
Disclaimer: This is my first post.
That being said, I called several university bookstores which are certified apple resellers, my theory being that they are less inclined to follow, rank and file, Apple's secrecy of any promotional news. My local bookstore had no information, and actually suggested that the BTS 2011 wouldn't occur. However, I called another bookstore, which I will not name so as to avoid causing them any issues, and the employee there told me that the promotion would, without a doubt, occur tomorrow, and that he did not know the details of the promotion, but he would find out at 7:30 AM tomorrow morning when they open up.
I've been following these forums for a while, so with that in mind take this with a grain of salt, but as for me, I'll be at the door at opening.
It looks like the choice is pretty aluminum notebook = $1100. Ugly plastic notebook + xbox 360 = $700. I guess you don't have to go to college to do that math.
This thread has over 20 pages of people saying how mac's are so great they'll sell themselves so there's no need a B2S deal. There's such an attitude here like you need to be loyal to the cult of Apple. Seriously, give me one good reason for buying a mac other than "well it's a mac, duh", or "windows sucks". I mean take a step back, take a deep breath, try to take off your blinders (I know it's hard), and look objectively.
I think a lot more users are like me and will take the best option of the day, and are not fanatics who buy whatever **** Apple happens to churn out today. You are in the minority with your blind devotion to a company that only sees you as a dollar sign.
For the record, I have a current model Mac Mini, a Powerbook G4 (April 2004 version), and I was all set to replace the PB with an MBP with this promo. But if not, I'll buy a PC notebook and be perfectly happy playing with free xbox. I like Apple, but I'll buy whatever's best for my need, and price is not a major factor but it certainly is a factor.
This whole forum is hilarious. When Samsung/Motorola announce a tablet with better features, nobody says "well let's buy the Samsung tablet", it's more "well we'll have to make do with this iPad and pray on the altar of Jobs that the next one is better".
Front page of MacRumors has photo evidence:
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/06/15/back-to-school-to-start-tomorrow-100-app-store-gift-card-confirmed/
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/06/15/back-to-school-to-start-tomorrow-100-app-store-gift-card-confirmed/
+1
I totally agree with what is said here. Why confine your choice of computer to just a Mac? The fanboy attitude won't get you the best machine, doing your research will.
What's the discount on refurb macs? Also, are these the ones that users returned because they are defective or just the ones that were opened and returned?
Generally refurbs have slightly bigger discounts than the edu discount. They also have the same warranty as a new machine. In the past they haven't qualified for the free ipod promotion but with the new one, who knows? (My guess is "no"). I don't know about the printer deal.
As always, calculate tax before pulling the trigger.
You both should feel lucky, the closest Apple Store I have is like 1500 km away. There aren't any in the country I live in!
#1 - If you think any company doesn't "see you as a dollar sign", then you're deluding yourself. Microsoft is not giving away XBoxes to be awesome. They're doing it because they're rapidly losing swathes of marketshare, especially to students. Apple doesn't feel the need to offer such generous bonuses, because they feel that they have a strong enough market position that they can afford not to. Maybe they're wrong. But my money is on them being correct.
It's the same reason that Apple continues to sells the iPhone at high price much longer into it's product cycle. The Android manufacturers don't lower the prices to be nice -- they lower them because it's the only way they'll continue to sell those phones.
#2 - Samsung / etc hasn't offered a tablet with better features. Specs != features.
#3 - You asked for one reason why someone should buy a Mac over a PC. Here are three, and none of them take any consideration into opinions/preferences, on either the hardware or software side:
i: _much_ better resale market
ii: longer average lifespan for products
iii: better customer service
These are facts, not opinions. The issue of which OS is better, whether you prefer aluminum to plastic, the amount of value you place on SFF and design -- those are all opinions, and as such it's difficult to argue/reason with someone on them: you'll never change their mind, and they'll never change yours.