I waited... now its time to buy.

[brettsinger]

Thanks for suggesting I wait for the Macbook Core2's.
NOW the question is, is the new mid-range model worth springing for?
I can get ed. pricing, so it's

$1049 MB 1.83GHz
+$183 AppleCare
--------
$1232
+$79 512MB RAM (Crucial)
=$1311

OR

$1199 MB 2.0GHz
+$183 AppleCare
=$1382 (includes 1GB RAM and now a Superdrive)

I think now the mid-range option is worth the extra $$$ - what do you think? Thanks.

 

[Chaszmyr]

The more expensive model is definitely worth the extra $200 (or $150 in your case). Double the RAM, faster processor, DVD burner, bigger hard drive. No question in my book.

 

[VeganBryan]

might as well pay the extra $71.

 

[NYmacAttack]

I would say the middle choice is the best value.

 

[fivetoadsloth]

i agree with everyone the middle macbook is the best for the value get the 2ghz white.

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

Don't get Applecare and get the most expensive/highest spec'ed one you can get. You can always buy Apple care AFTER something goes wrong within the first year.

 

[MovieCutter]

Not to mention the base model comes with TWO 256MB RAM sticks. So you're 512MB stick would only give you 768MB RAM,

 

[brettsinger]

Not to mention the base model comes with TWO 256MB RAM sticks. So you're 512MB stick would only give you 768MB RAM,

That's a good point, thanks.

Don't get Applecare and get the most expensive/highest spec'ed one you can get. You can always buy Apple care AFTER something goes wrong within the first year.

You think so? I figured it was worth the extra $183 for peace of mind.

 

[NYmacAttack]

I would definatly buy the Applecare if I were to keep it longer than a year. That being said I usually wait until I've owner the machine 10 months or so to buy it, just incase I decide to upgrade to a different machine. Applecare can be purchased at anytime during your first year so no real reason to pay for it right when you buy the machine, IMO.

 

[w8ing4intelmacs]

I would definatly buy the Applecare if I were to keep it longer than a year. That being said I usually wait until I've owner the machine 10 months or so to buy it, just incase I decide to upgrade to a different machine. Applecare can be purchased at anytime during your first year so no real reason to pay for it right when you buy the machine, IMO.

Apple gives no incentive to buy AppleCare right away. Like the other poster said, wait until 10mos or so. If there are problems before then, you're covered under the normal 1 year warranty.

Also, buy AppleCare from eBay. I got AppleCare for my iBook for under $150 shipped. Heck, it's $179 from LA Computer Company (http://www.lacomputercompany.com/cgi-bin/rpcart/index.cgi?command=dispitem&type=sku&sku=10125)

That said, the $1099 black CD macbook from the Apple refurb store sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

 

[xfiftyfour]

I would definatly buy the Applecare if I were to keep it longer than a year. That being said I usually wait until I've owner the machine 10 months or so to buy it, just incase I decide to upgrade to a different machine. Applecare can be purchased at anytime during your first year so no real reason to pay for it right when you buy the machine, IMO.

I agree with this. I think Applecare is important for laptops, but I generally leave that cost until much later.. closer to the end of the one year standard warranty. That gives you a year to save up for it.. and within that year the extended warranty doesn't do you all that much good, anyways, since Apple will fix your computer regardless (about the only thing it does give you is extended phone service, if that's important to ya).

I'd either put that money into upping the specs on my machine or just save it.

 

[dongmin]

Apple gives no incentive to buy AppleCare right away. Like the other poster said, wait until 10mos or so. If there are problems before then, you're covered under the normal 1 year warranty.

Hah, you guys are all assuming that he'll remember to do this after 10-11 months!

If you want the peace of mind, you might as well go for it, no? But in my experience (yes a small sample, i know), if you don't have problems early, you should be good for 3-4 years.