MacBook Shipments Have Begun?

[daniel.ord]

See, the problem with all this nitpicking is that it's just making me hope for an earlier release! Sigh.

I had kinda decided on Oct. 14th, but people keep finding new loopholes that might mean such and such, and so on... Damn them!

 

[hellomoto4]

MBA 13" 1.6GHz 2-4 business days in Aus store
iMac 24" 3.06Ghz 2-4 business days in Aus store

Everything else 24hrs.

I wonder if this has anything to do with anything?

EDIT: Same with US store.

 

[Detektiv-Pinky]

MBA 13" 1.6GHz 2-4 business days in Aus store
iMac 24" 3.06Ghz 2-4 business days in Aus store

Everything else 24hrs.

I wonder if this has anything to do with anything?

EDIT: Same with US store.

This made me jump to the German store and it's the same here.

One other thing i noticed:

The Refurb section is absolutely STUFFED!
Normally the German refurb store only has the one odd item in it and it is hard to get a good deal. Now it is full with latest model iMacs, Macbook Pros, Xserves - you name it. Something must be going on...

 

[hellomoto4]

Same with AU store - way more than usual (especially iMacs)
The US store also has a heap of iMacs and MBPs. Other models are average amounts though.

 

[C8XY]

I've noticed for a few weeks now, there hasn't been any MBs on the UK refurb section, could they be holding stock so they don't have to exchange newer models for faulty old ones? If so, that would indicate the updates very close i.e not jan 09 ! Right?

 

[xgfx]

I've noticed for a few weeks now, there hasn't been any MBs on the UK refurb section, could they be holding stock so they don't have to exchange newer models for faulty old ones? If so, that would indicate the updates very close i.e not jan 09 ! Right?

They had a lot of them on the refurb store end of last week/beginning of this week. We all picked up on it as it there had been a drought of them previously. Basically.. anything could be an indicator at the moment! No refurb stock, Lots of refurb stock! We're all going ape over the smallest things.

 

[aleksandra.]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the amount of available refurbished notebooks depend on how many of them Apple has, which depends on how many have been replaced or returned some time before, which depends on how many people decided to return or had serious problems with them? So the amount of refurbished MacBooks is more an indication of people returning them after buying recently (perhaps tempted by back to school promo or something), maybe because they believe new ones are coming, than of any actual upgrade. I really can't see why more refurbished Macs would mean a sooner revision.

 

[hellomoto4]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the amount of available refurbished notebooks depend on how many of them Apple has, which depends on how many have been replaced or returned some time before, which depends on how many people decided to return or had serious problems with them? So the amount of refurbished MacBooks is more an indication of people returning them after buying recently (perhaps tempted by back to school promo or something), maybe because they believe new ones are coming, than of any actual upgrade. I really can't see why more refurbished Macs would mean a sooner revision.

True, but if a upgrade was coming, they would try to sell off excess stock of the current gen Macbooks, by putting them into the Refurb section (so that no speculation is made about new gens)

 

[XwiredTVA]

You really think Nahelem Mac Pros are less then a month away?
I'd be amazed if thats true.. and prepared to get out my check book.

I just haven't heard anything in so long.. there are laptop rumors constantly :\

If not released on the day, we will be told when they will be available. But Intel has released the CPU to some OEM's. Tests of them appeared a couple weeks ago. Yes, big check waiting here too.

 

[XwiredTVA]

Im nearly at cracking point as well. Daughter off to uni the weekend after this one. Her first Mac, it would be nice to get it all sorted before she goes, there is also the benefit of getting the last of the old line, where problems have been sorted, against the first of a new revision which may have some teething problems.
May just head off to Milton Keynes apple store this afternoon... should I or shouldn't I?

Go for it. If you need it, then you need it. But I would NOT purchase the Air at this point, even a refurb. That model will get the most drastic update if Apple follows suite with all other OEM tech specs. IBM'x X310 is getting 10hrs of battery (same size as MBA) with the new CPU's, 4gb Ram and a 128gb SSD. It's priced right at $3800 or so (it's actually not avail but pre-orders are being taken).

I love the Air and I know 2 people who use it everyday for work. They are not easy on them and they function flawlessly. One was purchased the day they were available and it's not had one issue at all. I spent 2 days with the other setting it up and was really amazed. Battery life was my only failing point, HD speed (PATA) was my second gripe but that's it and those are certainly workable.

For best speed when running windows use Parallels WHICH MacUpdate is selling for $49 bundled with 7 other apps right NOW (FYI). So for those looking at getting a Mac, buy that, download the apps, print out your activation codes. That's a really good deal. I'm not affiliated with that site but I bought that pack before back in Feb when it came with parallels, it's a good deal.

Parallels has this switch app you install on your current PC, it wraps up the OS and Apps then transfers them to the Mac as a virtual machine. Depending on your PC's used HD space depends on how long it takes. Mine was an XP laptop with 22gb used and it took 2hrs. Both machines have to be on the same network and NOT using Wireless. No brain needed, if you can click a link you can do this. Makes migrating to a Mac about as easy as you can get. Every app worked afterwards and bootup times were in the 30second range. Pausing the machine was faster and easier to get going again, NOTE: You CAN'T pause a BootCamp partition, you must shut it down every time. Run as a virtual machine, it backs up with time machine. No speed increase through boot camp, even with Vista Ultimate (what I'm running in Bootcamp).

 

[aleksandra.]

True, but if a upgrade was coming, they would try to sell off excess stock of the current gen Macbooks, by putting them into the Refurb section (so that no speculation is made about new gens)

I don't see why they'd do it? They still have previous generation iPods in both "refurbished" and "clearance" sections (US store). And from many comments on this forum I understand they'll never replace old model with the new one if they can avoid it, and even that they still have some old ones after a year or two. If the old model sold days before the release is returned, one has to pay restocking fee. Selling current models for lower price as refurbished, with the same warranty etc., just doesn't seem to make sense. The only way it could work would be if current model refurbished notebook had higher price than the old model but new unit on clearance. I've no idea how much did refurbished iPods 160GB cost a month ago, but I doubt it was more than new ones do on clearance ($299).

 

[XwiredTVA]

I don't see why they'd do it? They still have previous generation iPods in both "refurbished" and "clearance" sections (US store). And from many comments on this forum I understand they'll never replace old model with the new one if they can avoid it, and even that they still have some old ones after a year or two. If the old model sold days before the release is returned, one has to pay restocking fee. Selling current models for lower price as refurbished, with the same warranty etc., just doesn't seem to make sense. The only way it could work would be if current model refurbished notebook had higher price than the old model but new unit on clearance. I've no idea how much did refurbished iPods 160GB cost a month ago, but I doubt it was more than new ones do on clearance ($299).

They do this from time to time but generally it's AFTER the release of the new model. My MacBook was purchased as a refurb but it was in fact a new unit. The SN was never sold according to the Apple Tech I spoke with 3 days after I got it (power button was stuck down). I called and kinda complained how this would happen with a refurbished model and that's when it was explained to me that when new models are released they SOMETIMES sell off the remaining inventory as refurbished instead of putting them as a clearance (which brings the resale value down and causes people who bought new to get a major refund-why I never buy new units). Refurbished equipment does not have the same 14 day price policy. My Wife's MB states Refurbished under the battery, mine does not. My keyboard is more tinny feeling too but I can deal with it. Overall the first gen MacBooks IMHO were better built. Her's weighs a tad more (The postal scale here goes to the hundredth of a pound) by 4 tenths of a pound.

The refurb section is a hard clock to judge by. If you check the US Store refurb section Thursday and Saturday before 8am your gonna see a lot of models. By mid-day most are gone. I was able to get a 2nd Gen Macbook base model for $749 there back in Nov 07 and my BlackBook for $1099 Santa Rosa (that's $400 off) in Feb 08'. By mid-day these were gone and they were not there the day before. So now you all know my trick for getting a good deal on a refurb. Those two days just seem to be the days of updating that section.

I will agree however there are a lot on there now but chances are these are 100% refurbished units, UNLESS Apple is running low on Retail boxes... Still your chances of getting a new unit from the refurb section now is slimmer than the day/week after updates. What are the odds of getting a new unit out of refurb? My odds were 1 in 10. A MacBook and a MacMini...

My best refurb purchase: 1.83ghz MacMini advertised as 512mb ram, 80gb drive. What showed up? 1.83ghz with 2gb Ram and 160gb HD. I did not call about it. EDIT: It was listed for $479 right after the move to C2D. I used my iPhone $100 credit for it as well. So $379 for that deal? Yea, I pretty much stole it.

 

[clu10]

The aggressive pricing really is a good thing.


Apple simply cannot afford to sell their laptops at that price point with the current specifications, and hopefully with the new ones either.

they absoultutley can, i can get a dell for a lower price tag with the same specks, but they charge a premium for lord knows wat

 

[XwiredTVA]

they absoultutley can, i can get a dell for a lower price tag with the same specks, but they charge a premium for lord knows wat

They can, they will.

They charge more because they have a structured pricing schedule. GM/Ford are having issues with these huge rebates on new cars, Apple does NOT want that. Dell is having the same problem. When units are priced at retail nobody buys them, they wait for the rebates. Apple charges a premium because they are worth buying. Not for the hardware however, it's the software that makes them worth every penny. You can buy a PC anywhere but you can only get a Mac from Apple (and it's retailers). If Apple runs a sale directly then I'd probably ask Why right after selling off my stock.

Speaking of which, MacMall has the best value for new Macs. Just an FYI for those looking to purchase. You get Parallels, Printer, Case for free and they discount iPods with the purchase of a Mac.

 

[Tosser]

they absoultutley can, i can get a dell for a lower price tag with the same specks, but they charge a premium for lord knows wat

I think you misunderstood the bloke. I believe he meant that in the long run, they can't "afford" taking that premium because more and more people will stop and think, just like you just did.

 

[aleksandra.]

They do this from time to time but generally it's AFTER the release of the new model. My MacBook was purchased as a refurb but it was in fact a new unit. The SN was never sold according to the Apple Tech I spoke with 3 days after I got it (power button was stuck down). I called and kinda complained how this would happen with a refurbished model and that's when it was explained to me that when new models are released they SOMETIMES sell off the remaining inventory as refurbished instead of putting them as a clearance (which brings the resale value down and causes people who bought new to get a major refund-why I never buy new units). Refurbished equipment does not have the same 14 day price policy. My Wife's MB states Refurbished under the battery, mine does not. My keyboard is more tinny feeling too but I can deal with it. Overall the first gen MacBooks IMHO were better built. Her's weighs a tad more (The postal scale here goes to the hundredth of a pound) by 4 tenths of a pound.

(...)

I will agree however there are a lot on there now but chances are these are 100% refurbished units, UNLESS Apple is running low on Retail boxes... Still your chances of getting a new unit from the refurb section now is slimmer than the day/week after updates. What are the odds of getting a new unit out of refurb? My odds were 1 in 10. A MacBook and a MacMini...

(...)

Thanks for the explanation, now it seems more logical. Although I still don't think they'd do it right now.

 

[Lo Aul]

I've figured out how to force Apple into releasing the new MacBooks.

We have to buy all of the current ones.

With no stock left of this make, they'll be forced to release the new ones to sate the demand. Instant success! Go buy as many MacBooks and Pros and Airs as you can! Start now!

 

[peepboon]

I've figured out how to force Apple into releasing the new MacBooks.

We have to buy all of the current ones.

With no stock left of this make, they'll be forced to release the new ones to sate the demand. Instant success! Go buy as many MacBooks and Pros and Airs as you can! Start now!

aslong as you pay hehehe

 

[interinmente]

Any MBPro?

Nobody can speculate abut a new MBPro release for the next oct 14th? Only mac Book? I am planning to buy an eventually new MBP.
Wish list in the new MBP:
Touch monitor panel like in iPhone
new type of a remote control (can be used also for games or for a TV Tuner)
TV tuner included

 

[hellomoto4]

Nobody can speculate abut a new MBPro release for the next oct 14th? Only mac Book? I am planning to buy an eventually new MBP.
Wish list in the new MBP:
Touch monitor panel like in iPhone
new type of a remote control (can be used also for games or for a TV Tuner)
TV tuner included

I think that when people tallk about MBs they also mean MBPs, as if they update the MB w/o updating the MBP, the MB would be better and so much cheaper than the MBP and thats not what Apple want it to be.

 

[Detektiv-Pinky]

...
I will agree however there are a lot on there now but chances are these are 100% refurbished units, UNLESS Apple is running low on Retail boxes... Still your chances of getting a new unit from the refurb section now is slimmer than the day/week after updates. What are the odds of getting a new unit out of refurb? My odds were 1 in 10. A MacBook and a MacMini...
...

Well, take a look at the German apple store:
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/germanstore.woa/wa/RSLID?sf=wAU4UKP4A49PUDAJA&nclm=Certified

I highly doubt that all these listings are only returned machines. The German store usually moves far less boxes than the American. Therefore usually you only find 2-3 items in the refurb section.

Now it is stocked through the roof.

Before the new iMac came out this year, Apple was not lowering the price but instead was running a several week long campaign in the refurb-section where you could get the current 'soon-to-be-obsolete' model with a substantial rebate. I sense the same thing happening now...

(..and today is Wednesday!)

 

[Cubytus]

I understand Europen fellow complains over apple prices, which are typically 50% higher than their US-Canada counterparts. Instead of crying, why not set up a grouped order with an intermediate in Canada or the US to get a reasonably priced Mac?

 

[Roar!]

was it someone who has a brother the knows someone that works at apple?

dude...what?

 

[nationwide]

I understand Europen fellow complains over apple prices, which are typically 50% higher than their US-Canada counterparts. Instead of crying, why not set up a grouped order with an intermediate in Canada or the US to get a reasonably priced Mac?

because when they go through customs they get loads of tax on them

 

[aleksandra.]

I understand Europen fellow complains over apple prices, which are typically 50% higher than their US-Canada counterparts. Instead of crying, why not set up a grouped order with an intermediate in Canada or the US to get a reasonably priced Mac?

You cannot order computers from US or Canada, or at least I know of no online store that allows it (I mean to countries where prices are really 50% higher, not UK). I suppose if it was possible, it would've solved half of the problem - we would still pay our way too high taxes, but it'd still be cheaper, even with delivery cost and banks using their way exaggerated rates of exchange. It'd still be about 25% more expensive, and we'd be complaining, but we can't do even that.