Here is a little hint that you might look into. If you wait until you start school you can save about 20% off the price of a computer you get from Apple. How? If you're an university student you can get an Apple Student Developer membership. Yes, it costs $99. But with it comes a one-per-lifetime developer discount (don't worry, you don't have to be in any classes that deal with computers). I got a MBP C2D 2.33, with 2 gigs of RAM, a 160 HD for about $2100 this past fall. Just something you might want to consider.
I've never heard about that. So, you have to actually be
in school to get this membership? Seems like a good deal... does anything else come with it?
Some people might tell you not even to bother with a laptop because it never leaves your dorm room, but I highly disagree. I took my iBook and used it for notes in 3 of my 5 classes last semester, because I can type faster than I can write. Additionally, I was hardly ever in my dorm room. I was always hanging out in my friends' rooms, and I would usually take my laptop over there so we could listen to music off of it and I could talk to other people on AIM, facebook, etc.
I highly disagree on that statement as well. Some people travel with their laptops and others just don't. I'm almost positive that I will be someone to take my laptop to class, as I can type faster than I can write as well (even though my writing speed isn't too shabby either, haha).
So, I'd recommend you get the high model (2.16Ghz) white macbook (or black if you want). The superdrive is good for futureproofing. Additionally, I'd get 2GB of ram and the 160GB 5400rpm hard drive. ($1424 w/ edu discount, $1607 w/ applecare)
Just out of curiousity, are you in the US? Because US students can purchase using the EDU discount as soon as you're accepted into a school, so make sure you use that when purchasing. Additionally, Apple has been running their back-to-school free iPod nano deal the past few years and it has started in mid-June, so I'd wait for that before purchasing.
Actually, in a post of mine somewhere above yours in this thread I made this exact comment.
🙂 I put together the same configurations and used the education discount which I COMPLETELY plan on taking advantage of. And... yes, I am in the US.
🙂 I
am waiting for the back-to-school promo to start for sure before I buy anything because I also want an iPod for school, and passing up a free one is something I'm not willing to do! Speaking of this promo, I walked into an Apple store Monday and questioned one of the salesmen over it - asked what he thought the promo would be this year and when it'd start. He actually told me that he wasn't for sure if they were doing the iPod special this year and that Apple might change it up with something new. I found that really weird. He also told me the back-to-school special probably start around mid-June as well.
Oh, one more thing. If you want, you can get iWork installed when you order the laptop. But you might also want Microsoft Office for Word and Powerpoint because you might be working on assignments with kids who have Windows computers. However, I would wait until you get to school to buy these, because many schools have a huge discount for students on software in the bookstore. For example, I can get Office 2003 for XP or Office 2004 for Mac for just $6 in the bookstore.
When I put my configurations together that I mentioned in my reply above to another quote from yours, I had iWork preinstalled simply because I know I want everything it has to offer and a friend of mine told me I shouldn't pass it up. I've already thought about the major discounts my bookstore might give me for Word or Office (both of which are ones I think I'm almost 100% sure I would like/need). Definitely going to look into that and go about that way with any purchasing on Office if I decide to.
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Thanks so much for your detailed reply, zioxide! I really enjoyed hearing what you had to say considering you were just a first year college student yourself.
🙂
I also think that the backlit keyboard is amazing.
Do the Macbooks come with a backlit keyboard now too? I thought the MBPs were the only one with that option? I must've totally missed that update!
I don't use my MBP for notes in class, but it's portability is definitely a necessity. For me, that's mostly because I'm a music student and have been doing more and more recording and composing away from home.
I also have this whole ADDish side, so being able to change settings from time to time is beneficial.
Now, the main reason I went with the MBP was literally because the CPU whine of the the CD MB drove me nuts. I actually owned one of those for two weeks before returning it for a C2D MBP. Luckily, the guy at the Apple Store didn't charge me a restocking fee. Probably because I was upgrading.
If I had to do it again, I would have:
#1. waited until the MB was updated to C2D (at the time, that would have only meant another 4 weeks)
#2. stuck with the mid-level white C2D MB and just dealt with the CPU whine (if there even was one)
Unless you NEED a graphics card (possibly) or NEED 3GB vs. 2GB of RAM (unlikely), I would highly suggest the MB.
I've started to get interested in some photo/graphic work, but my main area is audio, which is CPU dependent (as are most tasks for any non-media-related student) , not GPU dependent. I haven't even come close to maxing out my 2.16 C2D, so I certainly wouldn't have maxed out a 2.0.
I kind of wish I had stuck with the MB, but I am of course happy with my MBP.
We ALL have to be more realistic sometimes. Would you be any less productive with a MB vs. a MBP? I know I wouldn't.
Or, you could of course go with a current refurb MBP.
If your family is ponying up a majority of the dough, then yeah, you kind of have to listen to what they're saying. Believe me, if they can hang an unnecessary purchase over your head, they probably will.
Sorry for being so long-winded! 😀
I thought it was really interesting how you said you might prefer a Macbook over a MBP now. My parents actually aren't paying for any of my laptop.
🙂 I've had a job working in retail since last summer so I can save up for things like this that I'll need for school.
🙂 I actually like knowing I'm buying everything myself... I think it makes it feel that much better, you know? No worries on the reply, I
love reading long ones!
🙂 It shows you took time out to read my thread and considered all of the advice you had to give me (or anyone else being dependent on this thread) and I really appreciate that! Thanks so much for everything you had to say!
1. Buy your books used if you can -- the resell value is horrible on textbooks. Just make sure that they are the same edition being used in class! There is no shame in saving a +$100/term at this stage in your life!
2. Your computing needs may evolve over your four years of school. So, unless you have a pretty good idea what you will be doing in two years, then spending your hard-earned money on one machine before you start school, may be a little risky, especially if it needs to last. If you are going to study in something where a computer is really just a secondary tool (word processing, email, etc.) and entertainment for you (itunes), then buy now and get something that you like. If you are going into a field where the computer will be a primary tool (CS, graphics design,...) then you may want to buy something cheap (refurbed macbook?) and save that money for a year or two from now, when you'll want something much more powerful.
I had two computers in college. The first one barely lasted me through my first two years in school before I had to have something more powerful with a bigger screen.
3. You are paying a premium for Apple RAM... an easy solution is to start with 1GB and if you need to, buy the RAM later (through newegg for less) and install it yourself.
4. If you can't afford to replace your laptop if something breaks, then please buy the AppleCare!
1. Yes, I was going to buy as many books as I can next semester used. I think it's silly to pay that much for those things too.
2. Actually, Computer Science is a really big interest of mine. I'm not 100% positive on what I want to major in in college, though. I'm thinking of double-majoring even. Who knows. I think that buying a decent laptop now will serve me good use
at least for 3 & 1/2 years. If the time comes to buy a more powerful one, then so be it.
3. I've debating on what I want to do about the RAM myself. I honestly would not regret doing my 2GB of RAM through Apple, especially if I BTO -- they're doing whatever else, and I believe the extra gig is $157. I'd rather have it all ready at once and I don't think I'd be upset over the extra money I had to use on it.
4. AppleCare is something that's never crossed my mind, actually. I don't know if it's worth it to buy or not because I'm not sure if I'll ever need it. 3 friends of mine all purchased Macbooks for school without the AppleCare and they haven't had any problems to where they would've needed it yet. I could be different, though. We'll see when the time comes. I might change my mind.
🙂
