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MBP waiter at the end of the rope
- Thread starter akadmon
- Start date
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End of rope?
Can you back up just one more step.
Well, I figure that if I order this Tuesday (assuming no update), I'll still have two additional Tuesdays before I would take a restocking fee hit (if I choose to). I would go with Amazon's standard shipping, which would get the machine to my door on or slightly after Tuesday March 4, and then I would just keep the box unopened until March 11. If the update comes on the 17th (as some have conjectured), oh well
I won't retell my whole story here, just briefly recap the main points. I made a pact with my college bound daughter that the latest we will wait for the updated MBP is February 26th (I know school is still 6 months away, but she's been without her own computer since summer, so yeah, another month or two waiting for the MBP update is something neither one of us relishes). After doing some research into alternatives outside of Apple, I decided that my fall back position will be Dell XPS M1330. Today I took her to a Staples store to check it out, and the silly goose said she doesn't like it! Since she doesn't want a plain old Mac Book either, I'm stuck getting her the current MBP
Besides wanting the latest processor, the primary reason I've been waiting is the fact that the current model does not have a user replaceable hard drive, which is a problem considering the fact that the base model comes equipped with only a 120GB hd, forcing me to go the BTO route through Apple.com which a) is more expensive than buying a bigger/faster drive from a place like Newegg, and b) adds 5% sales tax to the cost of the machine.
I was planning to buy her the low end MBP when it got updated to Penryn, but seeing that I'm likely to have to go with current Merom version, I'm leaning toward getting her the mid range model. I can get it from Amazon for $2170 with no sales tax, which is actually less than an EPP price. I figure that at worst I'll be getting a machine almost as fast at the low end Penryn MBP for $170 more. And if the changes to the new MBPs go beyond a simple processor upgrade (larger or user replaceable hd, better graphics, case redesign), I may just pay the $325.50 restocking fee, so those new features will really cost me an additional $155.50 (sorry for being so exact
Before I do this (this Tuesday, assuming there is no MBP update), I have the following questions:
1. In case the updated MBPs come out within 30 days of my order, would Amazon insist on getting a 15% restocking fee from me?
2. When does the 30-day clock start: immediately after I place the order, when the MBP is shipped, or when I take possession of it?
3. In the past, how soon after the introduction of new MBPs did Amazon start offering their coupons?
I was also playing the waiting game until last Wednesday. I originally was waiting for the MBP's to be updated but I got sick of getting disappointed every Tuesday. I went to the Apple store and went inside with the intentions of leaving with a BlackBook and walked out with a current entry-level MBP. It opened apps quite noticibly faster and I'm a sucker for aluminum.
Oh, and as for the Dell XPS M1330 check C-Net for comparisons between it and the BlackBook. The BlackBook KILLS the XPS in every test by a large margin. Now put that M1330 up against a MBP... you'll know what not to buy.
Well, I figure that if I order this Tuesday (assuming no update), I'll still have two additional Tuesdays before I would take a restocking fee hit (if I choose to). I would go with Amazon's standard shipping, which would get the machine to my door on or slightly after Tuesday March 4, and then I would just keep the box unopened until March 11. If the update comes on the 17th (as some have conjectured), oh well
You are welcome to do whatever works best for you but is it really worth it to pay a restocking fee just to get the newest model? You'll be actually paying more than anyone else for it.
Dude, I highly recommend that you let go of all this crazy hype, it's just a computer and subtle differences are not going to be worth paying over $200 for.
Well, having kept your daughter waiting for 8 months on a promised gift, maybe you can toss in an iTunes gift card, or an iPod, or something extra for the extra long wait.
Did you say if you can get Edu discount? (If not, you can extend the waiting pain until you can get the college discount. And maybe a free iPod.)
Did you say if you can get Edu discount? (If not, you can extend the waiting pain until you can get the college discount. And maybe a free iPod.)
another person fed up of waiting for something that won't make the slightest bit of difference to them. quelle surprise.
Wow, I guess you CAN predict the future, Nostradamus
Too bad you chose such a trivial matter -- most of us would prefer to hear weightier predictions, like the world is going to end on a Tuesday.i have a question about this as well. I got very sick of the waiting game and decided to go ahead and buy because I broke my MB and sold it on ebay.... and needed another mac for my work. Going with out a laptop for work is crazy. I broke down and ordered MBP last week and it will be here Monday. So what if apple redesigns the MBP this tuesday. I read somewhere you can return it if you bought it within like 15 days of a update or something. Can anyone clear this up for me??? Just curious... even if they do update it 9x out of 10 at this point in the game I could care less!!!!!
I'm curious why you didn't ask Apple this question when you were buying/ordering your MBP? Surely you must have been wondering about this very scenario? I don't think Apple is under any obligation to replace your MBP just becuase you bought the computer one week, or even one day before the new model is released. That is not to say that they won't on a case by case basis (depends largely on the person you're dealing with). Anyway, so long as you do not open the box, you will get a full refund within 14 days of the purchase. Just relax and wait that one extra day.
Wow, I guess you CAN predict the future, Nostradamus
no, i'm pretty sure the speed updates and whatever else they throw at the MBP will not change how fast your demanding princess will surf the web and IM her friends. Like many other people here you've fallen for the hype. You want something because everyone else wants it, even though it's likely to make no difference whatsoever to how the computer is used.
But hey, you already get ordered around by your daughter (i love that kids these days can just take a dislike to something completely awesome and functional and useful and their parents will buy them an even better model) so you better pray this update is enough to keep her happy. she says jump, looks like you say 'how high?'
I hope the wait is worth it - I will be sitting back waiting till 12:30am Wednesday morning PRAYING for the new MBP to be released. I need to salary sacrifice my wages on something...
Jesus whats wrong with a parents being NICE to their children? He is not getting bossed around by his child, instead he wants her to be happy and get her what she wants, instead of whats more convenient for him, as a reward for her being the person she is...Is this something too difficult to grasp for some or am I missing something...Channel your childhood animosity towards your own parents on some psychology self-help forum.
I just wanted to make sure everybody knows that skiffx is not my daughter
...at least I don't think so
...at least I don't think so
I just wanted to make sure everybody knows that skiffx is not my daughter
...at least I don't think so
Hey I can even wait for an updated version if you get one for me as well
What? Man how negative of a person do you have to be to give a guy crap about buying his daughter a computer before going to school. Do we even know what she's going to school for? As far as you know she's going for video editing, and a high end mac laptop is a must. Did you just buy an MBP in the last few weeks and are bitter? Or do you always just go around pissing people off.
Anyway akadmon, congrats on being a good parent who cares about their children and wants them to be prepared for college. I'd wait as long as you can, but everyone has a limit (for me, I'll be reacing my limit in the next week or two also)
My point is that a) people claiming to be 'at the end of my rope!' and stressing about an update that really won't make a difference (think about it - people are doing all sorts of things on their current mbps that I guarantee will tax their computer way more than this girl will ever do) are kidding themselves and falling for hype. and b) buying your kid everything they want because they reject things they don't like that would be more than suitable because 'she doesn't want a plain old Mac Book either' is not a great parenting route and is merely reinforcing the privileged view of kids these days that everything will be handed them on a plate. when the OP suggests he is at the end of his rope it's not hard to work out who is at the other end tugging on it.
Of course, it's his money. If he is prepared to spend more than required merely to please his daughter when she should be (as many people would) grateful she's even being bought a computer, it's his call. whatever he needs to tell himself to get him through the day, I guess.
oh and to answer your question - i use a powerbook and it is more than enough for my uses - i don't get bitter at computer purchases, just really confused at people's motivation!
p.s skiffix, my parents are totally f*cking awesome!
Got our 2.4GHz base Penryn with a 7200 rpm Hitachi hdd around noon today. So far everything is A.O.K. Installed 4GB Crucial RAM (toughest part was having to drive to the hardware store to get the stupid 00 Philips screwdriver ). Screen is just fine (no dead pixels, no noticeable yellowing). Wireless reception is excellent everywhere in the house. Case closes evenly all around (no "gaps"). No processor whine, no power adapter buzz, runs very cool. Hope yours are as good as this one
). Screen is just fine (no dead pixels, no noticeable yellowing). Wireless reception is excellent everywhere in the house. Case closes evenly all around (no "gaps"). No processor whine, no power adapter buzz, runs very cool. Hope yours are as good as this one