I finally wandered into my local Microcenter, curious to see how much Mac stuff they have. (Normally I go to CompUSA, the Apple Store, or simply Amazon online.)
Answer: a lot! In some areas, more selection than the Apple Store or CompUSA even. Prices were pretty standard.
It's a separate glassed in area, out of the traffic, but pretty large and seems to have its own (non-Apple) staff. I can't comment on their knowledge, but they were friendly.
The whole Microcenter experience is a little chaotic and disorderly, but they've got the goods. Lots of software and even a section of clearance software--older games etc.--that aren't bad buys. And TONS of accessories, everything imaginable for iPods and Macs. Some cool Mac-centric gizmos I'd never seen anywhere else, fun to browse. Books also.
As for the stuff on display--they had it all. PowerMacs with 30" displays, iPod nanos, iPod speaker systems, every size PowerBook and iBook, both sizes of iMac, eMac, and even a Mac Mini hooked up to a 1280x768 flat panel TV, which was actually a pretty cool setup. The weren't running nice clean demos like Apple does, but they were in working order and had stuff to play with. One was set up with GarageBand and a music keyboard.
All in all, better than I would have expected. An unexpected new source when I need something for my Mac. Sadly, unlike at CompUSA, the Mac section was a ghost town. Nobody in there but me. And outside the Mac area the only Mac stuff to be found was a display of accessories for Mac Minis and iPods.
Answer: a lot! In some areas, more selection than the Apple Store or CompUSA even. Prices were pretty standard.
It's a separate glassed in area, out of the traffic, but pretty large and seems to have its own (non-Apple) staff. I can't comment on their knowledge, but they were friendly.
The whole Microcenter experience is a little chaotic and disorderly, but they've got the goods. Lots of software and even a section of clearance software--older games etc.--that aren't bad buys. And TONS of accessories, everything imaginable for iPods and Macs. Some cool Mac-centric gizmos I'd never seen anywhere else, fun to browse. Books also.
As for the stuff on display--they had it all. PowerMacs with 30" displays, iPod nanos, iPod speaker systems, every size PowerBook and iBook, both sizes of iMac, eMac, and even a Mac Mini hooked up to a 1280x768 flat panel TV, which was actually a pretty cool setup. The weren't running nice clean demos like Apple does, but they were in working order and had stuff to play with. One was set up with GarageBand and a music keyboard.
All in all, better than I would have expected. An unexpected new source when I need something for my Mac. Sadly, unlike at CompUSA, the Mac section was a ghost town. Nobody in there but me. And outside the Mac area the only Mac stuff to be found was a display of accessories for Mac Minis and iPods.
