Originally posted by #Johnny5
Seems people like to read about others iBook orders on this forum, so here I go
It's actually replacing a 867MHz QuickSilver tower. So I'm taking a small hit for speed, but I really wanted the portability... and I only do video once in a while anyway. If I couldn't do the dual-display hack, I would have had to go with the PowerBook, but I was VERY happy to find out about that hack! It saved me $400!
I went with the Apple Store for Education (my wife's a teacher) - it was the only way I could get it with the 60GB hard drive... even though MacMall had it cheaper (cause no tax) and with a bunch more freebees. But I would have been stuck with the 30GB drive.
Here's my whole order, broken down by store, including tax/shipping/etc.:
Apple store for Education:
12" 800MHz iBook G4
256MB RAM
60GB hard drive (only $67 more than 30GB!)
Bluetooth inside (see note below)
Combo Drive
Apple Video Adapter - S-Video/RCA
Epson C84 printer (free after rebate) (see note below)
=$1214 (after printer rebate)
Apple Store (non-education)
Airport Extreme card - I had to order this separately because I wanted to use my $20 Apple store coupon from renewing my .Mac account, and I couldn't use it along with the Education discount. So I got the (refurbished) Airport Extreme card for $59! Sweet!
= $62.84
Crucial.com
512MB RAM
=$123.53
So the iBook itself cost a total of
$1400.37
I added to that:
iSleeve case from booqbags.com
=$35.79
Logitech Cordless Elite Duo keyboard/mouse from Amazon.com (yes, its Mac-compatible it has both Win & Mac labels on the keys)
=$34.99 (after $20 rebate)
Whistler PP400AC 400 Car Power Adapter from Buy.com (see note at end)
=$46.00
Netgear WGR614 Wireless Router
=$53.99 (after $20 rebate)
External FireWire/USB 2.0 hard drive case to put my 120GB drive into (see not at end)
= about $96 (ouch!)
That gives me a grand total of
$1664.14 for:
12 iBook 800MHz, 60GB, 640MB, CDR/DVD, 802.11g, Bluetooth, Video-out or Extended desktop, 10.3 Panther
Custom-fit 12 iBook case
Cordless keyboard & mouse
802.11g wireless router
Car power adapter
Now, if I can keep track of all my orders without going crazy, Im going to be a very, very happy man by the end of next week!
- - - - - - - - - NOTES - - - - - - - - -
(Blutooth) I don't know what I'll use it for yet, but I don't want to have to use a USB port in case I get a new cell phone or something in the future - I hate that Apple won't sell the internal moduals separately, so I could buy it later and install it myself!
(Epson C84) I priced out all of Epson's offerings, including print/scan and printers, and it turns out that the C84 is the cheapest per-page printer they offer. I didn't look at any printers over $200, so they may be better, but the C84 is a pretty good deal when you figure in long-term costs of ink. Of interest, the C64 uses the exact same ink cartridges, and prints about 15% less pages per cartridge. Crazy! The C84 also accepts a high-capacity black cartridge for 1/3 more money, with 2x more ink.
(Whistler Car Adapter) I looked at the Belkin iBook auto adapter, but it was $80. I decided on the Whistler adapter, because it has 2 regular power outlets, and you can plug it right into the car battery, leaving your cigarette lighter adapter open for other things (iPod, perhaps). With 2 outlets, Im hoping to be able to plug in both the iBook and my FireWire hard drive. Ill have to wait & see if itll power both of them, though.
(FireWire case) I havent decided yet. Probably going to go with an OWC (macsales.com) case, since I keep hearing theyre a ton better than the rest. Unless anyone else knows of a better (or cheaper!) choice! Also considering a WesternDigital FireWire/USB2 120GB complete drive for $139.99 after $50 rebate. Its only about $40 more than OWCs empty case, (and it includes a 120GB drive) but I dont think it has the Oxford 911 chipset, which is what makes the OWC drive so much faster/better. I priced the OWC case in my estimate above.
