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Want to buy an inexpensive Mac for the wife

emcham said:
i am a girl, so i want to pitch in here!
i would go with one of these options:

1. a gift card, with a nice note. ladies can't resist the hand-written letters. sorry, i know, its difficult. but it works. and i don't think a thoughtfully given gift card is a bad thing! computers are so personal, wouldn't you want to hand-pick yours? even if you were on a budget?

2. a macbook, with a nice carry case. there are plenty of nice and affordable carry cases and sleeves on the apple website. most women can't resist a nice accessory. again, it is also a thoughtful gesture and makes the whole package really "set-up ready to go" and appealing.

if she is independent, go with option #1. if she likes you to take care of her, go with option #2.
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Thanks for the tips. I believe option #2 is better suited for her.

The problem with buying for her is that she's not into material things and she's VERY frugal. So spending this much on her already she won't be pleased with but I know it's something she needs. She'd rather me only spend $100 on her and get her some DVDs and maybe a piece of clothing...like I said, she doesn't like spending money or ME spending money. This makes it very difficult to buy anything for her.
 
SnowLeopard2008 said:
$700 won't net you anything newer than 2 years....
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...$750 at the refurb store will get you a barely one gen old whitebook with a C2D 2.0 processor and the new 9400m Nvidia GPU that is in all the current macbooks, MBP's and 20"/24" iMac's...

I lucked out and got my Nvidia whitebook for $747 NIB and upped the RAM and HDD to 4GB and 320GB respectively for $98 shipped from www.newegg.com = $845 for a nice portable "current" machine...

You just have to look and be patient, good luck with your search:)
 
See above... :)

Keep an eye on the refurb store. I saw the same gen Macbook as I have for $699 the other day...
 
Bostonaholic said:
Thanks for the tips. I believe option #2 is better suited for her.

The problem with buying for her is that she's not into material things and she's VERY frugal. So spending this much on her already she won't be pleased with but I know it's something she needs. She'd rather me only spend $100 on her and get her some DVDs and maybe a piece of clothing...like I said, she doesn't like spending money or ME spending money. This makes it very difficult to buy anything for her.
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I think a computer and case are a very practical, functional gift. Especially for someone close to you who really needs them. I think she will be surprised and happy. Plus, not to be nosy, but based on your system, a lower end laptop and case won't look over-the-top to her in comparison, right? And I agree with everyone else, if you can really try to scrounge together some extra cash, a low-end MBP would be even better... Based on what you've said about her, she'll have this computer a long time!
 
I believe the cheapest 15" Apple refurbished MacBook Pro you'll find is up around 1300.

Might be a better idea to get the refurb MacBook Pro 13" for now.

If she'd like "more screen real estate", suggest a Dell 2209wa display (around 200 on sale, keep your eye open). It will plug right in and give her a LOT of usuable screen space....

- John
 
NeverhadaPC said:
Try giving your wife a gift card for her birthday... NOT good for your nights :rolleyes:

surprising her with an Apple refurb +warranty would be a much better idea ;)

Seriously, do NOT get her a gift card!
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HAHA a gift card!!!
I tried that once.
Never again!
 
Fishrrman said:
I believe the cheapest 15" Apple refurbished MacBook Pro you'll find is up around 1300.

Might be a better idea to get the refurb MacBook Pro 13" for now.

If she'd like "more screen real estate", suggest a Dell 2209wa display (around 200 on sale, keep your eye open). It will plug right in and give her a LOT of usuable screen space....

- John
Click to expand...

I don't believe an external monitor is something she's interested in. She wants a laptop to use while on the couch in the living room while watching tv. External monitors are useless here. I have an external monitor for us to use already anyway.
 
Well I finally shelled out the cash and bought her a laptop! I decided to push the budget a bit and spent the $999 on this http://store.apple.com/us/product/FB467LL/A?mco=MTA4MzIzMDA

Specs:
refurb 13.3" MacBook aluminum unibody
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (I'm glad I went with the 2.4, I found out she'll be using Final Cut for some minor video editing--whew!)
2GB 1066MHz DDR3
250GB HD
iSight
AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi

I hope she likes it! It comes this week but her birthday isn't for another 3, so she may get it early. I'll keep you posted with her reaction.
 
Bostonaholic said:
Well I finally shelled out the cash and bought her a laptop! I decided to push th budget a bit and spent the $999 on this http://store.apple.com/us/product/FB467LL/A?mco=MTA4MzIzMDA

Specs:
refurb 13.3" MacBook aluminum unibody
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (I'm glad I went with the 2.4, I found out she'll be using Final Cut for some minor video editing--whew!)
2GB 1066MHz DDR3
250GB HD
iSight
AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi

I hope she likes it! It comes this week but her birthday isn't for another 3, so she may get it early. I'll keep you posted with her reaction.
Click to expand...

Good purchase, I'm sure she will like it. I know MANY girls that went from 15" laptops to the 13" MBP.
 
uberamd said:
Good purchase, I'm sure she will like it. I know MANY girls that went from 15" laptops to the 13" MBP.
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That's what I'm confused about. This is just the MacBook, not the Pro. But it has the aluminum unibody. Did the regular MacBook used to come in the A/U? I know now that the 13" MacBook only comes in the white plastic (I don't think it looks as nice).
 
i'd get a refurb 13 or 15
signature_SmileyFace.jpg
its maybe a little over budget, but will be worth it in the long run
 
Don't Buy From Gainsaver

I would recommend skipping Gainsaver completely. I purchased an iMac there for around $550 last month, and after owning it for 38 days, it turned off, and never turned back on again. When I called them to see what they could do about it, they simply stated that I hadn't bought the extended warranty, so they wouldn't do anything.

I don't know about anyone else, but extended warranty or not, a computer needs to last more than a month. If a computer shuts of randomly a month after it is purchased, it is more than likely the supplier's fault. I called Apple to schedule it to be serviced, and they completely agreed with me.

If you buy refurbished from Apple, they will guarantee their products for up to a year.

Anyway, I'd recommend going with Apple, they are super nice and at least you know you'll get what you are paying for :)
 
Bostonaholic said:
That's what I'm confused about. This is just the MacBook, not the Pro. But it has the aluminum unibody. Did the regular MacBook used to come in the A/U? I know now that the 13" MacBook only comes in the white plastic (I don't think it looks as nice).
Click to expand...

The original MacBook came in white and black plastic. Then they made it aluminum for a short time. During this time, the white MacBook was available at a lower cost. Then Apple merged the aluminum model into the current MBP line, and the White MacBook became the regular MacBook again.
 
Cassie said:
The original MacBook came in white and black plastic. Then they made it aluminum for a short time. During this time, the white MacBook was available at a lower cost. Then Apple merged the aluminum model into the current MBP line, and the White MacBook became the regular MacBook again.
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That's what I figured. Thanks for the clarification.

Update: Damn FedEx came by the house today to drop it off but of course we were at work... So now I've got to wait until the weekend to drive to the ditro center (about 30-45 minutes away) or hope they come after 6...

When mine came, it was left at the local center and I was able to pick it up the same day they missed me, not sure why this time is different. Ugh, I was hoping to give it to my wife tonight...
 
yep, as has been posted, when Mac launched the unibody macbooks around this time last year the 13" came in white polycarbonate and an alu unibody, with much better specs for not much more. Then late spring/early summer they merged all alu unibodies into the Macbook Pro line, and only have the white poly as the Macbook. Rumours are swirling that they MIGHT expand the white MBs into a couple different lower-cost options, but only time will tell...

And as far as screen size goes, I have a 15" MBP, and am looking at about three inches of unused screen to the left and right of my Safari window.... and when I'm in Pages doing any document editing, I have a similar amount of unused real estate. If the 13" macbook unibody came with a backlit keyboard (which was only offered on the 15" when I bought mine in Feb) then I would have gone with the 13". Alas, wasn't an option, but it is now.

At any rate, she'll love it. My wife has been using my Mac a little more and more as time goes on.... her next laptop that we buy will be a Mac as well.

Cheers,

Tim
 
I'd stay away from Gainsaver, I just checked their website and they are selling 'modbooks' - Apple Tablets.
 
The 13" unibody mb is a great choice. I have it and I love it. My sister has the white mb and I think the aluminum looks a feels much better. She sounds like my mother (who insists she doesn't like money being spent on her) but once she starts using that machine she is going to fall in love. Good luck (but I don't think you are going to need it).
 
gnasher729 said:
Used Macs on eBay are ridiculously expensive. The cheapest MacBook brand new from Apple costs $999. You would think that you should be able to get something a year old on eBay for $700, but you can't. People are bidding stupid prices for used Macs (which is nice when you want to sell one).

I would really recommend that you add a little bit to your budget and look at refurbished MacBooks from the Apple Store; as I am typing you can get a refurbished MacBook for $849. But that is as new with full warranty, not used from some unknown seller; it is a much better buy than anything used you can buy for $700.
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I heartily agree, why cheap out on your better half, maybe she'd DO MORE if she had a machine that DID MORE. Dude, this is your wife!;)
 
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