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WHY the 2.1ghz macbook is a RIP-OFF!

bluedoggiant

bluedoggiant

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Jul 13, 2007
2,658
102
MD & ATL,GA
Well, if my math is correct, here goes...

Right now, I'm going to make the specs of the 2.1ghz equal to that of the 2.4ghz:

2.1ghz ($1099)––––––––––2.4ghz ($1299)
13.3"------------------------13.3"
2.1ghz–––––––––––––––––2.4ghz
combo drive––––––––––––superdrive
2gb–––––––––––––––––––2gb
160gb HD–––––––––––––160gb hd

________________Total:

$1,249.00––––––––––––$1299.00

Notice the $50 difference, and for $50, you get a super drive, and .3ghz more of performance, and the heck of saying "I got the middle model":rolleyes:

And I certainly doubt that the $50 is for combo drive and .3ghz more performance

the 2.1ghz seriously needs to drop like $150, cuz now, its a rip off.
 
That is, of course, assuming one needs 2 GB RAM and 160 GB storage space. If that is the case, then yes, it is wiser to chose the middle model; however, if the base model has everything you need, then you've saved $200.

bluedoggiant said:
the 2.1ghz seriously needs to drop like $150, cuz now, its a rip off.
Click to expand...
Or raise the price of the 2.4 GHz model. ;)
 
I don't buy Apple RAM or hard drives. I don't see why anyone else should if they can use a screw driver and can post here on MacRumors.
 
yes i agree with you (the op).

I cant believe Apple still has the nerve to offer a combo drive on a laptop for that price.

But why in your sig does it say you are getting one?
 
Show me where I can get a middle model MB for $999, and I'll accept our argument. Until then, the el-cheeps model is amazing for college students like myself who just need a computer and don't have a lot of cash to spend.
 
thejadedmonkey said:
Show me where I can get a middle model MB for $999, and I'll accept our argument. Until then, the el-cheeps model is amazing for college students like myself who just need a computer and don't have a lot of cash to spend.
Click to expand...
The refurbished 2.2GHz 160GB Meron/SR blackbooks are going for $1049, some are even coming with 2GB RAM installed instead of the advertised 1GB. Same warranty, same Apple Care option, exactly like a new laptop except for the box.
 
In late 2007, I bought the entry model Santa Rosa (at that time, it was a 2.0, 1gRAM, 80gHD, w/COMBO). I figured I'd upgrade the RAM immediately, and the HD as needed. I didn't need the Superdrive.

It made sense to me.

I guess I got lucky, as I had a couple of warrentee issues, so this last week they exchanged that machine for me for a brand new mid-model... a Penryn 2.4, 2gRAM, 160gHD, w/Superdrive. That was a lucky stroke for me, but I'd still have never used a burner before (in my Life!), so the extra for the Superdrive still wouldn't sway me.
 
Stokes said:
In late 2007, I bought the entry model Santa Rosa (at that time, it was a 2.0, 1gRAM, 80gHD, w/COMBO). I figured I'd upgrade the RAM immediately, and the HD as needed. I didn't need the Superdrive.

It made sense to me.

I guess I got lucky, as I had a couple of warrentee issues, so this last week they exchanged that machine for me for a brand new mid-model... a Penryn 2.4, 2gRAM, 160gHD, w/Superdrive. That was a lucky stroke for me, but I'd still have never used a burner before (in my Life!), so the extra for the Superdrive still wouldn't sway me.
Click to expand...

yeah, but for $200, you get 2gb ram, 160gb HD, and $50 for more speed and a superdrive. doesn't make sense.
 
I've ordered a refurbished 2GHz MacBook Combo. For $906 with tax, it's pretty much a steal. Same with the refurbished 2.2GHz BlackBook with SuperDrive. Most people don't want or need a SuperDrive, and (like myself) have never burned a DVD in their life. Plus, you can upgrade memory from Crucial to 2GB for $50 and get a 250GB HD on NewEgg for $120. That's what i'm doing to mine eventually.

Refurbished, the way to go.
 
I got the entry level model for College. It's all I needed (don't need 2GB of ram, 1GB is good enough for me at the moment. Don't care about CPU speed, 2.1GHz is faster then my desktop at home. 120GB HDD is good enough for me, still have 57GB available). Costs $1049 in CDN with Educational Discount. I saved myself $200 that can go towards software I need, Apple Care or 2GB of ram if needed (which I can get for half the price that Apple charges when it's a BTO).
 
i see the middle model as the best value, but i hate white so got a blackbook :eek:
 
bluedoggiant said:
yeah, but for $200, you get 2gb ram, 160gb HD, and $50 for more speed and a superdrive. doesn't make sense.
Click to expand...

$200 is a lot of money what you get. It made sense to me to do it the way I did.

I was able to find a fellow that had just bought a MBP, and he harvested 2gRAM and the 160gHD out of his machine. I traded him for his stuff for a knife that I valued at $75 but had paid $40. It was suplus equipment to him, and a cheap upgrade to me. Given that I really have no use for the SuperDrive over the Combo drive, this was a no brainer. So, I wasn't willing to pay an extra 16% more money for just getting a 10% faster processor and a worthless to me Superdrive.

Back in the earlier days of PCs, I paid a $300 premium to move from a 233mhz machine to a 266mhz machine. That was wasted money! Finding real differences in processor speeds for me is near impossible. The most complicated thing I ever do is some minor photo editing... the rest is email and net surfing.
 
John.B said:
The refurbished 2.2GHz 160GB Meron/SR blackbooks are going for $1049, some are even coming with 2GB RAM installed instead of the advertised 1GB. Same warranty, same Apple Care option, exactly like a new laptop except for the box.
Click to expand...

yup, that's what I did. :)

I can't believe nobody has said this yet, but of course the low end is a bad deal relative to the others. Have you ever heard of upselling? First they convince you to buy a macbook for the very reasonable sum of $1100. Then they show you how much more you can get by spending just a little more. And presto - you're suddenly getting the mid-range when you never planned to spend that much to begin with.

That, and, as people have said, some people are fine with the less amount of HD space and RAM, so it's nice to have that option.
 
OZMP said:
i see the middle model as the best value, but i hate white so got a blackbook :eek:
Click to expand...

i agree with you there. i spent 2 hours in the apple store trying to determine which laptop was right for me and finally settled for the middle MB. i actually like the white because it looks cleaner. on the first day of ownership, i went out and bought 4gb of memory to install in my new MB heh
 
fuzzielitlpanda said:
i agree with you there. i spent 2 hours in the apple store trying to determine which laptop was right for me and finally settled for the middle MB. i actually like the white because it looks cleaner. on the first day of ownership, i went out and bought 4gb of memory to install in my new MB heh
Click to expand...


i was originally going to buy a base model then 4gb of ram and a 200gb 7200rpm seagate drive, but then i thought of how 'cream' the old keyboards go, so i went with a black one, and also cant be bothered messing around with the machine.
 
What actually sucks is: if you want a MacBook with the super drive, you have to buy the middle model, and thereby also paying for more memory, larger hd, faster cpu.
 
Yup, the base model doesn't seem necessary at all when considering the benefits of the middle model. The fact that the base model still has only a combo drive is a bit insulting. However, I have never burnt a CD - but I reserve the right to sometime in future:D
 
jonswan said:
Yup, the base model doesn't seem necessary at all when considering the benefits of the middle model.
Click to expand...

Not everybody wants to spend £170 extra when the base model does everything they want.

The biggest rip off in the macbook line is the black one.
 
priller said:
Not everybody wants to spend £170 extra when the base model does everything they want.

The biggest rip off in the macbook line is the black one.
Click to expand...

YEP :D but atleast they dont turn cream... i looked at an ex-display white one. ugh
 
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