Apple Back-to-School promo to offer free 8GB iPod touch

[AppleInsider]

Apple on Tuesday will formally announce details of its 2008 Back-to-School promotion, which will offer a free 8GB iPod touch to students who purchase a qualifying Mac.

People briefed on the promotion Monday confirm that this year's incentives will be the electronics maker's most compelling ever, offering a rebate good for a $299 8GB iPod touch, as was first reported by AppleInsider last week.

"We've already ordered lots of iPod touches to be ready for [this] week," said one person familiar with the promotion. That person added that students will also have the option to apply the $299 credit towards the purchase of a higher capacity player, namely the $399 16GB iPod touch or a $499 32 GB iPod touch.

MacRumors is also confirming that a free 8GB iPod touch will be the highlight of the promotion, adding that students could alternatively elect to receive a $199 iPod nano for whatever reason.

The largest incentive previously offered by Apple came last year in the form of a free $199 4G iPod nano. However, the company was motivated this year to boost the value to the equivalent of its cheapest iPod touch as a surefire means to rapidly grow the install base of its multi-touch platform ahead of this month's App Store launch. The more iPhones and iPod touches in the hands of consumers, the larger the target audience for third party application developers.

In order to participate in the program, students will need to purchase a qualifying Mac -- MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, or Mac Pro -- at the same time they purchase the 8GB iPod touch. Educational discounts are also applied as part of the promotion, reducing costs even further.

Official details are expected on Tuesday (tomorrow) morning. Previous Back-to-School promotions have run through the first half of September.

Update: The promo has now been announced.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[rbonner]

Does anyone know how apple defines a student? My high school student would love to upgrade to a Mac, and as the Dad/IS guy at home, I would love it as well. (Way fewer issues)

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by rbonner

Does anyone know how apple defines a student? My high school student would love to upgrade to a Mac, and as the Dad/IS guy at home, I would love it as well. (Way fewer issues)

If you take adult education classes (or even just 1 class, any subject) you are a student also and you can get a student ID.

[Jimzip]

Originally Posted by rbonner

Does anyone know how apple defines a student? My high school student would love to upgrade to a Mac, and as the Dad/IS guy at home, I would love it as well. (Way fewer issues)

You need to be enrolled at one of the universities, colleges or schools that Apple recognises, and you'll have to present your student card or your ID at the store (or online) to make a purchase with student pricing.

http://www.apple.com/education/hed/s...discounts.html

Jimzip

[Macd-to-death]

1. Is this promotion going to go on all summer? More specifically, if I wait for the new Macbooks to come out sometime in July, will it still be going on?

2. Will we be able to exchange it for $299 of Apple store credit in general or only towards the purchase of a different ipod touch? I want to use it towards an iPhone!

[rawhead]

Nwice. I'm looking to upgrade my Macbook sometime this year. If a compelling upgrade comes out before the end of this promo, I shall be very pleased ;-)

[maximilian88]

This is great!!!! So glad I waited to get my iMac.

Now... does anyone know whether or not these promotions are available online only or at the apple stores as well?

thanks in advance!

[Bageljoey]

Originally Posted by maximilian88

This is great!!!! So glad I waited to get my iMac.

Now... does anyone know whether or not these promotions are available online only or at the apple stores as well?

thanks in advance!

The promotions have been good at the stores in the past. As I recall, they charge you and you have to fill out the rebate slips and wait 4-8 weeks...

[dwr50]

It's too bad Apple doesn't offer promos to retired people on fixed incomes. I had to switch to Linux because Apples just cost too much money.

Acer Aspire 5315-2153, $348 Walmart Special,Mandriva Linux 2008.1 Spring Edition, is my new computer.

[Bageljoey]

Originally Posted by Macd-to-death

1. Is this promotion going to go on all summer? More specifically, if I wait for the new Macbooks to come out sometime in July, will it still be going on?

2. Will we be able to exchange it for $299 of Apple store credit in general or only towards the purchase of a different ipod touch? I want to use it towards an iPhone!

1. These usually go into September. (The real downfall to waiting is that you end up really close to the holiday iPod refresh so your new iPod is not the latest and greatest before you even get the rebate back...)

2. I am with you there! I need a new laptop, but I think I am going to want an iPhone (I really want true GPS). Don't know if I would be able to swing both. My guess is no, though. I think they would have said iPhone if they were going to include it... One can hope, though!

[Bageljoey]

Originally Posted by dwr50

It's too bad Apple doesn't offer promos to retired people on fixed incomes. I had to switch to Linux because Apples just cost too much money.

Acer Aspire 5315-2153, $348 Walmart Special,Mandriva Linux 2008.1 Spring Edition, is my new computer.

Have one of your grandkids "buy" it for you.

[SpamSandwich]

Shopping Agreement

Who is Eligible To Purchase
The following education individuals are eligible to purchase through the Apple Store for Education individuals:

Faculty or staff member of a public or private Higher Education Institution in the United States
Student currently attending or accepted into a public or private Higher Education Institution in the United States
Parent purchasing on behalf of their child who is a student currently attending or accepted into public or private Higher Education Institution in the United States
Purchase Quantity
Faculty, Staff and Students purchasing from the Apple Store for Education Individuals will be allowed to purchase the following quantities of product per academic school year:

Desktop: One (1) may be purchased per academic year
Mac mini: One (1) may be purchased per academic year
Notebook: One (1) may be purchased per academic year
Display: A maximum of two (2) may be purchased per academic year
Software: A maximum of two (2) per software title may be purchased per academic year
Apple TV: There is no limit on the quantity of Apple TV purchases per academic year
iPod: There is no limit on the quantity of iPod purchases per academic year
The above purchases can be made either online, through an Apple Retail Store, or through your Apple Authorized Campus Store. Total product quantities remain the same regardless of where your purchase is made. The Apple Software purchases above are only available through the online Apple Store for Education or through your Apple Authorized Campus Store.

Statement of Eligibility
I represent that I am a member of one of the defined groups above, eligible to purchase and that the products being purchased direct from Apple Inc. are for the personal, education, and/or research use of a student, faculty, or staff member.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by dwr50

It's too bad Apple doesn't offer promos to retired people on fixed incomes. I had to switch to Linux because Apples just cost too much money.

Acer Aspire 5315-2153, $348 Walmart Special,Mandriva Linux 2008.1 Spring Edition, is my new computer.

Apple's student discount is only 10%. That isn't going to coem close to getting you to the Acer's price. The promo may lower the effective price, but you still pay for the machine, you just get an iPod out of it.

What you may want to do is buy a used Mac from eBay or Craig's List. You can get some good deals. You won't be getting the latest hardware, but you aren't getting that in the Acer either. If you really want OS X then that is the way to go, but try to get an Intel based system with Leopard if you can.

[ncee]

Originally Posted by rbonner

Does anyone know how apple defines a student? My high school student would love to upgrade to a Mac, and as the Dad/IS guy at home, I would love it as well. (Way fewer issues)

… a family member or friend who is going to school /college is fine, as I have purchased this way many times

Heck, find a student who needs a few bucks …

Skip

[Bageljoey]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Apple's student discount is only 10%. That isn't going to coem close to getting you to the Acer's price. The promo may lower the effective price, but you still pay for the machine, you just get an iPod out of it.

What you may want to do is buy a used Mac from eBay or Craig's List. You can get some good deals. You won't be getting the latest hardware, but you aren't getting that in the Acer either. If you really want OS X then that is the way to go, but try to get an Intel based system with Leopard if you can.

This is much more useful advice... But I still like my solution!

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by ncee

… a family member or friend who is going to school /college is fine, as I have purchased this way many times

Heck, find a student who needs a few bucks …

If you buy online you don't need to have a student ID.

[Abster2core]

Originally Posted by dwr50

It's too bad Apple doesn't offer promos to retired people on fixed incomes. I had to switch to Linux because Apples just cost too much money.

Acer Aspire 5315-2153, $348 Walmart Special,Mandriva Linux 2008.1 Spring Edition, is my new computer.

As you previously posted:

It sure seems like Apple has let quality drop out of it's business plan. They seem to be following Microsoft's plan of letting customers do the flaw finding, instead of there own developers. I'm sure glad I didn't buy a new Apple computer, and I won't be buying one until they solve their quality control problems. REF:http://forums.appleinsider.com/showt...99#post1257199 Post # 2

I thought it was because you didn't like the quality.

[Abster2core]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

Shopping Agreement

Who is Eligible To Purchase
The following education individuals are eligible to purchase through the Apple Store for Education individuals:

Faculty or staff member of a public or private Higher Education Institution in the United States
Student currently attending or accepted into a public or private Higher Education Institution in the United States
Parent purchasing on behalf of their child who is a student currently attending or accepted into public or private Higher Education Institution in the United States
Purchase Quantity
Faculty, Staff and Students purchasing from the Apple Store for Education Individuals will be allowed to purchase the following quantities of product per academic school year:

Desktop: One (1) may be purchased per academic year
Mac mini: One (1) may be purchased per academic year
Notebook: One (1) may be purchased per academic year
Display: A maximum of two (2) may be purchased per academic year
Software: A maximum of two (2) per software title may be purchased per academic year
Apple TV: There is no limit on the quantity of Apple TV purchases per academic year
iPod: There is no limit on the quantity of iPod purchases per academic year
The above purchases can be made either online, through an Apple Retail Store, or through your Apple Authorized Campus Store. Total product quantities remain the same regardless of where your purchase is made. The Apple Software purchases above are only available through the online Apple Store for Education or through your Apple Authorized Campus Store.

Statement of Eligibility
I represent that I am a member of one of the defined groups above, eligible to purchase and that the products being purchased direct from Apple Inc. are for the personal, education, and/or research use of a student, faculty, or staff member.

Also available if you qualify as a homeschool.

[iVlad]

WOW!!!! This is gonna make all the students iNsane!!!

Who does this free stuff....only Apple

[SurfRat]

Originally Posted by Bageljoey

2. I am with you there! I need a new laptop, but I think I am going to want an iPhone (I really want true GPS). Don't know if I would be able to swing both. My guess is no, though. I think they would have said iPhone if they were going to include it... One can hope, though!

You know, I had never really given this question much thought (whether or not the iPhone would be included as part of the deal), but the more I think about it, the more it begins to make sense. They have a chance to really begin to build a gigantic user base and at the same time blow past that 10mil mark without even batting an eye.

Interesting...

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by iVlad

WOW!!!! This is gonna make all the students iNsane!!!

Who does this free stuff....only Apple

Only Apple doesn't offer discounts around the holidays so they often lose marketshare to others. Especially to SanDisk in the PMP sector as they discount their devices up to 50%.

[nagromme]

Very nice. Buy a Mac, get a free pocket-size quarter-inch-thin WiFi tablet computer/PDA/Internet appliance/game handheld.

But if you already have an iPhone, then put it towards an iPod Classic, and use that as extra storage.

[frugality]

What bums me out about this news is that it seems to imply that the price of iPod Touches won't be coming down, if the rebate that will be given is for $299.

I was hoping that, with the price of flash memory coming down, Apple would drop the price of Touches. I'd like a 32GB version to keep all my music on, but $500 is too steep. If they can drop it to $400 I'd buy. Guess I'll have to wait and see what happens 'round Christmastime.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by frugality

What bums me out about this news is that it seems to imply that the price of iPod Touches won't be coming down, if the rebate that will be given is for $299.

I was hoping that, with the price of flash memory coming down, Apple would drop the price of Touches. I'd like a 32GB version to keep all my music on, but $500 is too steep. If they can drop it to $400 I'd buy. Guess I'll have to wait and see what happens 'round Christmastime.

They could always lower the value of the Back To School deal once the iPod Touch is lowered. Or they might offer more capacity or other features to maintain the current pricepoint.

Most people don't want to store their entire music collection on their iPod, but if you do then you may want to consider an IPod Classic at 80 and 160GB capacities.

[djleyo]

Originally Posted by solipsism

If you buy online you don't need to have a student ID.

is this true???!!!!
because i go to school in mex and dont have a student id form the u.s. and i would buy it in the online store

[djleyo]

ohhhh forgot !!!
does this discount/promotion apply to refurbished mac's ???

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by djleyo

is this true???!!!!
because i go to school in mex and dont have a student id form the u.s. and i would buy it in the online store

Yes, they ask for a school but they don't verify the info.
Disclaimer: I suggest only student who have lost their ID use this method to keep in the spirit of the discount.

Originally Posted by djleyo

ohhhh forgot !!!
does this discount/promotion apply to refurbished mac's ???

No, it does not.

[BRussell]

I've ordered probably a dozen times via the Apple online education store, and I've never provided any kind of ID or verification of any kind.

[SmallFry]

I used the education discount in the fall to buy my macbook. All they did was take a glance at my student ID, then they took my driver's license number (im assuming as a way for them to keep track of your purchases since you can only use that education discout for a particiular device once a year). But I got the discount immediately. It was not a rebate deal. I also got the discount on the extended warranty plan as well.

[iVlad]

Peoplezzzzz don't forget the FREE PRINTER too....
Hmm mmm iLike

[Mr. H]

Originally Posted by Macd-to-death

2. Will we be able to exchange it for $299 of Apple store credit in general or only towards the purchase of a different ipod touch? I want to use it towards an iPhone!

In the past, these promotions have been mail-in rebates. It works like this:

1.) You buy a "qualifying Mac" at full (or student) price.

2.) You buy a "qualifying iPod" at full price.

3.) You wait for your products to arrive.

4.) You fill in a form and send it to Apple together with receipts and shipping labels cut out from (not peeled off) the shipping boxes.

5.) Apple send you a rebate cheque six weeks later.

So, whether you can use this "towards" an iPhone or not depends upon whether an iPhone is going to be in the "qualifying iPod" category or not.

[dwr50]

Originally Posted by Abster2core

As you previously posted:

It sure seems like Apple has let quality drop out of it's business plan. They seem to be following Microsoft's plan of letting customers do the flaw finding, instead of there own developers. I'm sure glad I didn't buy a new Apple computer, and I won't be buying one until they solve their quality control problems. REF:http://forums.appleinsider.com/showt...99#post1257199 Post # 2

I thought it was because you didn't like the quality.

I don't like the quality or the prices. The more I use Linux the more I like it. I don't think I'll be using MS or Apple in the future.

[CoreyMac]

Originally Posted by Bageljoey

1. These usually go into September. (The real downfall to waiting is that you end up really close to the holiday iPod refresh so your new iPod is not the latest and greatest before you even get the rebate back...)

2. I am with you there! I need a new laptop, but I think I am going to want an iPhone (I really want true GPS). Don't know if I would be able to swing both. My guess is no, though. I think they would have said iPhone if they were going to include it... One can hope, though!

It depends....I gotta tell you, last september (September 15th to be exact) I ordered a 2.4Ghz MacBook Pro w/ the back to school offer on the old 4GB iPod Nanos.....turns out they ran out of the old nanos and gave me a new chubby 8GB Nano video.....so sometimes waiting works.

[qwckdraw]

Will this educational rebate work with resellers like Amazon.com?

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by qwckdraw

Will this educational rebate work with resellers like Amazon.com?

Amazon already offers a discount that could save you several percent more if you get it without sales tax, but make sure you are getting the latest Apple products as they don't revamp their site well after new models come out.

As for the rebate, that is only through Apple.

[Neil Anderson]

Last summer I got a free iPod and a free Canon printer. Sweet deal.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by Neil Anderson

Last summer I got a free iPod and a free Canon printer. Sweet deal.

Am I the only one who says no to the free printer?

[aaple]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Am I the only one who says no to the free printer?

Why would you not want a free printer?

[Bageljoey]

Originally Posted by aaple

Why would you not want a free printer?

Cause sometimes the one you have is better than the one they want to give away?

Why crud up the environment for something extra that you don't need? Just because its free doesn't mean that it doesnt have a cost...

[malax]

Yeah I turned down the free printer when I got my MacBook Air. Now if I could have taken the ink cartridges and had them keep the printer, I would have done that.