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Purchasing ibook help

post #1 of 23
7/24/02 at 7:54am
Thread Starter 
I need your advice. I'm a PC user buying my first mac (no it wasn't the stupid switch commercials that convinced me). I need help with the following questions:

1. Should I buy an ibook now or wait a bit?
2. Will Jaguar come preinstalled? If not, when will that happen?
3. How easy is it to upgrade your memory on an ibook?

Thanks!
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post #2 of 23
7/24/02 at 7:58am
1. I'd wait until Jaguar is pre-installed. I can't imagine any hardware being changed or added, since its not been long since iBook's last revision.

2. Nobody knows yet, however if you keep an eye on this page: <a href="http://www.apple.com/ibook/specs.html" target="_blank">http://www.apple.com/ibook/specs.html</a> and scroll down to the bottom where it says "System Software," once Jaguar is being preloaded that will most likely be changed to reflect the new OS.

3. Not incredibly easy, but you can do it yourself. Here's the tech doc: <a href="http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=111918" target="_blank">http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=111918</a>
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post #3 of 23
7/24/02 at 8:03am
upgrading your memory is actually pretty easy. you pop up the keyboard undo a couple of screws and pop in the chip, then reverse.

i believe if you buy an ibook now you get a free upgrade to jaguar.

ibooks probably wont be upgraded for another 3-4 months at least.
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dartblazer
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post #4 of 23
7/24/02 at 8:03am
1. Personally, I say get a 700MHz iBook now, or else wait. I'm no Mac expert ( getting my first Mac soon ), but I don't see the G3 line staying in the iBooks, and the iBooks don't get the same performance that the TiBooks get due to the G3 vs G4. Buy a high end, iBook now ( or low-end TiBook if you can afford ) or else wait for the G4 to find it's way to iBook. I don't know how long that will be and how direly you need this notebook, though. So use your own judgement there.

2. Jaguar pre-installed comes after it's released on August 24. But you get the install CD for $19.99 instead of $129.00 if you buy a Mac between July17 an August24.

3. search the apple support site for installing the memory. There are diagrams and movies for doing it on the TiBook I would assume they have them for the iBook too.

[ 07-24-2002: Message edited by: pyr3 ]</p>
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post #5 of 23
7/24/02 at 8:09am
Thread Starter 
When you say that if I get an ibook now that I'll be able to get Jaguar for $20, where do you see this? Does this apply only to buying from Apple.com or from anywhere else?

Where do you suggest buying my ibook? I have marked down Macconnection since they give 128MB ram free and it's the lowest price I've found.

How many memory slots does an ibook have anyway?

I can do ADC, but the different is minimal so I don't want to bother.

[ 07-24-2002: Message edited by: gear02 ]</p>
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post #6 of 23
7/24/02 at 8:49am
It was part of Jobs' keynote as I recall.

But if you do ADC you get free OS upgrades on CD as part of the year membership too. ADC membership is more than just the discount. <a href="http://developer.apple.com/students/" target="_blank">http://developer.apple.com/students/</a>

[ 07-24-2002: Message edited by: pyr3 ]</p>
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post #7 of 23
7/24/02 at 10:08am
Gear: Here's the details on the Up-To-Date program, in writing. <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/uptodate/" target="_blank">http://www.apple.com/macosx/uptodate/</a>

If you need the computer right now it won't hurt anything to get it now, and then get the Jaguar update. But personally I'd just save myself the hassle and $20 if I could wait until August.
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post #8 of 23
7/24/02 at 10:11am
Thread Starter 
[quote]Originally posted by poor taylor:
<strong>Gear: Here's the details on the Up-To-Date program, in writing. <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/uptodate/" target="_blank">http://www.apple.com/macosx/uptodate/</a>

If you need the computer right now it won't hurt anything to get it now, and then get the Jaguar update. But personally I'd just save myself the hassle and $20 if I could wait until August.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yeah I just found it too. Thanks!

So...12 or 14 inch display? =)
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post #9 of 23
7/24/02 at 11:18am
12" is really nice for portability, the 14" is nice, but it adds a lb. and doesn't offer any higher screen res. You'd also save a couple hundred by going with the 12", unless you have to see things bigger for some reason. I'm using the 12" iBook right now and it's great.

As far as price, check out Amazon, I think they're offering a flat $100 off notebooks until the end of the week. I don't know how quickly you were planning on buying, but $100 is a decent discount.
What the problem is?
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What the problem is?
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post #10 of 23
7/24/02 at 11:31am
Thread Starter 
[quote]Originally posted by MCQ:
<strong>12" is really nice for portability, the 14" is nice, but it adds a lb. and doesn't offer any higher screen res. You'd also save a couple hundred by going with the 12", unless you have to see things bigger for some reason. I'm using the 12" iBook right now and it's great.

As far as price, check out Amazon, I think they're offering a flat $100 off notebooks until the end of the week. I don't know how quickly you were planning on buying, but $100 is a decent discount.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yeah amazon has great prices, but macconnection is giving 128MB free. How much are 128MB Mac Modules?
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post #11 of 23
7/24/02 at 11:53am
They're fairly cheap, and I'd suggest getting an extra 256MB instead of 128. OS X loves memory. Check out 18004Memory.com and crucial.com. They should be selling 256MB around $50-$60. You may be able to get a free printer as well, not sure though. Check <a href="http://www.apple.com/promo/" target="_blank">www.apple.com/promo/</a> and click on the epson printer deal, and read it to see if an iBook bought outisde qualifies for the deal.
What the problem is?
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What the problem is?
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post #12 of 23
7/24/02 at 1:15pm
If you want to see a full list of retailers and the different promotions they're offering, go to <a href="http://www.macprices.com/ibooktracker.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.macprices.com/ibooktracker.shtml</a> for the iBook price tracker. They have the price of the iBook at each place, as well as shipping charges, which states will add tax, and hardware bundles.

I would not suggest buying from a place solely because of a 128 MB memory bundle. 128 MB is not very much RAM at all and they usually charge a required $30-$40 "installation fee" (when a 128 MB module only costs $30-$40 anyway). You may as well just not order the RAM and buy a 256 or 512 MB module yourself.

When my grandfather ordered his PowerBook, they had a RAM bundle and he asked that they just ship the RAM and let him install it, without charging the installation fee. They said they'd do that, and the PowerBook arrived with the RAM already installed and no installation fee added to his bill. So it's worth a shot.
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post #13 of 23
7/24/02 at 1:19pm
Thread Starter 
[quote]Originally posted by Luca Rescigno:
<strong>If you want to see a full list of retailers and the different promotions they're offering, go to <a href="http://www.macprices.com/ibooktracker.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.macprices.com/ibooktracker.shtml</a> for the iBook price tracker. They have the price of the iBook at each place, as well as shipping charges, which states will add tax, and hardware bundles.

I would not suggest buying from a place solely because of a 128 MB memory bundle. 128 MB is not very much RAM at all and they usually charge a required $30-$40 "installation fee" (when a 128 MB module only costs $30-$40 anyway). You may as well just not order the RAM and buy a 256 or 512 MB module yourself.

When my grandfather ordered his PowerBook, they had a RAM bundle and he asked that they just ship the RAM and let him install it, without charging the installation fee. They said they'd do that, and the PowerBook arrived with the RAM already installed and no installation fee added to his bill. So it's worth a shot.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Wow! Thanks for the site!
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post #14 of 23
7/24/02 at 8:31pm
thanks for the amazon.com tip. i just now ordered my ibook 700 12"! no tax plus free shipping! booyah! now ima order some memory!

neeone else ever order a computer from amazon?


m1
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post #15 of 23
7/24/02 at 8:39pm
The main trade-off between 14" and 12" is weight vs. battery life.

The 14" is a pound heavier, but it also has a bigger battery. That battery will get you another hour, or so I'm told; I've got the 12", myself.

ting5
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- I used to be SdC, ting5, and YAR, but I'm sticking to Jet, I promise.
- <a href="http://suckful.com" target="_blank">http://suckful.com</a> &lt;--My NEW! weblog
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post #16 of 23
7/24/02 at 9:22pm
M1:

I got my iBook a couple weeks ago from Amazon when they were running a different promotion. No problems, and the iBook runs great. Saving money and not paying tax is nice, isn't it?
What the problem is?
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What the problem is?
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post #17 of 23
7/24/02 at 10:20pm
I just ordered an iBook 700 12" last night (yay!) for $1690.94 ($1494 +$40 installation fee, once I send-in a couple rebates) from MacWarehouse, which came bundled with a free Epson 820 printer, Kensington SkyRunner nylon carying case, and 128MB RAM ($40 for installation of RAM).

Even though I plan to install a 512MB module within the next couple months, I thought that $40 was a decent price to keep from having to use OS X with a mere 128MB for those two months. The rest of the package was a good dealfor myself, since the Espon printer's features fitted nicely with what I plan to use it for and hopfully the case will fit my needs as well.

I'd recommend that you carefully weigh Amazon's $100-off offer against other retailers' bundles, since the cash value of the free stuff they offer could end-up costing you less (as was the case with my purchase). If you don't need any of the things that other retailers are bundling with the iBook or the cash value of those items are less than $100, Amazon's deal would probably be the best.

[ 07-25-2002: Message edited by: The Inevitable ]</p>
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post #18 of 23
7/24/02 at 11:13pm
[quote]Originally posted by MCQ:
<strong>Saving money and not paying tax is nice, isn't it? </strong><hr></blockquote>

yes it is! thanks for building my confidence with the purchase! next i'm getting some ram, a 512mb module.

will this chip suffice? any recommendations?
<a href="http://www.boundlesstech.com/powmem51upfo1.html" target="_blank">http://www.boundlesstech.com/powmem51upfo1.html</a>

thanks again!

m1
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post #19 of 23
7/25/02 at 5:49am
Thread Starter 
[quote]Originally posted by The Inevitable:
<strong>I just ordered an iBook 700 12" last night (yay!) for $1690.94 ($1494 +$40 installation fee, once I send-in a couple rebates) from MacWarehouse, which came bundled with a free Epson 820 printer, Kensington SkyRunner nylon carying case, and 128MB RAM ($40 for installation of RAM).

Even though I plan to install a 512MB module within the next couple months, I thought that $40 was a decent price to keep from having to use OS X with a mere 128MB for those two months. The rest of the package was a good dealfor myself, since the Espon printer's features fitted nicely with what I plan to use it for and hopfully the case will fit my needs as well.

I'd recommend that you carefully weigh Amazon's $100-off offer against other retailers' bundles, since the cash value of the free stuff they offer could end-up costing you less (as was the case with my purchase). If you don't need any of the things that other retailers are bundling with the iBook or the cash value of those items are less than $100, Amazon's deal would probably be the best.

[ 07-25-2002: Message edited by: The Inevitable ]</strong><hr></blockquote>

Acutally, the $100 printer thing is from apple direct:

<a href="http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/171/wo/LKbY80WRTONt4Ya868/0.3.0.3.34.81.0.FrontPagePromoListTile.1.0.0.7.4.8 .0.10.1" target="_blank">http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/171/wo/LKbY80WRTONt4Ya868/0.3.0.3.34.81.0.FrontPagePromoListTile.1.0.0.7.4.8 .0.10.1</a>

Other places I saw they charged you $40 for a 128mb stick (installation fee) and a bundle of old games (macconnection). I got a 256Mb stick from crucial for $60 and I got a PC for games =)
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post #20 of 23
7/25/02 at 8:24am
[quote]Originally posted by MCQ:
<strong>M1:

I got my iBook a couple weeks ago from Amazon when they were running a different promotion. No problems, and the iBook runs great. Saving money and not paying tax is nice, isn't it? </strong><hr></blockquote>

You have to pay taxes when you order from Apple online ?
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post #21 of 23
7/25/02 at 8:27am
Thread Starter 
Yup because they have apple stores in every state I think. You have to pay taxes if there is a store in the state you're ordering to.

Let's hope amazon doesn't start opening retail stores.
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post #22 of 23
7/25/02 at 8:39am
I wonder if an 'almost' opened store counts. They are opening the store next month sometime. I believe that it is the first store in MI.
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post #23 of 23
7/25/02 at 8:42am
Thread Starter 
hmm...as long as they don't open one in my state =)
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