Apple Trade-Up Program for PowerBooks?
From today's Macintouch:
Is this true? Anyone have any details?
Quote:
A MacInTouch reader reports an Apple PowerBook G4 upgrade program, running through March 27, 2004, said to offer a credit to original PowerBook G4 owners in the U.S. on an upgrade to the current 15" or 17" PowerBook G4 models. Customers should contact Apple at 800-275-2273 for details. (PowerBooks that have been damaged are not eligible.)
A MacInTouch reader reports an Apple PowerBook G4 upgrade program, running through March 27, 2004, said to offer a credit to original PowerBook G4 owners in the U.S. on an upgrade to the current 15" or 17" PowerBook G4 models. Customers should contact Apple at 800-275-2273 for details. (PowerBooks that have been damaged are not eligible.)
Is this true? Anyone have any details?
Comments
there is an upgrade program.
anything pre DVI (G4) is eligable.
offering $700 credit towards a purchase of a 15" of 17" G4. NOT as 12".
wasn't able to verify whether or not that was on top of education pricing, although that's likely. i needed a qualifying serial number first.
so there's the poop. early G4 powerbook owners rejoice!
If you call in with a 400, 500, 550 or 667 Mhz TiBook, they will give you
$700 credit towards a new 15" or 17" AiBook. Call 800-275-2273 and speak to a tech to get more details.
Between now and March 27, 2004, Apple is offering owners of the original
PowerBook G4 and the PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) the opportunity to
trade in qualifying products for a $700 credit toward the purchase of
current models of the PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW 800) and PowerBook G4 (17-
inch).
I wonder what this means for the PowerBook line... trying to get a bunch of people to upgrade now instead of waiting? Maybe it'll be a long time before there's another PowerBook update - but if people upgrade now they won't care as much.
I was really considering selling my 667 DVI for around a grand to get a new book...
maybe now I'll try and find a deal with an old Ti...
for users with the 400Mhz model, this is a decent deal.
Originally posted by alcimedes
on the phone now:
there is an upgrade program.
anything pre DVI (G4) is eligable.
offering $700 credit towards a purchase of a 15" of 17" G4. NOT as 12".
wasn't able to verify whether or not that was on top of education pricing, although that's likely. i needed a qualifying serial number first.
so there's the poop. early G4 powerbook owners rejoice!
For us Aussies, that $700 credit should round out to $2500, going on their current way of calculating the exchange rate. Yippeeee!!
...ummm, actually the real offer will be something less generous I'm sure.
haven't had a chance to call the number listed above yet...
Originally posted by alcimedes
i wonder if there isn't perhaps something wrong with them long-term. Apple could just be doing this to try and avoid costly AppleCare claims, or class action claims.
for users with the 400Mhz model, this is a decent deal.
considering they are willing to accept "cosmetic defects" on the machines I'd take a guess this is their effort to cover their asses on the peeling paint issue. it has struck my G4/667 Powerbook very badly but my powerbook is worth more than 700 bucks and i dont have another 1300 to throw in for a new one anyways
1.) they get parts necessary to repair incoming old 'books
2.) they can get the older hardware off the market so there's less of it to support
3.) they effectively KILL the upgrade market (well, there isn't an upgrade market, really, for p'books, but if this program is successful, they may extend it to all models)
4.) they get more money from their user base by giving them that extra nudge to upgrade to a new model (rather than the headache of trying to do it piecemeal).
in fact, i don't know why they never thought to do this in the first place.
Originally posted by krisneph
I talked to an Apple rep and he said no PB G5's anytime soon.
We usually know more things than them
The tech said that might change, and that I should call back in "a few weeks."
Originally posted by Luca Rescigno
Seems fishy, Apple's never offered this sort of program before as far as I know. And what does it mean by "original" PowerBook G4 owners? Any TiBook owner? Original (400-500 MHz) TiBook owners?
Back in the day, Apple offered $500 towards a new PowerBook for anyone who would turn in their 5300CE. I did it then and, as the proud owner of a Ti400, I'm probably going to do it again. Apple's marketing/promotions department apparently has my PB purchasing motivations all figured out.
Sounds like they expect you to send the machine back before you get the new one ... do you transfer your files to some temporary storage before the new one comes?
It would obviously be better if you had both machines for some period of time to use firewire target mode, but it sounds like this isn't how the program works. Can anyone confirm/deny?
Originally posted by Luca Rescigno
Seems fishy, Apple's never offered this sort of program before as far as I know.
They did have a similar program a few years back in Europe. Up to US$300 on your old Mac if you bought a new Power Mac, I think.