neglus
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posted on May 28, 2007 09:37:46 PM new
My 23yo soon-to-be teacher daughter wants to buy a MACBOOK.
It looks like a nice laptop and is priced competively with SONY and HP and at about the top of her budget. I know many of you are Apple fans. If she buys the Macbook at Best Buy she can purchase a 3 year extended warranty which includes accidental damage. If she buys it from the Apple store she would get an educational discount and could purchase a 3 year extended warranty a little cheaper but I couldn't find details about what the warranty included. Lizzie is great but I have to say that sometimes she is a little klutzy (like her mom) and sometimes just plain unlucky. I am wondering if it is worth the extra $ to get the accidental damage warranty at Best Buy or to trust that the Apple warranty would cover whatever disaster Lizzie encounters. Any input (save telling her to get a pc) is appreciated.
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agitprop
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posted on May 28, 2007 09:49:07 PM new
If she's buying a MacBook then make sure it's one of the recently announced models and not the older ones which have been reduced in price (unless price is an issue). I'd opt for Educational discount and buy with a credit/debit card that offers double the warranty (many do) and forgo the Apple or BestBuy Extended warranty.
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neglus
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posted on May 28, 2007 09:55:13 PM new
It's one of the new ones -
* 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
* 1GB memory
* 80GB hard drive1
* Combo drive
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kozersky
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posted on May 29, 2007 12:16:47 AM new
From experience, I have to warn you concerning the BestBuy Warranty. Unless it actually states replacement for a dropped or "mishandled" laptop, which would result in a cracked screen, or cracked case, such damage is not covered. Do not believe the salesperson.
Stick with the Apple discount and warranty.
http://www.kozersky.com
http://www.kozersky.net
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profe51
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posted on May 29, 2007 05:37:43 AM new
The three year AppleCare warranty is worth every penny. It includes unlimited phone tech support, which I bet the Best Buy doesn't. With AppleCare you also get to speak to an American with a good grasp of the English language. Also, she doesn't have to buy AppleCare when she buys the machine. Apple gives her one year from date of purchase to decide to buy it.
One thing to keep in mind about the education discount, buying from Apple online they'll charge you tax, so it pretty much wipes out the difference in savings. Does she have an Apple Retail store anywhere close by? I think, but am not sure, that they'll honor the ed. discount also. Here's a link to Apple B and M stores nationwide.
http://www.apple.com/retail/
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on May 29, 2007 06:05:12 AM new
neglus,
Even more important than the warranty to protect the MacBook... is a good case! I've seen MANY people lay down good money for a laptop, and then buy a cheap $20 case with about as much padding as a purse. It's just not a good idea! Make sure your daughter gets a nice case to go along with it, with sturdy padding.
Nice thing is, if your daughter is klutzy... the MacBook's definitely the laptop for her. With the magnetic power supply connection, it eliminates the likelihood of the most common laptop tragedy... (tripping over the power cable, sending the laptop flying)
Incidentally, prof's correct... you can get the educational discount at the Apple Retail stores too... but they'll charge you the same state-rate sales tax as the Apple Online store will. Still, you'll save enough money on the laptop and case by buying through the educational discount, that you'll be able to buy a nice case! 
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Vintage Paper Ads
http://www.vintagepaperads.com
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merrie
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posted on May 29, 2007 06:24:10 AM new
Hi, I have bought my Apple computers through both retail store and online and both offer educators' discount. Usually online you have to pay shipping. The best bet, in my opinion, is the Apple Store if one is nearby. If you get the extended warranty you do not have to make an appointment to see the "Geniuses" and you get to talk to real Mac-aholics. Not at Best Buy and BB does not have the Genius Bar, very, very helpful, much better than on-line support.
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neglus
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posted on May 29, 2007 06:37:09 AM new
Thanks! We do have a retail store nearby so we will head there this am. She actually bought the MACBOOK at BB yesterday but had such a bad feeling about the whole experience that she didn't even unpack the computer and asked me to check it out further. It's going back today.
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photosensitive
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posted on May 29, 2007 07:21:56 AM new
I second the advice about the Educational discount and the AppleCare. My husband is a college teacher and we have gotten discounts in the store. Be sure she has an ID of some kind to show she is a teacher or student. We were in the store recently and my husband had not brought his school ID but the "Genius" on duty was one of his former students so he got the discount.
We have had next to no problems with our Macs but when we had major problems with networking 3 Macs and a bunch of printers with 3rd party peripherals (Why 3rd party by the way and not 2nd?) and could get no help from the makers of the router, AppleCare spent a lot of time on the phone with me helping even though they kept saying they did not support 3rd party hardware.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on May 29, 2007 07:32:16 AM new
photo:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300662
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Vintage Paper Ads
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photosensitive
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posted on May 29, 2007 07:44:29 AM new
Thanks eauction. I have always wondered about that.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
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ewora
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posted on May 29, 2007 09:18:29 AM new
Doesn't Best Buy charge a restocking fee?
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on May 29, 2007 10:09:30 AM new
http://www.bestbuy.com/olspage.jsp?type=page&contentId=1043363607042&id=cat12098
Looks like the 15% restocking fee is only applied if the laptop was opened.
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Vintage Paper Ads
http://www.vintagepaperads.com
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kozersky
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posted on May 29, 2007 11:26:14 AM new
Let's go back to the Best Buy Plan for a moment.
The following is from the Best Buy "Performance Service Plan."
"Notebook Computer screens are covered, unless failure is due to accidental or intentional damage."
So, unless there is another "Accidental Damage Plan" which I am unaware of, this is the only plan Best Buy offers.
And, it does not cover for "accidents or misuse."
It's a good thing that the computer is being returned. If there is an attempt to charge any restocking fees, mention that the Performance Plan was not explained correctly.
Bill K-
http://www.kozersky.com
http://www.kozersky.net
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profe51
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posted on May 29, 2007 11:35:07 AM new
Ditto the laptop case comment. Here's a link to the cases we use. They are just plain awesome. Apple Stores carry them too. Marware is another good brand, although my son did have some damage in a Marware sleeve when his laptop slid off the back seat and onto the floor during an abrupt stop. The Brenthaven's can literally be dropped on a hard floor and protect very well. We now use the ones that look like backpacks and it isn't obvious that there's a computer inside.
http://www.brenthaven.com/#
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neglus
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posted on May 29, 2007 12:00:31 PM new
Thanks for all the input. BB had BETTER take back the laptop - it hasn't been opened and I read the restocking policy before we contemplated all of this! I think we WERE misled about the extended warranty - salesman said that unless we drilled a hole in the screen or submerged the laptop on purpose we were covered and I doubt that that is true!
The experience at the Apple Store was very pleasant (we made an appointment to meet with a "Genius" before coming)...even though we seemed to know more about it than the saleslady did  Lizzie was able to get the upgraded macbook with faster processor, larger harddrive, DVD burner, maintenance contract AND SIMS2 game for the same price as BB for the basic macbook and maintenance contract (thanks to the educational discount).
Lizzie thinks she wants to get the hard protective sleeve in addition to a good case. What do you think about them? Like this one (only she wants pink): http://tinyurl.com/2336z2
They are selling for about the same price as that auction at the Apple store.
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[ edited by neglus on May 29, 2007 12:03 PM ]
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on May 29, 2007 12:42:21 PM new
Neglus,
Here's a good review on the see-thru shell:
http://www.macnn.com/reviews/review.php?id=266
Basically, think of the shell as being mostly there for cosmetic protection. It's not going to offer much defense against actual hardware damage (if its dropped, etc...).
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Vintage Paper Ads
http://www.vintagepaperads.com
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neglus
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posted on May 29, 2007 01:20:29 PM new
To set the record straight (on my way now to BB to return the notebook) : I just read the fine print of the BB policy - we had an "ADH" policy and that did cover accidental spills, dropping, etc. - salesman did not misrepresent coverage.
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profe51
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posted on May 30, 2007 05:56:58 AM new
My son has that hard case for his MacBook and so do each of his sisters. They've only had them a short time. The finish on the white MacBook will scratch if you look at it wrong (like an iPod) so I think it's a good idea. The only thing to be aware of is that if you need to take out the battery for some reason, such as a hard restart or to install or take out RAM, you'll have to remove the bottom piece. Not such a big deal, but I'm betting after a few R and R's the case won't fit as well as it originally did. We'll see.
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neglus
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posted on May 30, 2007 06:30:14 AM new
All done! Best Buy was very gracious and there was no hassle in returning the unopened macbook for a full refund.
Daughter is thrilled with her purchase. We are looking for a good case. Thanks so much for all the help.
Mary Ann
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