Buying a Mac in the states

secret_squirrel

Im seriously considering getting a Powerbook when Im next in the states. The price difference between here and there is outrageous!

So anyone care to tell me the pro's and con's. Obviously I'll need a new plug lead - that would be fairly easy to source wouldnt it?

The warantee is worldwide so thats not a problem.

what am I missing?

Gillo

The main problem you'll have is even if you have a simple issue with the laptop, you won't be able to bring it into any of the shops over here as they won't offer any support on it.

In fairness though you didn't buy it from them.

secret_squirrel

actually thats not correct - the warantee states you take it to any authorised apple dealer worldwide. (regardless of where the laptop came from)

That was my main worry and it seems kinda groundless.

patto_chan

All Apple laptops come with a worldwide 1 year warranty. So they will be repaired here.
I bought my current pbook abroad. Before the first year's warranty expired I was able to buy the extended AppleCare protection package from the online AppleStore in Ireland.

The price difference isn't as bad as it was. VAT is the killer. Remember, depending on where you buy it in the US you may have to pay sales tax (10%?).

secret_squirrel

Did you have any problems with things like regional differences patto?

Jorinn

Originally posted by patto_chan
All Apple laptops come with a worldwide 1 year warranty. So they will be repaired here.
I bought my current pbook abroad. Before the first year's warranty expired I was able to buy the extended AppleCare protection package from the online AppleStore in Ireland.

The price difference isn't as bad as it was. VAT is the killer. Remember, depending on where you buy it in the US you may have to pay sales tax (10%?).

Actually it is, check out the difference between a 12inch ibook with a 60gig hd, bluetooth and airport extreme. In fact it's cheaper to get a 12 inch powerbook in the states than a 12inch ibook with the above specs here.

SouperComputer

yea, now is a good time to buy before the dollar recovers. If you buy online from out of state you will be tax exempt.

IE: Buy online from store in CA, get shipped to IL.

Take it home on the plane, put a load of emails and documents on it so that you can say "err, i bought it here, bud" when you get back to ireland.

power lead, piece of Pi$$, you just need a standard "figure of eight" lead that you see on the back of most portable stereos. The charger, like most laptop adaptors, looks after the voltage automatically

Gillo

Yeah its covered by warranty so you can go to the likes of Mactivate. But for a basic technical issue you can't just run into an apple dealer.

secret_squirrel

Originally posted by gillo
But for a basic technical issue you can't just run into an apple dealer.

Thats what ye lot are for

Yoda

Originally posted by SouperComputer
Take it home on the plane, put a load of emails and documents on it so that you can say "err, i bought it here, bud" when you get back to ireland.

I don't remember the last time I saw anyone at all in customs in Dublin Airport.

SouperComputer

interesting point, i think 2001 was the lat time i saw someone.....no SERIOUSLY!

Hugh_C

Originally posted by secret_squirrel

what am I missing?

nothing. As others have said, power is no problem.

Be sure to take a USED laptop bag with you that's good'n'scruffy. Stick your new lapper into it for the trip home so it looks as if you've had it a while, and mail all the paperwork and bits'n'pieces home from the States, don't carry them with you. It's unlikely that Customs will stop you here, but even less likely if you aren't carrying the Apple box.

Having said that, if Customs really wanted to get you, they can tell from the serial number where the machine was sold - I think.

Hugh

secret_squirrel

how big is the box a power book comes in? I was thinking of tucking it into my suitcase and keeping my fingers crossed.

SouperComputer

its fricken huge!

Hugh_C

Originally posted by secret_squirrel
how big is the box a power book comes in? I was thinking of tucking it into my suitcase and keeping my fingers crossed.

about the size of a small suitcase

eth0_

Originally posted by gillo
Yeah its covered by warranty so you can go to the likes of Mactivate. But for a basic technical issue you can't just run into an apple dealer.

What are you talking about? Why would you go to mactivate if you were within warranty? Apple themselves take care of repairs if you're under warranty.

And as for running into a mac dealer with a technical issue? You can't exactly do that unless you bought the mac *from* that shop, so I really don't see your argument? IMO buying an apple laptop from the USA is a GREAT idea. It works fine on Irish power and it has a worldwide warranty, I say go for it.

A friend of mine got a 15" powerbook in Canada last year and he actually mailed the packaging back to himself in Ireland, so he could carry the powerbook in his luggage as if it was something he'd brought with him to Canada. Smart idea, eh?

SouperComputer

Why would you go to mactivate if you were within warranty?

most repairs under apples awrranty apple go to mactivate. Some go to mainland europe, but most to to mactivate.

Its quicker to drop it in to them yourself (or get it picked up) rather than leave it at a reseller and than wait for them to arrange it with mactivate.

eth0_

Originally posted by SouperComputer
most repairs under apples awrranty apple go to mactivate. Some go to mainland europe, but most to to mactivate.

Wow. That doesn't give me much confidence in Apple. I emailed mactivate last week for a quote on a hard drive upgrade on my powerbook and got no reply, I rang them on Wednesday and haven't been called back with a price....they can go and jump, I won't be giving them my business!

SouperComputer

no comment

secret_squirrel

Originally posted by hughchal
about the size of a small suitcase

Seriously? jeeze /me frantically revises cunning plan

Jorinn

Originally posted by eth0_
Wow. That doesn't give me much confidence in Apple. I emailed mactivate last week for a quote on a hard drive upgrade on my powerbook and got no reply, I rang them on Wednesday and haven't been called back with a price....they can go and jump, I won't be giving them my business!

Er, Don't generic laptop IDE drives work?

Hugh_C

Originally posted by eth0_
I won't be giving them my business!

you could check out macsales to see what's suitable for your make and model, write down the drive specs and then see of you can source it locally.

Hugh_C

Originally posted by Jorinn
Er, Don't generic laptop IDE drives work?

from the www.macsales.com site....



'All 2.5" ATA/IDE drives 9.5mm and 12.5mm are correct for:


PowerBook G4, (2002), aka Titanium
PowerBook G4, (2001), aka Titanium
PowerBook G3 FireWire (2000), aka Pismo
PowerBook G3 (1999), aka Lombard
PowerBook G3 (1998) aka WallStreet
PowerBook 150, 190 Series, 1400 series, 5300 Series, and 3400 Series**
PowerBook 3500 - AKA Original PowerBook G3 - AKA Kanga
PowerBook Duo 2300 Series and any Duo series with a 2300/PPC upgrade **, ***
PowerBook 2400 **
20th Anniversary Macintosh


All 2.5" ATA/IDE drives 9.5mm are correct for:


Apple iBook
Apple iBook (FireWire)
Apple iBook (Dual USB)
Apple iBook (Dual USB) Late 2001
Apple iBook (Dual USB) Early 2002


**There is a problem with large capacity ATA hard drives and SCSI disk mode on PowerBook models prior to the PowerBook G3 (introduced in November of 1997.) The affected machines include the PowerBook Duo 2300c, the PowerBook 5300 family, the PowerBook 190 family, the PowerBook 1400 family, the PowerBook 3400 family, and the PowerBook 2400 family. The problem only affects such machines because they have ATA hard drives. PowerBooks with SCSI hard drives are not affected by this problem.'

Bannor

Originally posted by secret_squirrel
Im seriously considering getting a Powerbook when Im next in the states. The price difference between here and there is outrageous!

So anyone care to tell me the pro's and con's. Obviously I'll need a new plug lead - that would be fairly easy to source wouldnt it?

The warantee is worldwide so thats not a problem.

what am I missing?

There is an Apple store in almost every major shopping mall in the U.S. so finding somewhere to buy the hardware won't be a problem. You could run in to the problem of it not being in stock because the things sell like hotcakes over there.

I was in Boston a short time ago and a mate of mine was looking to buy a Powerbook. Unfortunately the store didn't have the one he wanted so he opted for the iBook instead.

Some tips:

Be sure to tell your credit card company that you intend to make the purchase and give them an idea of the size of the transaction otherwise you could find that the transaction is blocked when you get to the checkout - This happened to my mate.

Before you leave the checkout make sure to check that the kit contains all the software. There have been shipments of computers dispatched without the discs in the box so be sure to get the clerk to check it for you. If it's missing they'll quite happily sell you the corresponding retail product for $0.01 and then refund you the $0.01!

Don't purchase the extended care plan because it will only be applicable to the country where it was bought. Instead take the computer home and purchase it in Ireland.

You can throw away the box - My mate just kept the panel with serial numbers on it.

Another tip if you're afraid of being caught by customs - post the manuals, system software, receipt etc. home and mark them as a gift/corporate sample on the customs form. With luck they'll arrive before you do and if the nasty customs people do rummage through your bags at the airport then there is no evidence!

flogen

could someone point out the price differences between the Irish and US/Canadian prices? I noticed from apple.com that the iPod prices aint much different..
there is about 300 difference on an ibook (the lowest spec that is), which is pretty decent, it is like 1/4 of the price after all

Flogen

Hugh_C

Originally posted by flogen
could someone point out the price differences between the Irish and US/Canadian prices? I noticed from apple.com that the iPod prices aint much different..
there is about 300 difference on an ibook (the lowest spec that is), which is pretty decent, it is like 1/4 of the price after all

Flogen

I think you may be wrong...

US price: 20 GB iPod $399.00 (~€336.13 today)
IRL price: 20 GB iPod €448.99

The US price excludes state sales tax which varies from state to state, but can be anywhere from 0 to about 12.5% I think. Nevertheless, the difference is MASSIVE.

hc

flogen

hmm, maybe i did the maths wrong...:D

thanks for that

Flogen

jongerrish

What about Power Issues with those tastey Cinema Displays bought in the US and brought back to Ireland?

Can you just buy a replacement lead or somthing?

secret_squirrel

/me hopes they have 110v-220v psu's.
/me drools homer style.

Drivers might be a problem (at least for a pc.)

Come to think of it do they use a non standard VGA/DVI connector?


Right Im off to the states soon - who wants to give me a shopping list???

manzana

all mac products work 100- 250 V. i checked even an imac and g5, they do.

a lot of my friends were considering importing a mac, so i made them a full how-to. sorry for linking it to a mac board, but i rather not paste everything here.

manzana

Originally posted by hughchal
I think you may be wrong...

US price: 20 GB iPod $399.00 (~€336.13 today)
IRL price: 20 GB iPod €448.99

The US price excludes state sales tax which varies from state to state, but can be anywhere from 0 to about 12.5% I think. Nevertheless, the difference is MASSIVE.

hc

sales tax is around 10-11 % in nyc and chicago and la.

apple care is another issue. in ireland you get 24 months of warranty, like the rest of europe. in usa 12. more differences

manzana

Originally posted by jongerrish
What about Power Issues with those tastey Cinema Displays bought in the US and brought back to Ireland?

Can you just buy a replacement lead or somthing?

Apple Cinema Displays work. Plug in an adapter without even currency converting, it works. For Formac monitors, I don't know, but Apple's everything works with both voltages (US vs EU)