Buying a macbook

CiaranIRE

I never owned a mac but I was thinking of buying a MacBook, one thats listed on the apple site for 1,119 Euro.

http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/irlstore.woa/6114042/wo/D5HqexOObok52YIgVxp1JleS2PR/0.PSLID?mco=32B42242&nclm=MacBook

But I was wondering if I was to buy one in Dublin in a street shop(if you can), how much should I be looking at? and wheres the best place to buy?

A guy in PcWorld estimated 1,500+ for the 1.8ghz model which I thougth was a large mark up.

Ciarán

mikemac

Not a helpful answer, but I'd avoid the 3G store on Henry Street.
I went in at lunchtime to have a look at a macbook and couldn't as the security guard was messing around on the internet.

Asked a sales person what the story was and was asked to come back later. They missed a potential sale

If I buy, it'll be direct from Apple

ButtermilkJack

Same here. I'd buy direct from Apple (which I just did last week!!). MacBook 2.GHz, White model. As a general rule, Apple products are never really sold lower than on the Apple website. You'll find them dearer alright, but Apple don't usually allow resellers to undercut their prices.

Safest bet, buy online. You'll get the latest model at the best price.:)

dubmick

micmclo wrote:

Not a helpful answer, but I'd avoid the 3G store on Henry Street.
I went in at lunchtime to have a look at a macbook and couldn't as the security guard was messing around on the internet.

Asked a sales person what the story was and was asked to come back later. They missed a potential sale

If I buy, it'll be direct from Apple

thats terrible but from the few times I've been in there it is entirely believable. Hopefully we'll actually get an Apple Store in Dublin one day.

CiaranIRE

Thanks for the replys. I think I'll just buy from the site and get a customised 1.8ghz model

Will

Go to the education section also to get a discount

ZENER

I bought my MacBook Pro in 3G in Blanchardstown and negotiated a 180 euro discount ! Try doing that online ! I also got 30 quid of a bag, 5 quid off the USB Modem and 5 quid off a Mighty Mouse

By the way the Black MacBook is about 1500 euro, maybe that's what the PC-World guy meant.

To be frank though the PC World blokes don't have a bloody clue about Macs, one tried to convince me that the "Powerbook" on display WAS the Intel Version :rolleyes: I asked about a Mac USB Modem and was told there was no such thing. For a laugh listen in when they're trying to sell one to the public - worth recording some of it and sending it to Apple.

By the way security gaurds buy computers too ya' know !


ZEN

Sad Professor

frankly i wouldn't touch pcworld - for anything - unless i had to. go with apple.

ZENER

They're ok if you know exactly what you're looking for, just don't make eye-contact with the hired help is all !

ZEN

Sidane

A girl in work bought a Macbook pro a few months back. She rang up Apple sales and actually got a discount of over 100 euro from the guy - without even asking for it! :eek:

She wouldn't have got that online - so maybe try ringing and haggling, you never know what you'll get.

eth0_

CiaranIRE wrote:

But I was wondering if I was to buy one in Dublin in a street shop(if you can), how much should I be looking at? and wheres the best place to buy?

A guy in PcWorld estimated 1,500+ for the 1.8ghz model which I thougth was a large mark up.

Ciarán

The black macbook is higher specced and is €1500.
I bought mine 2 weeks ago in the o2 experience store on Grafton st, and got a free Sony Ericsson Z510i speakeasy pack (worth about 200 quid iirc) inc. 90 euro call credit, which is a good deal I reckon!

falteringstar

3G in Liffeyvalley have 10% off all Apple stuff tommorrow! And the first five people to buy an Apple computer will get a free ipod with it. So thats a macbook for 1000euro plus a possible free ipod...... ya wont get that online!

CiaranIRE

Thanks again for all the replys, but could everyone who bought one from a shop please give the price they paid?

Also haggling down the phone might be a good idea, I'll try liffyvalley and tomorrow, i think harvey Norman are having a laptop sale too so I'll see if they sell Macs.

Oh and the guy who mentioned the black Macbook, I think thats the 2ghz model with the 80gb hard drive, the guy was quoting a price for the 1.8ghz model, god knows how much the 2.0ghz one would cost off him!

eth0_

I don't think Apple allow shops to sell at MORE than their RRP. I paid 1500 euro, you definitely shouldn't be charged more than that for the black macbook!

Thumper Long

what i cant understand is how these shops sell the apple Mb's and MBP's at such discounts, the net difference between the cost of a macbook and the selling price is about €30, and between 50 & 70 euro with a MBP. according to apple there is no where near sufficient demand here to warrant a special store, although we would all welcome it. it appears the powers that be in cork are quite happy to use the existing reseller network and are delighted with the uptake from the O2 stores and 3G etc, but having seen the prices apple sell to resellers at i just cant understand how they are allowing staff to discount the macs.

CiaranIRE

Well i rang 3g and they sell the one I was eyeballing for the same price as the apple store, and tomorrow, or today, they are having the 10% discount.

Dunno about the free ipod, althought i wouldnt use one anyway, would be a nice 300 back tho if you could sell it.

Will

Guy in college rang em up also, they gave him a 10% discount which he was well chuffed with. Almost have enough dosh for a macbook

mirage

I'm typing this on my newly aquired Macbook 2ghz (White, too tight to fork out the extra €200 for Black ).

I bought it online from Apple and havent regretted it. I had a similar PC World experience with those that know nothing, why wont they just say they don't know and spare you the pain?

Just one tip for you I bought it with only 512mb of RAM as I can upgrade to 2GB for around €200 (http://www.memory-configurator.co.uk/) intsead of the €500 Apple are looking for

mirage

just so you know it wasnt a fluke http://www.crucial.com/eu/store/listparts.asp?Mfr%2BProductline=Apple%2BMacBook&mfr=Apple&tabid=AM&model=MacBook+2.0GHz+Intel+Core+Duo+%2813-inch+White%29&submit=Go