Couching Tiger, Hidden Leopard

a5y

(Sorry, couldn't resist the title)

I'm going to be buying a Macbook soon (a 2.16 Ghz White one) and I'll be buying it online (I'm a student and I'll be taking the discount, and I'll probably be paying for AppleCare too). It works out at €1,438.69 with 3 years AppleCare.

But I've a bit of a dilemma. I saw this article here and I started wondering if I should hold off buying it until Leopard is released?

I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I'm going to be broke when I buy this, and if I buy the laptop now and upgrade to Leopard when its released in October I'm paying about €100 (whatever the $129USD works out as) extra. Also, if I upgrade the operating system, doesn't that invalid the AppleCare T&C?

On the other hand, if I were to wait until its released (October, assuming it isn't delayed) then I'm going to be without a laptop for my first month in college, and using a new operating system (I've no experience with OS X, the last time I used a mac was a college G4 tower with OS 9 about 4 or 5 years ago), and for all I know the price of the laptop might go up since its got new software in it anyway.

So, what do you think?

- buy the laptop now, get used to it and pay for Leopard when it comes out?
- buy the laptop now, don't buy leopard?
- buy it when leopard comes out and hope it doesn't go up in price anyway?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cabaal

Macbook won't go up just because of a new version of OSX, personally I'd say buy now and get the new OSX when you want/need it

a5y

Cabaal wrote:

Macbook won't go up just because of a new version of OSX, personally I'd say buy now and get the new OSX when you want/need it

Thanks man, I appreciate it. Also, that has to be the funniest sign image I've seen on boards!

Cabaal

a5y wrote:

Thanks man, I appreciate it. Also, that has to be the funniest sign image I've seen on boards!

You have somebody on the Heroes board to thank for making it

Oriel

Buy the laptop anyway, there certainly isn't enough new features in Leopard to warrant going for that amount of time with nothing.

a5y

You've got a point. Its not like I'm happy using the computer I've got at the minute. After all, if I was then I wouldn't be buying the laptop in the first place...

leeroybrown

a5y wrote:

€100 (whatever the $129USD works out as)

Traditionally $129 has worked out to be €129 with most computer suppliers.

a5y

leeroybrown wrote:

Traditionally $129 has worked out to be €129 with most computer suppliers.

Agreed

Don't suppose buying it online might be an option.
(No doubt when it is released there will be a thread about it)

Sad Professor

a5y wrote:

Don't suppose buying it online might be an option.

It's unlikely to be any cheaper online. There's nothing that says you have to upgrade immediately. A lot of people wait till the .1 update arrives or later. But buying now is a good idea as it will give you time to get some real experience with OSX.

440Hz

Yeah Id def buy now. Im upgrading my machine in the next few weeks, not going to wait for October. I may as well enjoy it now and get Leopard when its out! I couldnt wait that long to get my hands on a new toy

a5y

Ordinarily I couldn't either, but when money's too tight to mention you'd be surprised what you'll put up with.

Its looking more and more like I'll just fork out for it.

Dublinstiofán

a5y wrote:

(Sorry, couldn't resist the title)

So, what do you think?

- buy the laptop now, get used to it and pay for Leopard when it comes out?
- buy the laptop now, don't buy leopard?
- buy it when leopard comes out and hope it doesn't go up in price anyway?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Hold of until the 31st of july at least. They have already reintroduced the 'buy a mac and get a free ipod nano' in the US. And as soon as this 50% off printer offer is finished here (or before) they will do the same here.

http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/IrlInd.woa/61014046/wa/PSLID?mco=F0A09F69&nclm=printer200705&wosid=fY7YdVozyvB93TV4jCgHCqTYekO

What you should do is:

Wait until they put the free nano offer back on here, claim your free nano, don't open it, sell it and put it off the price of leopard.

or be a smart cookie and buy a student developer connection membership and save more than you could even imagine with the 'once off hardware purchase programme'

Trust me, its 100 times better than any student discount.

Hope this helps, let us know how it works out.

WizZard

Dublinstiof&#225 wrote: »

or be a smart cookie and buy a student developer connection membership and save more than you could even imagine with the 'once off hardware purchase programme'

Trust me, its 100 times better than any student discount.

How much is it worth?

andyps2.5

I heard that upgrade disc are on sale in stores from 100-150 which is not too bad.

faceman

check with apple if you are entitled to a free upgrade if you buy now

Creamy Goodness

andyps2.5 wrote:

I heard that upgrade disc are on sale in stores from 100-150 which is not too bad.

is there such thing with apple?

i thought when you bought the OS, you got the full version of the OS on the disc, none of this crappy upgrade discs or the sort?

K.O.Kiki

I'm assuming the upgrade discs are for going from 10.3 (Panther) to 10.4 (Tiger).

leeroybrown

I think that Apple did sell a Jaguar to Panther upgrade but I don't think they had a general sale Panther to Tiger upgrade. I haven't seen any mention of a Tiger to Leopard upgrade. It's somewhat pointless to ship an upgrade pack as almost every individual copy of Leopard shipped will be an upgrade anyway.

To put the cost in perspective Leopard (the full unencumbered and only version) will cost around the same price as a Windows Vista Home Basic Edition upgrade pack.

Suff

a5y,...I feel your pain!
I'm in the same position here, short on money and dont know should I wait until October.

But my main worry is If Apple would release a new Macbook Pro by october to be launched with Leopard! does any one know?

I'm thinking of just buying the MacPro cos I would need some time to get to know my new toy.

Sad Professor

Suff wrote:

But my main worry is If Apple would release a new Macbook Pro by october to be launched with Leopard! does any one know?

No. Early next year for the next MBP I'd imagine. As I've said before, base your purchasing decisions around the hardware not the software. The Macbook Pros were only updated 3 weeks ago so if you're going to buy, buy now! Forget about Leopard. I've had a chance to play around with it and while the new features are nice it's a not an essential upgrade. So it can wait if you can't afford it.

Urban Weigl

Remember you can buy AppleCare anytime during the first 12 months. So since you're going to be broke, don't buy AppleCare yet. Besides, you might get a good deal on MacBook AppleCare on eBay.

In short: you do not need to buy AppleCare with the laptop. You can always buy it later.

red_bairn

I wanna buy a iMac. My friend reckons I should wait till the end of the summer perhaps at latest when Apple will prob update it...? Is he right? Should I wait? Is this when Apple would update all their computers?

Sad Professor

New imacs (probably with a new form factor) are very very close, perhaps even within the next few weeks. Wait, definitely.

big_moe

apple are going to update the iMac sometime near the end of the summer. wait if you want.

if you cant wait, and need a computer, then buy one.

or else pick up the current one in a few months for bargain cos it will be the old model!

moe

red_bairn

I have the money but I am getting really agitated with this family laptop (Dell, Inspiron) I am using as everyone needs it. I think I will wait and get a nice new form of the iMac. Nearer to college year. Can get FCP off lecturer then to put on to it!!!

condra

People are gonna actually upgrade to Leopard?! You suckers!

I cant see myself upgrading until its absolutly necessary, i.e. a requirement for some vital software or hardware.

a5y

Dublinstiof&#225 wrote: »

Hold of until the 31st of july at least. They have already reintroduced the 'buy a mac and get a free ipod nano' in the US. And as soon as this 50% off printer offer is finished here (or before) they will do the same here.

http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/IrlInd.woa/61014046/wa/PSLID?mco=F0A09F69&nclm=printer200705&wosid=fY7YdVozyvB93TV4jCgHCqTYekO

What you should do is:

Wait until they put the free nano offer back on here, claim your free nano, don't open it, sell it and put it off the price of leopard.

or be a smart cookie and buy a student developer connection membership and save more than you could even imagine with the 'once off hardware purchase programme'

Trust me, its 100 times better than any student discount.

Hope this helps, let us know how it works out.

GAAAHH!
I wish I had read this before I placed my order. Serves me write for not checking up on boards more often.