Where to buy a MAC?

Realtine

I'm stumped! buying a mac as a birthday present for my daughter and I'm so unsure where to buy - from the apple store, a refurbished one, from PC world, curry's - where is the best place - all prices seem the same so I'm lost.
She has a basic macbook and we just want to upgrade it for her (it's about 2 years old) any directions appreciated.The newer MACbook pro 13" is what we're looking at.

Sad Professor

Best place is the online Apple Store:

www.applestore.ie

Or if you would prefer a brick and mortar shop, check out CompuB. If you are in Dublin, there's one on Grafton Street.

mailforkev

Just buy direct from Apple, you'll usually have it within 2 or 3 days.

Their refurb store is worth a look, all items would be almost new, fully QCed and I haven't seen a sign of use on anything that has come from them.

Refurb Store:
http://store.apple.com/ie/browse/home/specialdeals/mac?mco=MTM3NDY2NTI

Edit: As an aside, I just reread your post there and if her MacBook is only 2 years old it shouldn't really need replacing just yet.

Realtine

mailforkev wrote: »

Edit: As an aside, I just reread your post there and if her MacBook is only 2 years old it shouldn't really need replacing just yet.

Thankss for replies - the one she has is just the basic white one it may even be 3 years old - it's well looked after but we were looking at this one -

http://store.apple.com/ie/product/FB991B/A?mco=MTA4MzI0OTE

just don't know the difference - but it seems that the apple store is what people recommend so will probably go with that - we have about 1200 to spend.
never bought from them online before and to be honest a little scared of spending that much online without seeing the product - *shiver*.

J-blk

Realtine wrote: »

never bought from them online before and to be honest a little scared of spending that much online without seeing the product - *shiver*.

You have nothing to worry about, it's not like you're buying off some dodgy-looking eBay seller . I've shopped online from Apple directly for years with no problems. The refurbished systems are excellent value for money, just note that they typically come packaged in a plain brown box, instead of the "fancier" retail packaging that has pictures of the product, etc. Not a problem for most people I imagine and the laptop should be pretty much as good as new (I've gotten a few refurbs over the years and can never really see any difference from a brand new system).

Saaron

Hi, recently got a refurbished Macbook Pro 13'' from the Apple store. It was bought online. It came in the proper Apple packaging. Looked completely new. Works like a new machine.

Wouldn't have known it was refurbished except for the fact that I was told it was. Can't really see the difference between a new Mac and a refurbished one!
I haven't had one problem with it since. Buying online from the store was completely easy and reliable.

J-blk

Saaron wrote: »

recently got a refurbished Macbook Pro 13'' from the Apple store. It was bought online. It came in the proper Apple packaging. Looked completely new. Works like a new machine.

Cool. It's been a couple of years since I picked up a refurb so things may have changed. Regardless of the box, the system itself seems to always be like new according to both my own experience and most people here, so the refurbished store is definitely worth it.

Hector Mildew

Realtine wrote: »

I'm stumped! buying a mac as a birthday present for my daughter and I'm so unsure where to buy - from the apple store, a refurbished one, from PC world, curry's - where is the best place - all prices seem the same so I'm lost.
She has a basic macbook and we just want to upgrade it for her (it's about 2 years old) any directions appreciated.The newer MACbook pro 13" is what we're looking at.

If you qualify, try the Apple Education site, good discounts there:

http://store.apple.com/ie-edu

denisor

just a heads up, if you call the freephone Applestore number, you can negotiate a discount, example in the business section, you can get 5% discount straight up with a vat reciept, I think the education can give you 10% off, but won't issue a vat reciept, and may ask for student id, however, they have never asked me for id. Customer service is one word, EPIC, if your not happy in within 14 days of delivery, just call after-sales and they'll send a shipper to pick up the item, used, open or not, and issue a full no questions refund. Thats better than any brick and mortar real shop. Apple customer care is like nothing you have ever expierienced, you just need to get over the shipping days, if you order on a Monday, expect the item by Friday if its not customised, if it is allow to get it Friday week. Have patience, it will arrive! and you will be happy!

Branoic

If you were to buy an iMac from a bricks and mortar store in Dublin instead of online, are you able to pick your configuration in the same way you can online or do you just have to take whatever they've got in stock?

I would order online but it's not possible to have anyone at home for delivery at the moment.

Greentree_uk

sure, no problem to order a Build To Order configuration.

Greentree_uk

denisor wrote: »

just a heads up, if you call the freephone Applestore number, you can negotiate a discount, example in the business section, you can get 5% discount straight up with a vat reciept, I think the education can give you 10% off, but won't issue a vat reciept, and may ask for student id, however, they have never asked me for id. Customer service is one word, EPIC, if your not happy in within 14 days of delivery, just call after-sales and they'll send a shipper to pick up the item, used, open or not, and issue a full no questions refund. Thats better than any brick and mortar real shop. Apple customer care is like nothing you have ever expierienced, you just need to get over the shipping days, if you order on a Monday, expect the item by Friday if its not customised, if it is allow to get it Friday week. Have patience, it will arrive! and you will be happy!

These are pretty standard terms and conditions for internet retail sites. BTW not sure what people have against B&M stores. do you all have bad experiences?

denisor

Branoic if you buy in Dublin, you can have the ram upgraded in store in PCWorld, in CompuB on Grafton St, Trinity College end of street, you can have the same, maybe more done, I doubt the HD will be upgradable but call them to see, they are good guys, and so so so helpfull about everythign, including networking etc.

Re apple delivaries, you can have it sent to your work or your neighbour if you like, just call them.

Branoic

Anyone know bricks and mortar shops in Dublin which actually have the new Imac models in stock? I phoned CompuB last week and again today and they don't know when they'll be getting them in.

Ham'nd'egger

Branoic wrote: »

If you were to buy an iMac from a bricks and mortar store in Dublin instead of online, are you able to pick your configuration in the same way you can online or do you just have to take whatever they've got in stock?

I would order online but it's not possible to have anyone at home for delivery at the moment.

If you buy from a reseller, you will be limited to the Apple base range in whatever product range you are looking at unless the reseller orders in for you; obviously then there will be delays in sorting this out. While many resellers will fit in additional RAM or HD expansions for you, bear in mind that Apple won't honour the warranty on the expanded parts should they ever fail on you though they will of course cover the rest of the machine.

As a by note, when you order from Apple you can arrange an alternative delivery address for your merchandise such as your workplace or a family member.

Greentree_uk

Apple may not honour the warranty on the hard drive but the shop you bought it from should! plus there should be atleast a three year warranty on the drive. and it's usually cheaper from an apple reseller to do the upgrade than buy from apple, also you get to choose the drive if you so wish instead of apple's relatively mediocre performance drives. Memory warranty is usually lifetime too unlike apple's one year. also buying from retailers has the benefit of the fact that they have to fix it for you. speaking to apple after 90 days for telephone support costs around €50 for many retailers this is free. Buying from retailers also supports local business! Apple will get their money either way. but not buying local may lead to their demise. and trust me, I'm sure you'd rather have real expertise when you have a problem rather than people reading from a script in india. ofcourse some resellers are not great, but there are some very good ones.