Macbook good value?

flossy_splodge

Marty_J wrote: »

I just type out the quote tags myself, but the multi-quote button does much the same thing. That's this one:



Just click it on all the posts you want to quote, and when you get to the last one, click the normal quote button and it'll also add the selected quotes to your post.

Wow. Now I've just got to wait for a chance to play!:rotfl:
Thanks.:D

Percy1983

Is it just me who thinks this is much better value?

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0484156514.1246017924@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccceadehildllemcflgceggdhhmdgmh.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=923409&category_oid=-27757#productInformationSection

That is just the first reference I found, I could look around and find better from a better retailer.

Or am I just being way to sensible?

fox2319

Percy1983 wrote: »

Is it just me who thinks this is much better value?

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0484156514.1246017924@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccceadehildllemcflgceggdhhmdgmh.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=923409&category_oid=-27757#productInformationSection

That is just the first reference I found, I could look around and find better from a better retailer.

Or am I just being way to sensible?

Probably not just you but it's not better value. Slower processor, lumbering OS etc. etc. etc.

Marty_J

Percy1983 wrote: »

Or am I just being way to sensible?

No, you're just choosing to ignore the things that make the MacBook more expensive.

For instance, does the Toshiba come with Vista Ultimate 64-bit?

If not, you can hardly compare it on price to a computer that comes with a full version of a 64-bit OS. The Toshiba doesn't even come with reinstall disks. Cutting corners isn't "value", it's cutting corners.

It has a slower processor, slower RAM, slower ethernet, slower wifi, a less comfortable keyboard, no multi-touch trackpad, and no Bluetooth. It does have a dial-up modem though, which is handy if you're time-travelling back to 1997.

The Toshiba only comes with a one year warranty, and it doesn't come with technical support that's consistently rated as the best in the business.

The Toshiba comes with a load of crap trial software that'll make it a pain in the a$$ to use from the moment it's turned on. The MacBook comes with the amazing iLife, which is an absolute joy to use.

I'm also willing to bet that the MacBook has much higher build quality. a nicer screen, and will be working long after the Toshiba has gone to PC heaven.

isofa

Marty definitely has some valid points there. You do get what you pay for.

I'd prefer a good spec'd Dell over the Tosh any day (Tosh's just aren't what they used to be any more), and if I was looking for a top end PC laptop, really Levono is the only true competition.

flossy_splodge

isofa wrote: »

Marty definitely has some valid points there. You do get what you pay for.

I'd prefer a good spec'd Dell over the Tosh any day (Tosh's just aren't what they used to be any more), and if I was looking for a top end PC laptop, really Levono is the only true competition.

Oh this just keeps getting more complicated!
My DD now tells me she wants me to go for the Macbook as she wants to use it for movie editing (her degree was in this sort of work) and i could then borrow her old laptop!!!!
Besides my indignation at the thought that I don't get to buy for me, I now need to consider this factor!
Thanks to all the posters, I am really appreciative of the responses.
Turns out John Lewis didn't have anything suitable in clearance so I'm still looking.....
By the way, provided i get a move on, my other DD does indeed have access to student discounts. Would this sway anyone who previously thought Apples were not worth the extra lolly?
With the discount she tells me the price of the original Mac would come down to about mid £600?:o

Marty_J

If you can get a student discount, that's the way to go. You can also get big savings on AppleCare and software too.

Let's just hope she lets you play with it sometimes!

chris761

I've been watching this thread as I too am wanting to buy a macbook (or imac) but find the prices a bit high. Can you help with the following.

How do you get student discount, is it much (if i use a close family member will it all be in their name, I'm thinking of anything going wrong)

If i have to buy is it better to buy in JL the apple store or the online store and is there a time of year when they launch new models and sell old one's at reduced prices (i can wait for a while although my pc is on it's last legs and won't last much longer)

What is applecare

Marty_J

Apple sell off older models in their Refurb Store. Everything from there comes with a one year warranty and will be as good as new. Generally you can get £100 - £200 off the retail price.

I can't remember the exact student discount, but for a university student, I think it's around 16% or 17%. I don't think you're going to run into any problems having someone else buy it for you.

Apple's notebooks have all recently been updated, and the iMac was updated a few months ago. It'll probably get another update before long, and there is talk of cheaper iMacs being released later in the year. iMac updates have generally been confined to bumping the processor speed up a bit, and sometimes the HDD storage. The new MacBooks have SD card slots, and I'd be surprised if Apple didn't release iMacs with the same feature. There hasn't been a major revision in quite a while now though, so anything is possible I guess.

This page is generally pretty accurate when it comes to predicting updates.

AppleCare is Apple's extended warranty. Unlike many extended warranties, it's actually very good, and you can get it for a substantial reduction with an education discount.

BikerEd

chris761 wrote: »

What is applecare

Applecare is Apple's excellent three year extended warranty and support package. As default Apple products come with 90 day support and one year warranty. Buying it direct from Apple at the time of purchase is not the best option as you can also buy off eBay from US-based sellers at a substantial discount (approx 50% for some systems). You can do this for the iPhone too, but the Applecare package on that is only two years.

If you buy from John Lewis you get two years warranty as standard.

For desktops you maybe don't need a warranty, or should I say you need it less than with laptops. For laptops I'd say it is a must. My 20 month old Macbook Pro has so far been into Apple three times for repair (failed DVD writer, battery replacement, fan replacement) all after the 12 month anniversary. I'm not saying Apple's are bad though, just that all laptops get a hard time. My last Tosh had two hard drives, three motherboards, two batteries and two keyboards in three years. My Dell before that seemed to have a different fault each month. My daughter's iMac hasn't had a single fault in two years.