Apple Store Pricing + Reliability

I'm planning to purchase a MBP from an Apple store near me after some horrible experiences with an HP laptop. I was wondering if the store gives you the same options/upgrades for the MBP as they do online and whether the prices for these upgrades are identical.

Also, how reliable are MBP's? I heard many good things about Apple's quality, but I'll like to know personal experiences with problems that have arisen (hardware,software,.etc) and how Apple handled it. I'm considering getting the 3 year Warranty if necessary.

Thanks in advance.

 

The Apple Stores always carry the basic models by default in both glossy and matte finish. They also carry upgraded models as well. These vary by store but you can easily check by giving the store a ring. The prices in the brick and mortar store are the same as the online store.

The MBP's have had their share of problems. Some minor some not so minor. I had an original MBP and it had the whine problem and it ran fairly hot (though I never thought it ran as hot as some portrayed). I now have the latest MBP and it is terrific machine. Not a single problem or complaint (except I wish it had Leopard). Anytime I've had an issue with any Apple product the Geniuses at which ever Apple Store I ventured into were extremely professional and went out of their way to help me out.

My suggestion to you is to pick up the machine of your choice at the local Apple Store. Go in the morning at opening time (Sundays are usually quiet) so you don't have to fight the crowds. After purchasing it take it to the Genius counter and open it up. Give it a quick once over and make sure everything looks good. If they aren't busy you might even ask for a few pointers from the Geniuses. Take it home and check it out again. If you find any problems you have 14 days to bring it back or get an exchange. If you have a legit problem they won't give you the run around. Just make sure you schedule an appointment before you go in. Best of luck.

 

Is there a restocking fee?

 

If you return a faulty product for an exchange there is no restocking fee. If there is an issue and you decide to get a refund there will be no restocking fee. If you decide to return the unit for a refund and there is nothing wrong with the machine then you will most likely have to pay a restocking fee.

 

I'll answer your second question. Problems have arisen, but as usual it affects a slight percentage of the total MacBook Pros. But the silver lining out of all this is Apple's excellent way on handling it. Apple Stores and Authorized Service Providers are numerous; all of them can and will help you diagnose and/or repair your MacBook Pro if necessary. And I've heard many times when Apple is willing to replace the MacBook Pro with a new one - and I've heard that they occasionally replace it with a higher model to compensate for the unfortunate ordeal.

 

That sounds good so far. Now, do I have to schedule an appointment if I'm going to the Apple store to look at the MBP's they offer or do I schedule one if I want personal assistance?

Also, do the Apple stores take care of the problems that arise with the MBP if I purchase it from that store?

Thanks for everyones help so far.

 

Hey, I just noticed that Amazon has a $100 rebate on Macs -- Macbooks, at least.

Any down-side to buying from Amazon instead of directly through Apple?

 

Better than that . Any Apple Store in the world and Authorized Service Provider will take care of the problems that arise from the MacBook Pro. It doesn't have to be from a single Apple Store that you purchased from. They remind you to hold on to your receipt, but most of the time all they need to do is check the serial number on the Mac.

 

Our MBP that we had just purchased at an Apple Store had a screen that flared up at the corners when closed (i.e., there was about a 1.5 cm gap at the front corners between the screen and laptop body when the lid was closed). There was also a visible bend in the screen frame when the lid was open. I brought it back to the Apple Store and they tried to tell me it was within spec although it obviously was an incredibly bad fit. They initially wanted to charge me the restocking fee to exchange the unit, but then waived it after some discussion. They take that restocking fee very seriously.

 

The only downside is that if you have a serious issue with the machine (DOA for example) then you'll have to send it back to Amazon. Any issues after the sale you can deal directly with Apple. Lots of people hear have purchased their machines through Amazon with no issues at all.

 

No appointment necessary to look and purchase. If you need any assistance after the sale you can schedule an appointment with a Genius via the website for that particular Apple Store ( www.apple.com/retail).

 

Sounds good.

Are many MBP users running Windows instead of Mac OS X? The only concern I really have is compatibility issues with Mac. I don't plan on purchasing a copy of Windows Vista for it is too expensive at the moment, especially spending about $2000 or so on this new MBP!

Also, does Mac OS X run well with 2GB of RAM? I'm asking this because with Windows Vista, 2GB is almost the minimum.

 

I don't think that many people are running Windows on a regular basis. I don't all that often...maybe a few times a week. That is usually when I'm too lazy to fire up my work computer. I actually run an emulator (VMWare Fusion) that works extremely well. You might give it or Parallels a try after you get your Mac. I wouldn't mess with Vista not even on a PC. I've been there and gave up. It will be a mess until SP1 is released.

OSX works very well with 2 GBs of RAM. You can almost get by with 1 GB if you don't run many apps. 2 GBs should be plenty unless you're running several memory intensive apps. I have 3 GBs and that is plenty even after giving 1 GB to Windows while running Fusion.

 

Apple designed Mac OS X well, the OS runs fine with just 512 MB of RAM. So you have more than enough with 2 GB of RAM. Many 5-6 year old Macs are still running the latest version of OS X (Tiger) fine.

Most Mac users don't run Windows all the time...my general advice is if you don't plan to use Mac OS X at all don't buy a Mac. Get a PC. Anyways, there's no compatibility issues with running Windows on a Mac. While installing Boot Camp, it asks you to burn all these drivers onto a CD/DVD, and all the drivers you need to run Windows is there.

 

1. Damn, I hope not - especially not Vista! Personally, except to run games (if I were a gamer) I wouldn't do that to my Mac. Maybe, if Windows were absolutely necessary to run certain apps needed for work, I suppose I might consider installing XP. Probably would look for a new job instead, though! Ok, ok, I'm just kidding.

2. OSX in a MBP runs very well and doesn't do badly in a PB, either.

 

Well, my MBP would be used mainly for college, so gaming will not be a big issue until my long breaks. I just want a powerful, yet reliable laptop that I can use through my 4 years in college.

So in order to install 3GB of RAM into the MBP that only has 2GB (2x1GB), I have to purchase a 2GB and remove one 1GB. I might try that and purchase a copy of Windows XP and install it. Then, I guess I have both Mac OS X and Windows XP on my computer. When the new OS comes out (Leopard), do I have to purchase a new copy or will Apple give those out for free? It's worth a try! lol

 

You'll have to purchase Leopard unless you wait until 30 days (or less) before Leopard ships.

BTW, 2 GB should be enough to run OS X and XP at the same time.

 

What major differences will Leopard have over Tiger and will it be necessary to upgrade from Tiger? I'm planning on purchasing a MBP once I receive my refund on my previous laptop, so it's going have Tiger preinstalled.

 

Take a look at the link below. It shows some of the features of Leopard. It won't be necessary to upgrade to Leopard.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/

 

I read that page on Leopard already, but since I'm a Windows user, I can't really compare Tiger to Leopard accurately. I read that the major difference between Leopard and Tiger is just the layout and presentation of the OS.

 

There are some new items such as Time Machine, Spaces, etc. the rest of the work has been to tidy up the OS and improve its usability. Long time users will notice an immediate difference. It isn't a must have upgrade, but that won't stop many from picking it up the first day it goes on sale (myself included).

 

Of course it is! I'll meet you at the Apple Store the day it becomes available.

 

We don't actually know that yet. Many people think that the reason iLife 07 is missing is because it will require Leopard, and that many other apps may follow suit. Odds are you will be able to run Tiger fine for a long time, but most will want to upgrade to Leopard, and there is speculation it may be required for some programs.

 

Free upgrade to Finder. What more can you ask for?

That's the main reason i didn't buy Pathfinder yet.

 

How about security wise? Are there critical security patches or upgrades that will be different in Leopard than in Tiger?

 

When I got my iMac they let me open it up at the genius bar (after paying for it obviously) to check for dead pixels and other anomalies. The one they gave me had a red stuck pixel right in the middle of the screen and they changed it for one that was good.

Don't forget to ask for the edu discount (if you're a student...).

 

I have not visited the Apple store near me yet. Also, I have to see if they have the MBP with the specifications I want in stock. So, possibly in a week or whenever I receive my refund back on my HP laptop will I visit the Apple store and see what they have to offer.

So far, I'm really leaning towards the MBP and look forward to getting one soon hopefully.