No MBP Glossy Screens in southern CA

Well, I was planning on buying a MacBook Pro 15.4 but I could not find any with glossy screens at the Apple stores I called all over southern California. I called at least 10 stores. They gave all kinds of reasons why - they don't get many, they're in demand, it's graduation and on and on. So what's the deal - am I not going to be able to get a glossy screen. Is Apple running out of glossy screens - what's up?

I'm bummed. I wanted to get my new MBP. So maybe I'm going to wait until Leopard.

 

You can order from the Apple store online. Delivery is usually within just a few days. Your new machine can still be serviced - if need be - at your local store. You've decided on a great machine and I've no doubt you'll enjoy it very much.

 

My only concern is that they told me at the store that if I buy from Apple Online and upgrade RAM myself or the hard drive that it won't be the original configuration and I would have to send it back to Apple rather than taking it to the store if I needed to return it or get it serviced.

According to the stores, if I buy it from the store and upgrade the RAM then
I can still return to the store or get it serviced.

I was hoping to get 4 GB of RAM from crucial and save $450 for the upgrade of RAM through Apple. Once I understood the store's policy I felt I'd rather be able to deal with the store rather than something online.

 

Seems like an odd thing for the Apple folks to tell you. I've never had an issue with Apple over service with machines which have had RAM upgrades I've done myself. That applies to machines I've bought online and at the local store.

Could be that's just a policy not strictly enforced, or I've just been lucky . . .

 

It took me some brain power to get a handle on what they were saying at the stores. Here's the idea I got from what they said. Once you add RAM it somehow changes some kind of number in the Mac configuration to an X number and evidently then it's no longer considered a standard configuration. If I buy it online and then add RAM, I guess the stores can't take it back and I have to deal with the Apple online store. If I buy it at the stores and add RAM, then it's a different story. I agree it sounds kind of different, but that was my understanding.

If this weren't the case, I'd buy online in a heartbeat because of the trouble I'm having finding what I want. That's why I'm saying maybe I'll just have to wait a couple of months and there might be less demand. Or maybe Apple will stock the stores with more glossy 15" MBP. And if I wait that long maybe I'm just going to wait until Leopard. I do feel kind of let down though cause I was actually going to go for it this weekend. I am still determined to switch from PC to Mac but I think it's going to get delayed for a while.

 

To that I can only say that I'm glad you seem to remain upbeat; I wish you well.

 

Well as upbeat as I can be considering how much I was wanting that computer. Then I got to thinking, "well maybe I'll just get a MacBook." But that would be a compromise for me I think because I really want and actually need the features of the MBP. So I guess this is one of those things where I need to have patience and hopefully in the waiting I'll appreciate it and love it all the more. Or maybe I'll just drive to Arizona and get it there - although I actually haven't checked to see if they have what I want in Phoenix. I am going to be in Georgia in a couple of weeks - maybe I'll get it there

 

Cath, never heard of that. Every Mac I have bought has been online. I never upgrade through Apple, I always buy 3rd party ram and install it myself. Though I never had many problems when I did I simply took my Macs to my local Apple retail store and they either service it at the store or send it to Apple for repair. Either you were explained in a weird way or either misunderstood. Just buy it online and get your ram at Crucial and be done with it.
All the Apple stores take very good care of their customers. The Apple retail stores take care of Macs bought from Amazon with customer installed ram upgrades and even Ebay. All they care about is if it's under warranty.

 

So do you think if I buy the AppleCare warranty I should be okay?

 

Hey Cath you should be fine ordering online. Local Apple stores will take in machines for repair regardless if you upgrade the memory or not. I would suggest though that if you were to ever have a problem I would return the unit to stock condition before bringing it in for repair. If for some reason they have to replace it they will exchange with an exact unit (as it was shipped) so you might loose your RAM.

 

this is not true what so ever. i have never seen anyone be denied service at an Apple store because the RAM has been changed.

 

Why don't you just have your nearest Apple store back order one for you?

 

I'm going to be at an Apple store today so I'm going to get to see these up close. If I can get them to order it for me that would be great. Thanks for your help.

 

I had trouble finding the matte screen 2.2 version in my area. I called for a few days without the sotres having one in stock and finally they told me that there were delays. They said it would be just as quick to order one online by the time I would wait for the store to start receiving them.

 

Well guess where I was yesterday - an Apple store. I got to look at the MacBook Pro up close - both matte and glossy. And guess what one I liked the most - the matte screen! So I bought it. 2.4 ghz with 2 mb ram. WhooHoo!! I'm now officially a switcher. Just got home about 2 hours ago and still have not taken my new MacBook Pro out of the box. I cannot believe I have a MacBook Pro. Anyhow - thanks to all for helping me make this momentous decision.

 

Congrats!!

Now, take your machine out of the box, set it up, and take 'er out for a spin! Only takes about ten minutes to be up and running. Enjoy.

 

Congrats Cath! I think you got a hair more than 2mb of ram, more like 2GB.

 

Yep - you're right! Not 2 mb - it's 2 GB I think I'm so blown away with actually getting my new MacBook Pro I can't even remember what I have.

Even the box is beautiful. I can't wait to look at this great new computer, figure it out, and work on it!! WhooHoo! My office is probably going to have to come looking for me because you know where I'll be - deep into exploring and figuring out Mac OS X.

 

I have one helpful suggestion for ya Cath. If you open up the Macintosh HD on your desktop you will find the "Applicatons" folder. You can drag it to the dock right next to the trash (excuse the example). You can either right-click or control-click and the list of apps will shoot up just like when using the Start Button in Windows. If you just mouse click once it will open up the applications in the Finder. Right click or Control click is much better to access your apps.

 

Thank you so much for your help - that is just what I was wondering how to do because I like the Start button to see all my programs. I'm sure I'm going to be up here reading all over the place trying to figure things out. I cannot believe I've done this. As long as I can use Microsoft Word and write, I think I'll be okay. I just have to figure out the file system and how to backup to my external hard drive and print. After that, everything else for me is going to be learn as I go. WhooHoo - I'm excited - this is so much fun.

 

I just put the Applications icon next to the trash icon like you suggested - amazing - it works great!! Thank you - that was an incredible help to me. I also set up my trackpad so that I just click on it to open things and if I click on it with two fingers it's like a right click - very cool! I LOVE MY MAC!! I am having so much fun.

 

Right on! Glad I could help. The Mac forum needs a thread of helpful hidden features of the Mac.

 

Yes I could sure use it. It's the little things that are the main thing sometimes, making your life so much easier.

My brother and I just discovered the most amazing thing. He's in Arizona and I'm in California. He has a new IMac and I of course have my new MacBook Pro which I have only been using for a total of 2 hours.

Guess what we just did - ICHAT - audio and video - it's amazing. And definitely worth the price of admission. We talked for over an hour - both families - via video and audio with our Macs. That is just so cool. I'm in totally a whole new world and having so much fun.

 

^^^ I love threads like this

it is awesome to see how a new computer can really make someone happy.

video chat between these machines is definitely great, it just works perfectly, go and is so simple to get setup.

enjoy your new machine.

and if this is your first time using a mac. (most people don't figure this out for awhile anyway)

you know all of those F9-F12 buttons, how they are setup to control Expose, the program that moves your windows around? well go to system preferences, and go to Dashboard and Expose settings, and you can set all 4 corners of your screen to be a hotspot for those keys, which is extremely extemely useful.

especially since you are used to having the Taskbar to go to the window you want.

like if you have a lot of windows open at once, I usually have a lot of windows open if I am working in Photoshop, for example, it makes it super easy to find the window I want without having to move them all around manually.

 

Oh that is very cool - you know what - I haven't even tried those buttons until now. I just hit F12 and all of a sudden there's the clock, the weather, and more. Amazing. Thank you for showing me that. The four corner hotspot is going to be useful - I will have a lot of windows open as I usually have a lot going on at once.

Now I'm contemplating not even putting Windows on here - I haven't decided yet. I can get CS3 and Office for Mac. There are a couple of things not yet available in Mac that I use. Now I have to order my RAM from Crucial.

Also, I LOVE the keyboard more than any other I've ever used including my Thinkpad keyboard (and that's saying something because that's a good keyboard). It's got the perfect feel for me and also it's quiet - I like that cause I'm a writer and I'm usually typing on it sometimes for 16 hours a day.

I do have some good books to learn this OS including MacBook Pro for Dummies, Scott Kelby's Tips and Tricks for Mac OS Tiger (he's been a big help to me with his Tips and Tricks for Photoshop), and then a couple others. I still haven't found THE book that will be like a handbook for me. Dummies doesn't cover it all (more like an intro but it was helpful for me) and Scott's is tips and tricks. I like to have a good book that gives me everything I need to know.

I can't wait to see if my bluetooth printer at work will connect with my Macbook. Also still have to install my Belkin card reader for my SD card. Too bad I gotta go to work but it's a good thing I get to take my new MBP with me. You should see the little case I got at the Apple store - it's an InCase with a strap and it has velour inside - that's what sold me - I never had a case with velour but the idea is great to keep my laptop from getting scratched.

Well, I guess I'm officially a switcher. One of my coworkers said I've now come into the light. He said he was proud of me and said I should have done it a year ago. They were trying to talk me into doing this last year but I just laughed - now I know what they were talking about. Oh and I am really glad I got the matte screen instead of the glossy - it's perfect for me.

I'm sure this whole experience will somehow make its way into something I write because it's a great illustration about how you think you know something is one way when it's really quite another. It's just so fun to discover something new and great like Apple OS X and my MacBook Pro even though it was there all the time and I just missed it.