Refresh Prices

Hey Guys,

I'm in the market for a MBP 17". I've priced out my options with an Education Discount (Canada) and the only customization I want is the 7200RPM HDD instead of the standard 5400RPM. This will net me $2451.00.

What I am wondering, is if with this new refresh, the prices of the new processor MBP's will be cheaper than the Current C2D ones? I doubt this, but do you think they will have a cheaper option for a 17" MBP still?

I know I want a 17", but I also cannot spend more than $2500.

Guesses, Thoughts?

 

its unlikely prices will go down, just that specs will go up.

 

If past history is any indication, the new models will be priced the same and the older models will be discounted at B&M stores (FS, BB, London Drugs etc....). Not sure what happens to edu pricing during the transition.

 

As long as new models are priced the same for equivelant (or better in terms of processors!) specs then thats good to hear...

I just want a good graphics card and RAM to go with the processor.

 

The RAM you can aftermarket cheeper than have it upgraded by Apple... just saying, might save a few pennies there.

 

Ya, definitely install your own RAM rather that paying for Apple's overpriced junk.

 

Yeah, usually prices stay the same and specs go up. But who knows, since Apple has upped the specs and dropped the prices before.

 

I'd only want 4GB Ram anyways I think, as 8 seems like overkill. Although I will be doing a lot more 3D/Texturing work with this laptop... 4GB is standard it seems in the 17" models anyways.

How would I upgrade the Ram through apple afterwards, would this require me sending in my laptop?

 

considering how the prices across the market have dropped significantly with the move to the i7 systems (look at any manufacturer. literally), I would expect Apple will either shave a few hundred off the top, or add enough hardware to make a $2500 pricetag for a 17" justifiable in this market.

when HP is making similar form-factor machines in the 15" size with i5 processors + ATi 5830 GPUs for $1300..

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s...pid=in_R329_prodexp/hhoslp/psg/notebooks/ENVY

...I expect Apple can come down from $1,700 for a base 15".

but who knows? we'll all find out very soon how competitive Apple wants to be.

 

perhaps with the integrated gpu but the ones with the dedicated gpu will start at $1999 IMO.

 

It is as easy as buying the chips off of NewEgg or some site like that, opening up the back of your Mac, and changing out the chips. Not nearly as hard as you would think. Instructions for how to remove the bottom of your Mac can be found on Apple's website I think and the RAM chips just slide out and slide back in. Easy easy!

 

Would this void any warranty I would have on a new machine, by opening up the back? I know a lot of PC manufacturers have 'we know you opened this' markers on them and they void any warranties for repair.

Also... Doesn't look like this week is Refresh week sad

 

No it doesn't. You can replace hard drive and RAM I believe and not void the computer's warranty (granted if the RAM fails Apple won't replace it so keep the old RAM). Someone more knowledgeable than me on Applecare can advise further but I think that is right.

 

maybe look at the refurb mac's usually they are hundreds less than a new one and come with the same warranty, they are usually perfect quality.

how about the 2.8Ghz, 500GB, 4GB, 9600GT 512MB for 2,199$?
http://store.apple.com/ca/product/FC226LL/A?mco=MTA4MzQ4NTQ

 

This is an interesting suggestion, but I was more looking to see if the new processor prices 17" of equivelant specs would net me about the same price. Besides, with a University Student Discount in Canada, I'd rather spend $200 more on a brand new one, just for safety.

 

fair enough I'm in uni, and to me I'd personally take the extra 200$ off, but that's your choice (apple refurbs know to be excellent and rarely have even a spec of dust on them)

any way, I would expect that the new refresh will cost about the same as the current machines, apple usually doesn't jack the price up.

 

I'm hoping that the price will stay the same as they are now. I'm only willing to buy the base model of the MBP 13" ...

 

Mine was a referb and you could never tell it by looking at it. The referbs are normally units people return just cause they don't like it or for reasons like that. The units are completely gone over again by technicians and come with the standard applecare 1 year warranty.

 

Just to add to that; I bought a refurb SR MBP from Apple a couple of years ago and it was literally flawless (not a scratch, mark, stain, dent etc......). Impressed, I asked an Apple rep and she said refurbs usually get their whole cases changed for new ones so they are, for all intents and purposes, pretty much new. Essentially only the guts are the things that are "refurbished". In contrast, I've also bought numerous other refurb PCs (Gateway, HP, Dell) and in those cases (at least in my experience) they were visually obvious that they're refurbs.

Apple's refurbs are something else. I've never seen a manufacturer take so much care in refurbishing something.

 

Because most of other OEM Laptop are already much cheaper than Apple.
The cost of getting spare components replacement MAY add up to cost even more than a brand new one(The casing might be out of production to get a new one it will cost a lot more).
In that sense they aren't environmnentally friendly.
Not to mention refurbish specs are usually using older components and outdated boards so very few would buy them.
In PC specs get outdated in a few months.
If my current laptop casing were to get damaged scrapping it will be cheaper than getting it repaired because the parts are no longer in production.
Only generic parts can be easily replaced at low cost.
Parts like Monitor, Keyboard, CPU, RAM and Harddisk.
Things like Casing, Motherboard etc are probably no longer in production.

 

Just to add to this Refurb/New conversation hat is going on right now, does anyone know whether or not there is a like, 30-day return policy or anything on MBP's?

Or would I have to pay the restocking fee?

Why I am asking is, would it be silly for me to buy a C2D Macbook Pro right now, then return it when the iCore models come out and buy an iCore? Haha.

I just hate the waiting game...

 

If purchased from Apple.com, you have 14 days and a 10% restocking fee if opened.