choices, choices...

[bigben2wardpitt]

AppleCare - 3-YEAR APPLECARE PROTECTION PLAN FOR MACBOOK PRO OR POWERBOOK (INCLUDES COVERAGE FOR AN APPLE DISPLAY)
The AppleCare Protection Plan extends your computer's 90 days of complimentary support and one-year warranty to up to three years of world-class support.
Part #:951380 $349.00 each
Platform: Macintosh

Usually Ships Next Day
Your Price: $349.00
Net Price: $349.00

Kensington - COMBOSAVER COMBINATION PORTABLE NOTEBOOK LOCK
This easy-to-use combination lock has a low-profile design and self-coiling cable for easy travel to keep notebooks securely anchored.
Part #:7271483 $31.89 each
Platform: Universal

Usually Ships Next Day
Your Price: $31.89
Net Price: $31.89

Kingston - UPGRADE TO 4GB - 2 X 2GB PC2-5300 667MHZ DDR2 200-PIN SODIMM WITH INSTALLATION
This 2 x 2GB memory module is designed to enhance the performance of select Apple iMac and MacBook models.
Part #:7374611 $159.97 each
Platform: Universal

Usually Ships Next Day
Your Price: $159.97
Net Price: $159.97

Apple - 15.4" MACBOOK PRO - INTEL CORE 2 DUO 2.6GHZ 2GB, 250GB, SUPERDRIVE - GLOSSY
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.6GHz, 15" TFT, 2GB DDR2, 250GB SATA, Nvidia GeForce 8600 512MB, 8x SuperDrive, Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T, Airport Extreme, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR & iSight, OS X 10.5 Leopard GLOSSY
Part #:7405734 $2,744.00 each
Platform: Macintosh

Usually Ships Next Day
Your Price: $2,744.00
Mail-In Rebate(s): $150.00
Net Price: $2,594.00

Subtotal: $3,284.86

OR

http://www.bookstores.missouri...29_131&products_id=411


The bottom one gives me all kinds of extras, like applecare for 3 years, and I can upgrade to 4 gigs making the total like 2600. The top one is a better computer, but is more $$.

Keeping in mind that I do not have a spending limit for this computer, what do you think? I think either way, the second computer is an excellent computer, so I would probably be more than happy with it... I just wonder if I should go even bigger and get a 2.6 from macmall.

 

[KeithP]

When I clicked those links all I got were empty shopping carts?

-KeithP

 

[TheStu]

Yea, can't see the shopping cart

 

[bigben2wardpitt]

Fixed.

AppleCare - 3-YEAR APPLECARE PROTECTION PLAN FOR MACBOOK PRO OR POWERBOOK (INCLUDES COVERAGE FOR AN APPLE DISPLAY)
The AppleCare Protection Plan extends your computer's 90 days of complimentary support and one-year warranty to up to three years of world-class support.
Part #:951380 $349.00 each
Platform: Macintosh

Usually Ships Next Day
Your Price: $349.00
Net Price: $349.00

Kensington - COMBOSAVER COMBINATION PORTABLE NOTEBOOK LOCK
This easy-to-use combination lock has a low-profile design and self-coiling cable for easy travel to keep notebooks securely anchored.
Part #:7271483 $31.89 each
Platform: Universal

Usually Ships Next Day
Your Price: $31.89
Net Price: $31.89

Kingston - UPGRADE TO 4GB - 2 X 2GB PC2-5300 667MHZ DDR2 200-PIN SODIMM WITH INSTALLATION
This 2 x 2GB memory module is designed to enhance the performance of select Apple iMac and MacBook models.
Part #:7374611 $159.97 each
Platform: Universal

Usually Ships Next Day
Your Price: $159.97
Net Price: $159.97

Apple - 15.4" MACBOOK PRO - INTEL CORE 2 DUO 2.6GHZ 2GB, 250GB, SUPERDRIVE - GLOSSY
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.6GHz, 15" TFT, 2GB DDR2, 250GB SATA, Nvidia GeForce 8600 512MB, 8x SuperDrive, Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T, Airport Extreme, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR & iSight, OS X 10.5 Leopard GLOSSY
Part #:7405734 $2,744.00 each
Platform: Macintosh

Usually Ships Next Day
Your Price: $2,744.00
Mail-In Rebate(s): $150.00
Net Price: $2,594.00

Subtotal: $3,284.86

OR

http://www.bookstores.missouri...29_131&products_id=411

 

[Kmax82]

Not a bad price for the laptop with the software, but you are really getting gouged on the memory. I would highly recommend doing the install yourself (insanely easy), and save about $200. But that's just me.. And I wouldn't get the 2.6.. minimal difference, with a huge price jump.

 

[bigben2wardpitt]

yea well macmall charges me around 200... the school will charge me like 110 for the extra two gigs, which im willing to pay. So sounds like you are leaning in the direction of the school deal. It really is a good deal with the applecare. That is really what blows my mind, applecare is about 480 bucks for 3 years... and that price is built into the 2500.

 

[Kmax82]

Yea.. I think it would be more value to have the Applecare than to have the 2.6 ghz processor.

 

[Wuzup101]

Hehe... there is absolutely no reason not to get the school deal. You will never even notice the difference between the 2.6 and 2.5 GHz processors in anything other than a benchmark test (and even then the difference will be slight). With the school deal you pay like $700 less... for essentially the exact same machine (unless I'm overlooking something) with a slightly slower processor. To top it off, they will have it ready for you when you go in for orientation in the summer (which is quite handy).

Trust me, as a student myself (just finishing up), I can tell you right now that apple care is much more important than 100MHz of processor speed (and you are getting office 2008 for free in that bundle too). $700 will buy a lot of beer... or extra peripherals. Hell... that will buy you a NICE secondary monitor if you want one (or a 720p LCD for your dorm/apt). Buy ram yourself... it's incredibly easy to install if you know how to work a screw driver (since you are starting college I'm going to assume that this "basic" training hasn't eluded you)... save money and don't pay a $60+ premium for someone to do the install (which takes all of 3 minutes if your computer is already powered off lol).