thinking about buying a macbook air... couple q's

[nageov3t]

I need a new laptop for general surfing the net/checking email/posting on forums purposes and I'm thinking about a macbook air.

obviously I could get a dell with better specs for less money, but I've been thinking about dipping a toe into the Mac market for awhile and this seems like a good excuse (long term, I'd really love to get one for my mom, but not unless I know enough about them to provide her with support)

two minor questions, though...

Apple Store or Best Buy?

and is the extended warrantee worth it? I checked on their website and I think it was $250, so +20% onto the price tag?

 

[phillyTIM]

It's always a great experience shopping at the Apple Store; but if you can get a better price @ Best Buy then go for it. If you can get a discount (say, you work for the Government or Education) and it comes out cheaper at Apple Store, then go there.

The AppleCare Warranty is absolutely worth it; you get the most awesome support (with both service and questions/helpful information) for your product, and they probably will help you out with service after the warranty ends too, in some kind of reasonable manner. Service at an Apple Store is nothing short of spectacular; you just don't get that kind of care at many places at all anymore.

First choice would be Apple Store and to get the AppleCare.

Good luck on your future Mac! I just got my first Mac myself! It's awesome!

 

[TheStu]

If you have an Apple Store nearby then getting AppleCare is a no brainer (buy it on Amazon or eBay to score it for cheaper).

It doesn't matter where you get it, the Apple Store will service it. Buy it from best buy, amazon, ebay (assuming the warranty is still good), refurb from Apple (big saving that way, like $150 off or more), or wherever else. If the serial number is covered, the system is covered.

 

[trollolo]

wait for intel's ultrabooks or whatever they're called. also, you're paying 1000 dollars for a hideously underpowered notebook. 2 gigs of ram, a dual core proc clock at like 1.7 ghz, it's something you'd buy if an uncle that repeatedly molested you at family gatherings asked you for laptop buying advice.

 

[nageov3t]

wait for intel's ultrabooks or whatever they're called. also, you're paying 1000 dollars for a hideously underpowered notebook. 2 gigs of ram, a dual core proc clock at like 1.7 ghz, it's something you'd buy if an uncle that repeatedly molested you at family gatherings asked you for laptop buying advice.

as mentioned in the OP,

I've been thinking about dipping a toe into the Mac market for awhile and this seems like a good excuse (long term, I'd really love to get one for my mom, but not unless I know enough about them to provide her with support)

I need a new laptop anyways and a $1,200 macbook air seems like the best way to go about it (I could go the hackintosh route, but the only time I ever use my desktop is to game with)

 

[TheStu]

wait for intel's ultrabooks or whatever they're called. also, you're paying 1000 dollars for a hideously underpowered notebook. 2 gigs of ram, a dual core proc clock at like 1.7 ghz, it's something you'd buy if an uncle that repeatedly molested you at family gatherings asked you for laptop buying advice.

It is a Dual Core Sandy Bridge i5 with HyperThreading and Turbo. It isn't 'hideously underpowered' unless you only consider 2.5GHz Quads to be 'acceptable' in which case you need to adjust your standard considering that the bottom half of that system is ~.5" thick at its thickest point.

You really think that the Ultrabooks are going to be much better? They are macbook air clones, through and through.

They don't appear to have any refurbed Sandy Bridge Airs available at this time, but you would probably be able to find the 4GB model (with the 128GB SSD) for roughly the same price as the entry model. Plus, Apple refurbs are treated as new systems. Same warranty, same inspections. Only differences are cost savings and a plain box instead of the regular one.

 

[Bateluer]

Looks like Loki bought the Air, from his thread in ATA.

I like my recently purchased Air, though I bought from BB for the slightly cheaper pricing and better financing flexibility.

 

[TheStu]

Looks like Loki bought the Air, from his thread in ATA.

I like my recently purchased Air, though I bought from BB for the slightly cheaper pricing and better financing flexibility.

Also looks like Loki didn't play with one in the store before buying it considering how long it took him to click the trackpad :awe:

 

[trollolo]

I need a new laptop anyways and a $1,200 macbook air seems like the best way to go about it (I could go the hackintosh route, but the only time I ever use my desktop is to game with)

take BSD, slap in a dock. you just made yourself OSX. if the performance won't deter you, then take a look at the heat. i had a 2008 macbook aluminum, and boy would that thing get HOT just watching 480P content on Hulu. the shortage of fans, the the atrocious use of thermal paste make them vomit inducing if you open them up.

 

[Bateluer]

Also looks like Loki didn't play with one in the store before buying it considering how long it took him to click the trackpad :awe:

Yeah, I had to lol a little at that.