In short,
Planning to buy the new MacBook Pro for Uni next year and wanted to know the best way to go around getting the best deal.
and just anything else that'll help me decide how to do all of this.
Help is much appreciated !
If you do not need the latest model macbook pro, check out the refurbished sections of the apple online store.
You can still get the latest model in the refurbished section. That's how I got mine a few years ago (only a few months after release), and I really didn't see a difference between the one I got and a new one. They also come with the standard warranty (which is utter crap, and can be technically longer with consumer laws here). You just have to watch the refurbished page like a hawk. I think new stock gets posted at about noon ish each day.
Is it the Mac Book Pro retina that has a few soldered in parts (ram etc) preventing repair/upgrade?
Maybe keep that in mind when picking which model.
Apple is pretty much a standard price all year round, 10% off every now and then, so that's your best bet.
Education pricing is usually not worth it. If you know anyone going overseas, it's usually cheaper to get in the US…etc, however, with the weak AUD, it's probably not really worth it anymore.
ohhh fair enough.. thanks guys !
so all in all,
education pricing is crap. and refurbished would only be for the older models :O
just go for JB if I want some custom upgrades etc? maybe try to bargain myself a free case or something ?
ps; do you guys think the older macbook pro's are better or the new ones? in terms of cost/quality?
Older vs. Newer as in Retina vs. Non-Retina?
Basically it's a trade off between upgradability and screen resolution and weight.
The Retina has a far superior screen and is smaller and lighter.
The Non-Retina has upgradable RAM, upgradable 2.5" HDD/SSD, you can change the DVD drive for an extra HDD/SSD, battery is replaceable with an eBay one if it dies out of warranty…etc.
@Jackyy I beg the differ.. http://store.apple.com/au_edu_5002569/buy-mac/macbook-pro + Cash rewards 3.5% cashback.. beats any 10% off from Dicksmith or JB hi fi at the moment.
I can't get those same prices through the Cash Rewards portal. I'm not sure where you got that link, but the $1410 on the base price 13" rMBP doesn't appear through the usual edu store ($1469).
@zzchatom please excuse my lack of knowledge, but what's this 3.5% cashback you're talking about ?
and @paulsterio I mean in terms of the Previous macbook pro with retina vs the new macbook pro with retina ( Haswell processor etc.)
ps; When was the latest macbook pro released? :O
dupe
JB Hifi and Dick Smith floor cost price is 10% less.
Education discount is now a measly 5% - 8%.
If you do a custom order (upgrade ram / hdd etc) at JB Hifi the staff still get a commission even if they rock it at cost price - which is 10% off.
Apple Store employees can do 15% off for friends just by asking a fellow salesperson to do it.
Apple Store employees themselves get a one off 25% off purchase per year.
Apple will match any price from a competitor.
There are sometimes bonuses like free MS Office / Carry Case / Anti-Virus (for Mac) / Printers which can SOMETIMES be price matched to a competitor's price and still be included in the sale - but not usually.