First time mac buyer trying to get a good discount.

[Yashar]

I'm looking to get my first mac, and I've been looking at the Mac Book Pro. After I configured the computer, it came out to over $3000! Even my college discount didn't help much. I've heard of the ADC student discount, and I was wondering if thats the best discount you can get? And suggestions are helpful! :)

[tokenuser]

You've hit the problem with Apple products - they just don't get discounted much. Student discount is about as good as it gets UNLESS a new model has just come out (or is coming). Later December is a good time to keep an eye out for price drops with MacWorld happening in January ... but don't complain when the model you just bought is $500 cheaper or now comes with a quad processor CPU.

BUT, a little known secret in the Apple site is their refurbs ... these are "as new" machines, often at a substantial discount.

[Yashar]

Awesome info, I guess i'll be waiting just a little bit longer then.

[steaminx]

Apple refurb has really amazing deals. You can find some really good things there,

[Casework]

With Apple computers, if you think you need to wait, you'll always be waiting. However, if you don't need your computer now, waiting isn't a bad thing, either. But if a machine will work for you now that you can afford, it will still work in 3 months, no matter what the new prices are. But it seems like if there is one thing Apple has wrong, it's their ultra-secrecy and always dropping prices and coming out with upgrades, with no upgrade system in place for loyal users. What I mean by that... upgrading MacBooks and dropping the prices in October, when one of their biggest markets(students), all went back to school and just spent a lot of money on the new machine a month or two before. And if they really do any more upgrades or price drops in January, it would seem pretty dumb to do it AFTER Christmas. But, no matter what, if your machine works, it works, and if you can afford it, I guess just be thankful that you're able to afford it at whatever cost you paid for it.

[acidburn]

As most have said, Apple doesn't really discount their stuff.

On way to save some cash, it to hit all the online retailers and check out the extras they offer with the Apple models.

Not exactly a savings, but some online retailers will make up for not being able to discount by throwing in RAM, bigger HD, etc for little or no money.

I used to work in computer sales for one of the smaller online retailers and that's how it usually went for Apple products.

[Gillette]

Yeah, something to keep in mind is that even at retail stores there is basically no mark-up on Apple products. They're quite strict on their pricing, so your best bet for something new would maybe be something like MacWarehouse, or even just the student discount (which I believe would be similar).

Buy it quickly though as you'll be paying interstate tax in the US soon!

[sflower]

I just Purchased my first macbook pro from the refurb site for $2000, its a 17 MBP 2.16, The 2.33 costs $2800. Like they said above they are older models that become overstock most of the time.

[toddman]

If you know someone in the military have them buy it for you at https://thor.aafes.com/ics/default.asp it's their online exchange. They currently don't have any laptops. The great part is it's TAX FREE, that alone will save you big bucks!

[whoisscott]

with the referbs, do you get the os disks and such. Also do they reformat the hard drive. I'm not to familure with buy referbs.

[acidburn]

When you buy a refurb directly from Apple everything you get will be listed on the site. You will get the install/restore dvd's. The machine is reconditioned so the hard drive will be clean and the OS reinstalled along with whatever other apps they say will come loaded on it.

My previous powerbook was a refurb and I was very happy with it.

[zoomtechtv]

http://www.amazon.com/ No tax and Amazon also has online rebates. Check them out.