Thinking seriously about getting a Mac but....

DO NOT BUY IT FROM BEST BUY!!!

I am a college student and saved about $350 by buying if from my schools book store (education discount plus didn't have to pay sales tax since it was required by my college) Seriously look into the education discount, you can buy online even. Avoid Best Buy at all cost

Echoing the sentiment above, don't buy from Best Buy. If there's not an Apple Store near you ("the heartland" is a bit vague), buy from Apple online, or wait until you get to your college bookstore and see what deal they would give you. A local authorized reseller may also be able to match or beat your education discount.

Do indeed buy the AppleCare--it is absolutely worth it. The education discount price on that is $183. Also, max out the RAM if you can afford it, and buy an external hard drive to be a TimeMachine backup drive.

Also... you have anytime during your first year of ownership to purchase AppleCare... you don't need to get it at the same time you get your computer. Your initial warranty is good for one year. The 90 part you mention is for non-technical related help... such as "How do I use iTunes?" or "How do I set up an email account?". For any problems you have, you can call them anytime during your first year (or longer if you purchase AppleCare).

During your first year... while you are under Apple's warranty, you can bring it into any Apple store. I'm not sure how Best Buy's program works... as in you can bring it into them during Apple's warranty... or only after their extended warranty kicks in. I haven't heard great things about Best Buys service for Macs however.

what it all boils down to is this: Best Buy / Geek squad are NOT certified by Apple to touch those machines. If they were to attempt a repair, any warranty from Apple is VOID.

There are quite a few Apple stores & lots of certified service centers to take your machine, if you should ever need to. The turn around mail in service is remarkably fast.

Lookup your area: http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/service/

I've gotten a couple problem machines repalced by Apple. So long as they don't suspect accidental damage or neglect, they will stand behind that Mac 100%

If you are price sensitive, applecare can be had on amazon cheaper.

I don't know your situation, but if I were you I would wait until I got accepted into college to buy a new laptop, especially if you want a Mac.

Why?
Once you have an acceptance letter to a higher education institution you are elligible for student pricing. This will make your White Macbook $50 cheaper with no strings attached so long as you bring a copy of your acceptance letter (or student ID) with you to the apple store. On top of that, when you buy a new Apple computer from the Apple Store you get up to $100 back on a printer. This means you can buy a $100 HP or Cannon printer and get the money back as soon as your claim is processed, giving you a free printer. If you wait until next summer then you'll also be elligible for the "Buy a Mac, Get an iPod" deal, which offers you a free iPod in the similar way with the printer (buy the ipod with your computer and get the money back after your claim processes). So if you wait for proof of higher education and wait for the summer back to school sale then you would get a printer, white macbook, and an iPod for $950+tax (must pay tax on the printer and iPod). If you planned on buying a new printer and ipod anyway, this would make your macbook cost $621 before tax. Now isn't that a sweet deal? The problem is that you have to be accepted into a university, catch the back to school sale, and pay full-price upfront and wait for your rebate. I'm not sure how quickly they process this and am actually a little curious myself.

So if you can wait until next summer, I highly recommend it. The sooner you buy a new computer, the sooner it will need to be replaced. You'll be much happier if you buy a new computer right before you leave for college rather than give it a year at home to wear, tear, and grow old. I bought a laptop at the start of my senior year in high school and ended up buying a desktop to accompany it the next summer because I realized it was outdating faster than expected. Like I said, I don't know your situation but if I were you I'd spend the money on something else and hold off on the Macbook until next summer. And whatever you do, buy it from Apple direct. They offer the best deals. Fry's is selling the early 2009 macbook for $899 after rebate which means you're buying the recently outdated model for more than you can get the brand new one from Apple if you consider all the rebates. I also have a friend that swears by the Apple protection plan... he's kinda oblivious to what is and what is not good for his macbookpro.

You want *Apple Care*, absolutely. Because not only will Apple stand behind that, but you'll also be able to call Apple if you run into any problems. Sometimes you have problems which you think are hardware, but aren't, and a quick phone call can clear them up. If you get Best Buy, you won't be able to call anyone to find out if the problem is an easy, over-the-phone fix or something that requires you bring the computer in.

Even if there's no Apple Store near you, there are a lot of authorized Apple dealers. Search for for one before you buy from any particular place. You may be able to get a better deal, Apple Care and a place where you can get the computer reliably fixed should anything happen. Icing on the cake is that most such dealers are small stores and will give you and your computer far more personal attention then a big chain like Best Buy.

Aye, no love for Best Buy on these forums lol. I guess I'd better defend Geek Squad at least since I work for them. I know the topic is closed but all the comments here seem to be anti-Best buy so this is me giving you a different point of view on it. That being said, I'm gonna 100% honest with you.

-What AppleCare can offer you that Best Buy can't is over-the-phone tech support. That's going to be the biggest kicker, along with pricing, I think for a college student (I'm right with you there!).
-What JE13 mentioned about local dealers will go a long way too I'm sure and absolutely is an added benefit. Though I will dispute the implied claim that we somehow don't care as much & hence offer lesser service; AKA the "you're a number stand in line" treatment.

-In most cases, with some persistence, Best Buy will match the Apple Student Discount.
-In addition our Black Tie Protection plans (that is, Geek Squad not a 3rd party repair service) will take care of any hardware defects of the unit. Including accidental damage (cracked screens that result from a drop, liquid damage from having something spilled on the laptop). We also give no-qestions-asked replacement MagSafe adapters & batteries. Apple will replace your MagSafe or Battery if, and only if, they find it to be defective (I know, I've played that game 3 times with the Apple Store in my city).
-I also have to dispute KMAC1036's claim: Best Buy's Geek Squad is an authorized Apple Service provider; I service Macs on a weekly basis. We are also the exclusive 3rd party national retailer (excluding online retailers & distributors) in the USA. Apple chose us for a reason: that we are the premiere computer technology & solutions team. We are the largest, we are the best, we are the brightest, we have the biggest aspirations. Believe me, I've seen those who don't live up to our standards & I've personally submitted names for termination. We don't accept 2nd rate.
-If you have concerns about Best Buy's Black Tie Protection plan we aren't like our competitors that say "Oh during the first year you have to go to the manufacturer and after the fact we'll take care of it." No no, we take responsibility & care of our customers from day one. Kind folks like you make our world go round. Without our customers, we don't exist.
-Even if you ultimately choose not to get our Black Tie Protection (our warranty & service agreement) then so long as Apple's AppleCare isn't void or expired, we can still service the product for you.

The thread is closed and your question is answered. This post is to give you a different perspective. I implore & encourage you to please ask me any questions you may have. I've worked for Best Buy for 2.5 years, I know most anything you have to ask in regards to computer questions & services.

Red Drako wrote:
-I also have to dispute KMAC1036's claim: Best Buy's Geek Squad is an authorized Apple Service provider; I service Macs on a weekly basis...

If this was so then Best Buy would be listed on the Authorized service provider on the support pg: http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/service/

the closest BB location that pops up for me with ANY kind of service support is New Jersey!

One more "nice" fact about Best Buy - the kid that sells you the warranty isn't the one that gets the commission (which isn't right), it's the dept. manager on duty.

I have yet to meet 1 person that has gotten good service from the Geek Squad. I've fixed a couple machines for people that didn't want to go back. Whenever they now have trouble, I'm usually their 1st or 2nd phonecall about it.

Go to that website and try the ZIP code of 30269. We're practically across the street from an Apple store.

I'll be honest in that, in order for individual retail stores to be put on the map, they have to meet Apple's higher ESD safety standards (compared to the rest of the computer industry, that is) & have at least one Apple-Certified technician for hardware+software repairs. So while an individual store might not be considered Apple certified, the company of Best Buy and Geek Squad as a whole, are. Whatever we can't fix in-store (which in the case of non-certified stores is Apple Do-It-Yourself repairs) is sent to one of our service centers and ALL of them are Apple Authorized.

As far as DIY repairs are concerned, if its still under Apple Care (that is, it can be confirmed on Apple's website) whether it was purchased at Best Buy or not we can still perform those repairs at no cost to you.

So yes, kmac, we are Apple Authorized.

To address your second concern about the "kid that sells you the warranty." Just so you know we do get bonuses based on our performance; however, this is based on things like sales & customer satisfaction ratings (that's what the survey at the bottom of the receipt is for). It is not based on individual sales, nor do we make more money selling one brand over the other (in terms of individual commission or bonuses). I'd also like to state that, since we don't make commission, we can keep our prices low. In addition it creates a low-pressure sales environment where I don't care if you buy a $1,000 computer or a $400 one, so long as you get the right product for your needs. That's what I care about, helping the customer get not only the right product but also the right solution and experience for their product. Which is why all of our repairs are done in-house as opposed to contracted out to 3rd parties.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. If you have had bad experiences in the past with Best Buy, then let me apologize. I'm afraid there isn't a whole lot I can do over the Apple forums except tell you that I'm willing to listen.

I would like to ask melody4cello, however, why she chose to consider Best Buy as her retail destination as opposed to the Apple Store directly. Is it because Best Buy is more convenient (closer to home, less crowded, non-appointment based, consumer oriented as opposed to business oriented, etc), was it because you have a friend there or associate you especially like, or anything else?

Red Drako wrote:
I'll be honest in that, in order for individual retail stores to be put on the map, they have to meet Apple's higher ESD safety standards (compared to the rest of the computer industry, that is) & have at least one Apple-Certified technician for hardware+software repairs. So while an individual store might not be considered Apple certified, the company of Best Buy and Geek Squad as a whole, are. Whatever we can't fix in-store (which in the case of non-certified stores is Apple Do-It-Yourself repairs) is sent to one of our service centers and ALL of them are Apple Authorized.

Even when I call apple's 800 number they always refer me to the other places in town. If you are "certified" by Apple as you say, then when calling in, they should be able to tell me it's safe to take it there & they don't!

Again, if Best buy is truly certified, then Apple should be refering me there as the best buy is closer to my place than any other location in town.

Esp. the Best Buy in this town, has the WORST track record of service & support. I wouldn't trust them to plug in a cable for me.

Again, individual stores might not be Apple certified but as a company at large we are. If it can't be fixed locally it can be fixed at our service centers. So you haven't proven my point to be wrong.

All I can say is that I'm sorry about your experiences at your local store being poor. I wish it hadn't been that way, but all I can suggest is that you continue to file complaints against it if you feel your grievances are valid. If they are, then something will change; be it staffing of front-end employees or leadership. Complaints do help us improve our quality of service, though these things can take time.

Now, I think I'm done hijacking this thread, lol. Kmac, let's just come to the understanding that we are on opposite sides of the fence and stop polluting this thread.

But I still want to hear from melody4cello! 🙂

Don't be too quick about buying a MacBook. We have two in our family and mine has been fine but the other one, an aluminum Unibody model, has been a pain. There are many documented problems on these discussion boards, as you can easily see, and to pay a premium price and receive an average product is not efficient use of your dollar. Buy an inexpensive laptop, upgrade later on.

I'm starting to agree with your post. I bought a aluminum unibody macbook a couple months ago and I have had some serious issues. They have already had to do two repairs and it still is having issues. I was expecting them to be better then this. But I know there are manyyy people who are happy with their macs and have had no problems, and maybe with the new macbook pros things will be better.