Macbook - advice please...

[drover81]

My sister is looking at upgrading her laptop for under $2k... and I've been asked for advice.

I don't mind Windows machines - I can deal with their shortcomings, but she can't!

So I've tentatively recommended the base macbook to her. It does all the things she wants - photo/video/easy to use/wireless/compact/simple design.... etc...

I've added that the mac protection plan is a good thing too (saves her calling me when something goes wrong!) and the new iWorks '08.

Is there anything else I shold be aware of before giving her the 'Go for it' call?

I remember someone was able to get some kinda discounts on mac, was it Inc??? She requires a receipt in order to do the salary sacrifice thing too....

[incisor]

Base model doesnt have dvd burner, just a cd burner / dvd player

if you dont need the dvd burner it is fine..

apple care is always a good thing.

i can beat the apple store pricing....

[p38arover]

I remember someone was able to get some kinda discounts on mac, was it Inc??? She requires a receipt in order to do the salary sacrifice thing too....

Yes! YES! YES!

See Dave Blears Computing not far north of you.

http://davecandoit.com/ASR_WHITE.gif

See http://davecandoit.com/

See http://www.cth.com.au/

[solmanic]

If you or she, or just about anybody ekse in your family is either a student, or teacher, or part-time lecturer or anything even remotely academic, then you can get Apple's education pricing which is heaps cheaper than full retail.

For example:
The middle-of-the-range 2.16GHz Macbook (the one I would be getting with your specs) is $1899 RRP and $1749 education price.

Personally, at education pricing it would be worth considering the base-model Macbook-pro with a 15" screen and proper graphics for $2599. It has twice the memory so when your software updates, as it always does, you won't feel like it's running like a slug only 12 months after buying it.

[Quiggers]

Get one. Macs are good.

GQ

[drover81]

Thanks guys.

Inc, PM sent.

[LoveMyV8County]

Good decision.

iWork is worth it for Keynote which is excellent. Alternative word proc and spreadsheet app is NeoOffice which is a free download but pretty big at >100MB.

On balance iLife '07 is allegedly better than the '08 version except for iPhoto.