Mountain View Computer Users Group

(This article was originally published in the October 2002 Citrus Macintosh Users Group Magazine.)

In recent articles I've described the expanding range of features and prices on new Macintosh computers. This time I'm going to discuss how to go about actually buying one.

Whether To Buy. Of my three issues, this is surely the most subjective one. Just when you may wish to abandon your present computer and invest in a new one is a very personal decision, and I won't be able to provide you with much assistance.

In my own experience, this decision is intimately tied in with the following one, which computer to buy. Usually I get to the point where one of the new models is just too enticing, and that's when I determine it's time to act. Assuming, of course, that my finances can underwrite my desires, a situation I haven't enjoyed recently.

Which To Buy. The usual advice on this issue is for you to determine just what you want to do with your new computer and then to select one that's adequate to accomplish these tasks. I don't completely subscribe to this conservative point of view.

Most of us invest in a new computer only every three or four years, and who knows whether during that time you may decide to use our computer for something new? A demonstration at the next CMUG meeting may intrigue you so much that you'll want to engage in a new activity: burning music CDs or taking up digital photography, for example.

In order to select your new Mac, you're going to need lots of information. First, log onto Apple.com, the official website. Here you can find full descriptions of each of the current Mac models. The Apple Store on that website will give you the retail prices.

Next, you need to give a test drive to the models you're seriously interested in purchasing. CMUG members are fortunate in having an Apple Store close by, at the International Plaza in Tampa. Take a trip down there some weekday morning when the store's not busy. Try them out. Talk with one of the Apple reps. See what you like.

Finally, a suggestion about other people's recommendations. You are going to want to seek out the advice not only of the pros at the Apple Store, but also friends and the knowledgeable people in CMUG. That's good, but each person has his or her own prejudices and preferences. Wait until you are comfortable with your own personal decision and don't be overly influenced by what others have said.

Incidentally, a major choice concerning consumer desktop models is whether you want the light and flexible flat panel iMac or the big, 50-pound CRT eMac. This is really a matter of personal preference and finances, because you can get just about the same features on an eMac as you can on an iMac, only at a savings of several hundreds of dollars.

Where To Buy. OK, so now you've decided on which Macintosh to buy. Are you going to buy it at the local Apple Store or online from an Internet merchant? Each approach has its advantages.

The local Apple Store usually allows you to pick it up immediately (but call ahead to make sure). It's also somewhere you can return it directly if defective and maybe even talk to the person who sold it to you if you have problems. But, both the local Apple Store and the one online charge sales tax.

Online merchants offer a variety of advantages. Unless the merchant has a location within your state (and I don't know of any except Apple that do in Florida), you don't pay state sales tax. You usually have to pay for shipping, but sometimes that is waived. When you do have to pay shipping charges, they can vary widely, so be sure to add those into the total price when you are making comparisons.

Apple won't let its authorized dealers discount computer prices more than five dollars, so dealers often use various other incentives. To find what deals major online computer merchants are offering, you can use sites such as http://macreviewzone.com, http://lowendmac.com and http://www.macprices.com. Besides these, other good sources for deals are http://www.amazon.com, http://www.jandrcomputers.com, and http://www.smalldog.com.

Here are some of the incentives used to promote computer sales:

1. Apple itself will offer rebates on the purchase of a display or a printer along with a computer
2. Club Mac, for example, offers instant rebates, which lowers how much you actually pay, even though the stated price in within Apple's restrictions.
3. Several dealers offer "free" RAM along with your purchase, though usually an installation fee of $30 or $40 is charged. With the low price of RAM these days, this is more of a convenience than a savings.
4. Dealers will bundle various products along with the computer. Sometimes these are included at the normal price of the computer, but often these bundles cost more, though usually less than the total price of all the included products.
5. Refurbished computers are offered, either alone or bundled with other products, generally at substantial savings.

In conclusion, determine whether you really need a new computer, research what's available to help you decide what you really want, and then shop carefully to get the price and the product you really want to buy.

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