Should I buy a Mac ahead of MacWorld?

January 3, 2007 5:55 PM

Should I buy a Mac ahead of MacWorld? Fed up with a lifetime of dying PCs, I am about to make the switch to a MacBook. I can get a friend to bring it to the UK from the US (price difference $1000 - what gives??) next week, but would have to do so before Macworld. Do they normally announce new specs at the show and slash prices on the old computers the day after?
posted by csg77 to computers & internet (23 comments total)

MacBook was updated in November. They could bump the speed at MW but it's doubtful. A bit more likely is that they would add some nifty feature to their whole line, and you would miss out. But it's probably not worth waiting for price reasons. The prices on the old models don't get slashed.
posted by smackfu at 6:03 PM on January 3, 2007

I seriously doubt that we'll see anything drastic in the laptop line (except maybe the 12" model I've been hearing about) since they were both refreshed within the last 3 months (there's typically an 12-18 month interval between releases).

I just picked-up two C2D Macbook Pro's. I highly, highly recommend them. I can't see any reason to wait.
posted by purephase at 6:07 PM on January 3, 2007

The MacRumors Buyer's Guide says buy.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 6:14 PM on January 3, 2007

Take a look at this site, there are others like this that are comparable as well. http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/
posted by superdeluxe at 6:21 PM on January 3, 2007

Apple's not known for slashing prices and if you're happy with the MacBook specs of today, go for it now. I'm writing this on a new MacBook Pro C2D 15" - excellent laptop.
posted by ampang701 at 6:32 PM on January 3, 2007

One guaranteed advantage of buying after MacWorld is you'll get iLife 07 bundled free (which has been updated at MacWorld for as long as it's existed).

The Buyer's Guide is based on nothing more than them having been updated in November. Yes, it's unlikely they'll be updated so soon, but that doesn't mean it never happens, or isn't going to happen this time. In any case, even if they did bring out new ones, they don't (and most other retailers don't) slash prices on the old ones.

Finally, there is the tax issue of bringing a MacBook into the UK. If they get stopped by customs, that's a big chunk of your saving gone. And obviously not declaring it is breaking the law.

btw, how did you come up with a $1000 price difference?
posted by cillit bang at 6:36 PM on January 3, 2007

Someone posted on a blog recently a list of important dates, e.g. number of days from announcement that apple automatically gives upgrade to people who purchased just before, and number of days they get a rebate if a price went down not long after they purchased. I can't find it on Lifehacker.com so it might have been on 43 folders or maybe boingboing.
posted by furtive at 6:39 PM on January 3, 2007

Well, our school computer store has a deal on the base model ($799 vs $1099), so some of us think something (ie, new release) is up.
posted by jdfan at 6:53 PM on January 3, 2007

When does the new OSX (Leopard?) come out? You may want to wait for that rather than pay for the upgrade...
posted by olinerd at 7:03 PM on January 3, 2007

Entry-level MacBook before sales tax or VAT

in US

$1099

in UK

£637.45 ($1255.59)

That's not anywhere close to a thousand bucks.

After VAT the difference is bigger, but you have to add sales tax to the US price as well. Also, there may be additional duty on new computers, and consider the substantial consumer protections you get when you purchase within the UK (which cost money to provide).

But most importantly, Brits are willing to pay more for computers as for many other things (such as airline tickets which cost a lot more if you start a round trip in the UK instead of the US).
posted by grouse at 7:04 PM on January 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

Never buy a Mac just before MacWorld. Ever. You have no idea what they're about to bring out, and five days is a lot shorter time to wait than three years or whatever your next upgrade cycle is.
posted by bonaldi at 7:12 PM on January 3, 2007

Definitely wait. I bought a MacBook Pro right before the Core 2 Duos were announced and I am pissed!
posted by nicwolff at 7:25 PM on January 3, 2007

jdfan says: Well, our school computer store has a deal on the base model ($799 vs $1099), so some of us think something (ie, new release) is up.

Or, the winter semester is about to start. ;) My predictions for this MacWorld:

- Expect something on the iPhone.
- Hopefully something on Leopard.
- Some bundled deals on the recently released Macbook lines (iLife in particular).
- New release of Bootcamp (would be nice).
- Possibly the unveiling of the 12" Macbook.

I would be very surprised if they refreshed to the MBP line this soon. However, if you can wait it out then it just might be in your best interest. You can never tell what will get announced. Expect big things from Apple this year.
posted by purephase at 7:31 PM on January 3, 2007

You have no idea what they're about to bring out, and five days is a lot shorter time to wait than three years or whatever your next upgrade cycle is.

Tha's not the reason -- your computer will be out of date within months.

The reason not to buy just before MacWorld is that if they do announce new spiff models, you can often score the older, slightly less spiff models much cheaper.

Leading edge is the bleeding edge. If you are on a three year upgrade cycle, don't buy the new toys. Buy the year old toys that have acquired a reputation (and, obviously, don't buy them if they've acquired a lousy one.) The only reason to buy a MacWorld announced product is the *third* speed bump -- by that time, most of the bugs have been worked out.

Guys who jump on the new toys get Rev. A TiBooks or Splotchy AlBooks. Personally, I'm hoping for a 12" MacBook -- so that next year, when the 12" AlBook is getting a little long in the tooth, the bugs should be worked out.
posted by eriko at 7:35 PM on January 3, 2007

Someone posted on a blog recently a list of important dates, e.g. number of days from announcement that apple automatically gives upgrade to people who purchased just before, and number of days they get a rebate if a price went down not long after they purchased. I can't find it on Lifehacker.com so it might have been on 43 folders or maybe boingboing.

Apple Keynote Safety Dates, via Gizmodo

I'd just wait. Macworld is next week, for crying out loud. Unless you need a new computer right this very second, there's no harm in waiting. Even if they aren't updated, a price drop is certainly possible (and perhaps even probable).
posted by cosmic osmo at 7:39 PM on January 3, 2007

Oops. Missed the part about the friend. Check out the link above. You'd be within 10 days of a price drop, if there turns out to be one. I don't think an upgrade to the model is likely since they got Core 2 Duo pretty recently. I'd say go for it.
posted by cosmic osmo at 7:42 PM on January 3, 2007

I'd simply like to point out that the reason the price is "higher" in Britain is because the pound is stronger than the dollar, not because anyone's trying to screw anyone else out of anything. It's a matter of economics and monetary markets as well as the nature of the two economies being separate entities, not Apple saying that Brits should pay more just because they should.
posted by incessant at 9:58 PM on January 3, 2007

Definitely wait. We are talking about less than a hundred and twenty hours. Why deal with the hassle of returning something in case his Steveness announces colored MBP's or integrated EVDO? Besides, the prices on current MBP's will fall after the keynote... even if only a few percentage points.
posted by crazyray at 10:05 PM on January 3, 2007

That's not the reason -- your computer will be out of date within months.

Huh? I've been using this Powerbook for almost 6 years now. Except for not playing the latest games, it does everything just fine. There's always a new release on the horizon. If you kept waiting for the new release, you'd never have a computer.
posted by neuron at 11:18 PM on January 3, 2007

Huh? I've been using this Powerbook for almost 6 years now

Poor writing on my part. I agree with you completely -- my old TiBook (a Rev B. 400Mhz) is still is use today. I carry a 1.33 12" AlBook, but not because I needed the CPU -- I wanted the smaller notebook for travel.
posted by eriko at 6:09 AM on January 4, 2007

Regardless of whether you wait or not, try and find someone in your circle of friends and family who works in education. The best deals are usually given to the education market. Case in point: UCLA is currently selling Macbooks for $699 with applecare.
posted by inviolable at 10:11 AM on January 4, 2007

I'd wait if I were you. Also consider that you might be getting grey-market merchandise, or refurbished stuff being sold as new.

you can get a refurb MacBook Pro here too at a discount. And the ever present student discount helps too.
posted by drstein at 11:27 AM on January 4, 2007

I had the same dilemma - the guy in the apple store, bluewater, said he was telling everyone to wait until Macworld - ilife 07 - he feels Leopard will be March but hopes Feb.
posted by Megamix at 3:31 AM on January 5, 2007