Need help with Macbook specs

poggy

poggy

poggy

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Location
Sunny Glasgow
Hi all I've been looking at getting a Macbook for a while now, I went into the Apple store in Glasgow to have a look and the only downside to the Macbook that i could see was the weight of it, a tad too heavy for a portable laptop imo but i still want one.

So i have 2ish choices:

I can get one second hand from ebay or a refurbishment from Apple
Or
I'm going to the states in June so i could pick one up then but the only thing i don't understand about the US macbooks is would i have to pay (not VAT but tax) tax?

I've seen a few on ebay that a not too bad price wise but the spec is a 2ghz core 2 duo and 2gb mem (max i think) just wondering if that would be powerful enough?

I think i'm looking at maybe £500-£600 on ebay or i could get the top spec Macbook for £755 (black one) from the states.

Has anyone bought a Mac from ebay, good experience? or equaly has anyone bought a US macbook from the US apple store, did you have to pay tax?

Thanks for any responses
Stephen
 
I've never bought a macbook off ebay - but I know the apple refurb store is a fantastic way of buying!

As for buying in the states.. as long as you take it out of its box and carry it on, I can't imagine you having to pay import tax!? (although I'm not entirely sure!)

As for getting the black one, I think if you spec up the top spec white one with the larger drive - you still manage to save £60ish iirc..

I think most ppl are still annoyed at having to pay the premium for the black casing - although apple dismiss this by saying it has the larger drive :rolleyes:

I've had the macbook for just over 6 months now and I dont think of the weight as an issue! Compared to my dell precision, its like a feather!

I'd say go for it... they've jus been updated :)

Any noob questions just ask - 'cos I've probably thought it myself!
 
Hi itsallaboutyou thanks for the quick reply, I've done a tad more research and i think in the US and in some states there is TAX to be added on to item like we have VAT here, i think it's like 7% or something like that.

I'm just trying to keep the cost down, i like the black Macbook because it's easier to keep clean as in the white on will go yellow over time on the inside due to sweat and what not.

I could prob pick up the top spec white one in the Us for around £700 including any TAX, not bad as the entry level one here is £699.

Has the black MacBook been out for a few revisions? Like has it been out in some form for a few years?

Cheers
Stephen
 
No probs :)

As I say I'm not the most knowledgable - but I'll do my best... The last revision to the macbooks was the end of feb this year which saw the 2.0ghz and 2.2ghz models get bumped to 2.1 and 2.4ghz respectively (i think!)

Apple have also increased the stock memory in most cases..

I cant quite remember - but I think the black macbook was introduced slightly after the white one - but as far as I can tell they've followed the same revisions...

If you find out exactly what the cost is - do a comparison and see! I think the refurb store is a good option though.... you save a bit of money and the only difference is that the machine comes in a brown box...

As for discolouration - I agree and I've seen examples of the palmrest discolouring - but from what info I've gleaned off here and other sites, apple are happy to replace them (although I'll probably be corrected!).

If thats a big concern - then maybe the black model is for you - its just as I said, I think some people are aversed to paying extra purely to have it coloured black! Although I must admit I do like them :)

wiki article
 
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The BlackBook has been out for awhile since MacBooks - they are somewhat cooler than the WhiteBooks in terms of looks but most Purist thinks it's un-Mac like... as long as you like it :)

One thing to note; I had my White MB for over a year before selling it on (for a decent price too via eBay) you must note that I had nearly 0 discolouration. I do clean the MacBook bi-monthly with a quick wipe over with a LCD wet wipe.

The Black book will show up more "prints and marks" than the White one, thus require more cleaning overall - pop to the local Apple store, look at the Blackbook and the White MB, notice how many oily finger prints on it?

And in the states, different state have different tax rate, some is as low as 4% afaik. So where abouts are you going? 7% is NYC iirc.
 
Dr Jones said:
The BlackBook has been out for awhile since MacBooks - they are somewhat cooler than the WhiteBooks in terms of looks but most Purist thinks it's un-Mac like... as long as you like it :)

One thing to note; I had my White MB for over a year before selling it on (for a decent price too via eBay) you must note that I had nearly 0 discolouration. I do clean the MacBook bi-monthly with a quick wipe over with a LCD wet wipe.

The Black book will show up more "prints and marks" than the White one, thus require more cleaning overall - pop to the local Apple store, look at the Blackbook and the White MB, notice how many oily finger prints on it?

And in the states, different state have different tax rate, some is as low as 4% afaik. So where abouts are you going? 7% is NYC iirc.
Click to expand...

I'm going to Vegas and i think it's quite high in Nevada
 
Dr Jones said:
The BlackBook has been out for awhile since MacBooks - they are somewhat cooler than the WhiteBooks in terms of looks but most Purist thinks it's un-Mac like... as long as you like it :)

One thing to note; I had my White MB for over a year before selling it on (for a decent price too via eBay) you must note that I had nearly 0 discolouration. I do clean the MacBook bi-monthly with a quick wipe over with a LCD wet wipe.

The Black book will show up more "prints and marks" than the White one, thus require more cleaning overall - pop to the local Apple store, look at the Blackbook and the White MB, notice how many oily finger prints on it?

And in the states, different state have different tax rate, some is as low as 4% afaik. So where abouts are you going? 7% is NYC iirc.
Click to expand...

So... Dr Jones, we meet again! :)

Good call - I hadn't thought of that!
 
Hi LordSplodge to me they are, compared to my works laptop it is. The Macbooks look like they should be light but i don't think they are that light, just my opinion though.
 
poggy said:
Hi LordSplodge to me they are, compared to my works laptop it is. The Macbooks look like they should be light but i don't think they are that light, just my opinion though.
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What laptop do you have at work then? I find my MacBook to be quite light and portable. Then again I have the entry level model and it is just full of air!
 
LordSplodge said:
What laptop do you have at work then? I find my MacBook to be quite light and portable. Then again I have the entry level model and it is just full of air!
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Hi LordSplodge, I've got a Toshiba Satellite Pro in work, it's heavy, prob not as heavy as the MacBook ( I may have over exaggerated there) but I still think it should be lighter.

It doesn't really matter anyway as I'm still getting one.
 
I brought a macbook back myself about 2 weeks ago. Chucked the box and copied a few files on from a key drive. Got stopped at customs as a random check, they did not question the laptop at all. FYI there does not seem to be a mechanism for tourist to claim back the sales tax in the US, which is a bit odd. I guess you would only have a problem with customs if you were bringing back several laptops, that would be a bit tricky to explain :)
 
peter_hutson said:
I brought a macbook back myself about 2 weeks ago. Chucked the box and copied a few files on from a key drive. Got stopped at customs as a random check, they did not question the laptop at all. FYI there does not seem to be a mechanism for tourist to claim back the sales tax in the US, which is a bit odd. I guess you would only have a problem with customs if you were bringing back several laptops, that would be a bit tricky to explain :)
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Bring your kids, dogs and cats, a MacBook each! :)
 
And let a child defile a macbook by touching it, NEVER! I'd prefer to see it all safe and sound back in the store with all its little clone friends :)
 
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Las Vegas Tax is 7.75% when i was there Christmas and also in March this year, although Orlando is 6.5% which is obviously better :D

The highest spec White macbook would work out around £700 exchanged from $US in Orlando.
The Black macbook you mention in Las Vegas would work out around the £807 exchanged from the $US.

But if you were to go to Canada, then you'd be able to claim your Tax back from being a Tourist just a shame the US don't do the same.
 
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