MacBook released!

[noosh]

Well then they just put up the price recently. Probably when they heard how much they have to pay Core for it. I wish Apple would setup in South Africa.

Anyway, I'm going to the Big Apple in Dec/Jan so I'll pick up a Macbook Pro then...

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

Look what this lovely piece of software does, just for the new Macbooks -

Installation

Upon installation, you'll receive an Undercover ID that's unique for the Mac you are installing Undercover on. This ID is very important: it will enable you to start the theft-recovery process. Note that for your own privacy, we can not monitor or recover your Mac without this code.
Routine checks

When your Mac is online, Undercover checks our database every six minutes to verify whether the Mac it is running on is in our database of stolen Macs. If it's not, nothing happens and no data will be transfered from your Mac to our server.
In case of theft

As soon as your Mac is stolen, you send us the Undercover ID you received upon registration. We will add this code to our database of stolen Macs.

http://orbicule.com/undercover/works.html

 

[bwana]

Look what this lovely piece of software does, just for the new Macbooks -



http://orbicule.com/undercover/works.html

Saw that earlier but only just noticed it works on all macs - not just the MB's with the built in camera as I has assummed

On what systems does Undercover work?
It works on all Macs running Tiger (Mac OS X 10.4) or later. You can check the version of Mac OS X running on your Mac by selecting "About This Mac" from the Apple menu.

 

[supersunbird]

Black MacBook May Be Flaky, Literally

EDIT: While this may be a problem, these reports do seems to stem from one incident, just do your research before getting the black one is all I'll suggest.

 

[bwana]

Black MacBook May Be Flaky, Literally

EDIT: While this may be a problem, these reports do seems to stem from one incident, just do your research before getting the black one is all I'll suggest.

Thats gotta suck - hope its covered by the warranty.

Personally I'd buy the white one anyway - increase the hdd and double the ram all for less than the black model.

 

[Scott]

the time has come...

i have a buyer for my HP laptop, which means i will place my order for a white 2.0GHz MacBook as soon as i recieve the money. I have choosen to get the extra 1GB of RAM (total 1GB) so all should be good.

1 question, is bootcamp able to run a program such as Ready To Program? And other Java/programming applications? Because if it doesnt...i will have to drop IT as a subject because i am DEFINATLY going to get a mac


skuzzzzz...

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

Well JAVA can certainly work on a MAC: http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/java/

I think all the other programs will work with Bootcamp, can't see why it shouldn't

 

[Scott]

yay!

mac for me

 

[noosh]

Are you getting yours from overseas?

 

[bwana]

From here perhaps? http://www.apple.com/retail/fifthavenue/

 

[Azrael]

So, anybody got one yet? Give some feedback

I see it's not on zastore.co.za yet? I'm quite interested in getting one - more like a burning desire! heh

 

[WatchDog]

I would wait a little longer to see what faults turn up on these things. Apple are being a bit slack lately in their QC and DO NOT readily admit issues. I know many Apple iMac and MacBook Pro users are complaining bitterly about the Mats h i t a Superdrive, which has problems writing media above 2X speed and where dual-layer technology is not supported adequately. Also the Macbook Pro 'whine' noise (and heat) has still not been fixed.

 

[Azrael]

I would wait a little longer to see what faults turn up on these things. Apple are being a bit slack lately in their QC and DO NOT readily admit issues. I know many Apple iMac and MacBook Pro users are complaining bitterly about the Mats h i t a Superdrive, which has problems writing media above 2X speed and where dual-layer technology is not supported adequately. Also the Macbook Pro 'whine' noise (and heat) has still not been fixed.

Yeah, you've got a good point - I've heard about the heat issues. Best to wait then - hopefuly I'll be able to source it from overseas, if I do get one. Any ideas?

 

[Ap0c]

Do any of those calculations take into account shipping? I think the entire macbook package etc would weigh around 6kg's.

When you using the R/$ exchange rate, use around 6.8, not 6.65. You are buying $'s not selling.

Costs would include:
1) Customs clearance fee
2) VAT
3) Shipping
4) Exchange Rate
5) USA Sales tax
6) Maybe a store selling the items would want to make a profit?

 

[WatchDog]

Do any of those calculations take into account shipping? I think the entire macbook package etc would weigh around 6kg's.

When you using the R/$ exchange rate, use around 6.8, not 6.65. You are buying $'s not selling.

Costs would include:
1) Customs clearance fee
2) VAT
3) Shipping
4) Exchange Rate
5) USA Sales tax
6) Maybe a store selling the items would want to make a profit?

Just a few points ...

3) If a store imports a batch of 10 or 20 Macs, do you think they pay the same rate as Joe Blogs importing a single one? I don't think so.

5) Why would you pay "USA Sales tax" if you are taking it out of the country? I know in Europe all tax is refunded or not paid when exporting.

6) Just how much profit is reasonable? Salaries here are lower, overheads lower, yet prices are higher. You just have to look at a locally produced, packaged and marketed CD or DVD to see that prices are based on the highest figure shoppers will pay.

 

[habari]

Just a few points ...

3) If a store imports a batch of 10 or 20 Macs, do you think they pay the same rate as Joe Blogs importing a single one? I don't think so.

5) Why would you pay "USA Sales tax" if you are taking it out of the country? I know in Europe all tax is refunded or not paid when exporting.

6) Just how much profit is reasonable? Salaries here are lower, overheads lower, yet prices are higher. You just have to look at a locally produced, packaged and marketed CD or DVD to see that prices are based on the highest figure shoppers will pay.

All good points - you dont usually pay US sales tax on internet purchases even if you do live in America.

Also the prices we see these items being sold in US stores already have their profit margin included so just how much of a margin to local resellers add on? Our resellers aren't doing Apple any favours.

I say screw em - import when you can. The warranty is still good no matter where in the world you buy it from as long as its from an authorised apple reseller.

 

[Ap0c]

I've imported MANY MAC products in the past, and to be honest, on the notebooks etc, its not that much cheaper. I purchase directly from apple, or from amazon.com - and it doesn’t work out THAT much cheaper at all:

Apple MacBook Pro MA092LL/A 17" Notebook PC (2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive)
Local price: R21,522

Amazon: $2,799.99
2799 * 6.8 (buying dollars, not selling) = R19033
(not even going to add sales tax, which you cant claim back anymore)
VAT = R2664
Shipping (6kgs) = R500
= R22197

Yes, that’s not the 'buy 10 get discount' price, but it gives you some idea....

 

[Azrael]

Okay - so in any case - who's going to import the MacBook 2.0GHz White for me? Ap0c? Could you?