– Steve Klein, IT Manager
Even though summer has just begun, it’s not too early to think about a new computer for your son or daughter leaving for college in the fall. With Apple being the must-have for most students, here are a few of the places to look to for the best deals.
When buying an Apple product, you have a lot more choices than just walking into an Apple retail store. College students (and those just accepted) and their parents as well as teachers, administrators and staff of all grade levels may be eligible for education pricing. To see if you are, head to the Apple Store for Education at http://tinyurl.com/yebwgzu.
Apple has already started their back to college special which ends September 21. Purchase a new Mac and receive $100 gift card or a $50 gift card with an iPad purchase. See http://tinyurl.com/6mt8652 for all the details including the gift card limitations.
Also, most colleges and universities have onsite bookstores or are directly associated with Apple authorized resellers who have already negotiated special pricing with Apple. Check with your educational institution for details.
College and non-college students should also consider refurbished Apple products. These products— which include almost the entire Apple product line—are tested and certified by Apple and include a full 1-year warranty. Just point your browser to http://tinyurl.com/6fgv6g. Keep in mind though that some of the refurbished items may be a model or two behind the current one. I often use Wikipedia to verify whether or not the refurbished model is the same as the current one being sold; with Apple calling their newest products by the same name as some of their older products, it can be confusing.
Also, don’t forget about authorized Apple Catalog and Internet Resellers such as MacMall and MacConnection. A full list can be found at http://tinyurl.com/2fgbcfp. To win your business, they’ll typically throw in a freebie or two as well as discount the normal retail price. Local brick and mortar stores will soon be offering back to school specials, if they aren’t already, so keep your eye on the Sunday circulars as well.
When buying Apple or any electronics these days, don’t put down your hard-earned dollars at the first sighting. If you’re willing to put in some extra shopping effort and time, you could save up to hundreds depending on where you end up making your purchase.