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Today I hit the computer store in the student union and poked at their Mac display. Yes, I want a new Mac to replace my 6 year old iLamp.
Based on my physical usage needs (i.e. both ergonomics and space limitations), I've decided on the 20" screen iMac. The union store has the 2.66 GHz version (2GB/320GB base) for $1400, +$50 to crank the RAM up to 4GB (which I would definitely do), and another $59 for iWork or $99 for Office:mac. There's also a rebate of $30 on iWork if bought at the same time as a Mac, so I'll likely be going with that. So, all told plus tax I'm looking at about $1600, assuming I don't need to (or decide to) replace any peripherals. Assume no matter where I buy the new machine I'll need to spend some money on upgrading some of my other software (mostly upgrades I've been putting off). I haven't decided if I want to try installing a second OS on it, but probably not. Anything I might need from Windows exists in a Mac version or can just be converted or even directly read by iWork.
The Apple.com store can get me the same thing for over $200 more, list price. Granted, that doesn't include educational discount, which probably accounts for most of the price difference, but the main point is it ain't gonna be cheaper. I'll check Best Buy to see if I can do better, but it looks like I'll be going to the student union just like I did for my current computer lo these six years past.
The Plan is to wait until the closing date on my credit card, so that my CD will have matured by the time the bill is due. Then I'll set the new machine up over in my craft area while I get everything configured, or at least everything I can configure without having the peripherals plugged in (i.e. I may have to wait and install drivers and suchlike after I physically swap the machines). Then, hopefully, I can get everything moved around in a half hour or so (mostly for moving all the desktoys) and spend minimal time finishing setup. Not sure what I'll do with the old iLamp yet...I still have the laptop (G3 Wallstreet) it replaced sitting in a closet, haven't even booted it up in four or five years.
Based on my physical usage needs (i.e. both ergonomics and space limitations), I've decided on the 20" screen iMac. The union store has the 2.66 GHz version (2GB/320GB base) for $1400, +$50 to crank the RAM up to 4GB (which I would definitely do), and another $59 for iWork or $99 for Office:mac. There's also a rebate of $30 on iWork if bought at the same time as a Mac, so I'll likely be going with that. So, all told plus tax I'm looking at about $1600, assuming I don't need to (or decide to) replace any peripherals. Assume no matter where I buy the new machine I'll need to spend some money on upgrading some of my other software (mostly upgrades I've been putting off). I haven't decided if I want to try installing a second OS on it, but probably not. Anything I might need from Windows exists in a Mac version or can just be converted or even directly read by iWork.
The Apple.com store can get me the same thing for over $200 more, list price. Granted, that doesn't include educational discount, which probably accounts for most of the price difference, but the main point is it ain't gonna be cheaper. I'll check Best Buy to see if I can do better, but it looks like I'll be going to the student union just like I did for my current computer lo these six years past.
The Plan is to wait until the closing date on my credit card, so that my CD will have matured by the time the bill is due. Then I'll set the new machine up over in my craft area while I get everything configured, or at least everything I can configure without having the peripherals plugged in (i.e. I may have to wait and install drivers and suchlike after I physically swap the machines). Then, hopefully, I can get everything moved around in a half hour or so (mostly for moving all the desktoys) and spend minimal time finishing setup. Not sure what I'll do with the old iLamp yet...I still have the laptop (G3 Wallstreet) it replaced sitting in a closet, haven't even booted it up in four or five years.
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As for the old computers, they tend to be worth very little so don't count on selling for cash. If you can format them to a satisfactory point, just give the oldest away so some poor kids and sell the current one for maybe $150.