Obsessable's full coverage of CES 2009
advertisement

MSI Wind U100 price drops to $430 after rebate Ebook readers roundup

Want to buy an Apple laptop? Wait until after October 14th

Apple sent out invitations to a special Apple Event on October 14th earlier this week. New laptops are on the way. We have some tips for interested buyers.

Digg del.icio.us ThisNext Facebook StumbleUpon TwitThis

Computing | by C.K. Sample III | Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:29PM | 0 comments

 

Apple sent out an announcement yesterday with the above graphic for an October 14th Apple Event, stating plainly "The spotlight turns to notebooks." Before the announcement went out, Obsessable's very own Randall Bennett joined a conversation about all the rumors that were floating around regarding new notebooks coming from Apple. A quick glance at the news around the web since the announcement reveals that people think there may be a $800 MacBook on the way, a new solid-aluminum cased MacBook Pro manufactured using Apple's rumored "brick" process, and possibly just new MacBooks with newer NVIDIA graphics cards installed. One of my sources (who has been right quite a few times) keeps talking about a new iPhone screen in place of the touchpad on the new MacBooks like what appears in the possibly Photoshopped picture here. Regardless of what actually comes out of Tuesday's announcements, one thing is for sure: If you had finally saved up your money and were considering heading out to buy a new Apple laptop this weekend, wait.

I don't mean just wait until the new notebooks are announced to buy one of them. Once they are announced a whole slew of current model Apple notebooks will either be up for grabs at reduced prices used and new on sites like eBay or Craigslist. Most used computers over a year old will be out of warranty unless the seller purchased an Apple Care plan that he/she is bundling with the sale, so be careful if you go the used laptop route.

If you don't want to buy from eBay or Craigslist, I have good news for you. You will most likely be able to find refurbished models on the Special Deals section of Apple's very own Apple Store. This is the place where Apple lists both clearance items and refurbished Apple products. Refurbished Apple products are products that were either damaged, returned by a dissatisfied customer, and fully repaired with a full new warranty and offered at a reduced price, or simply opened box units that were returned. Either way, refurbished Apple products are often several hundred dollars less expensive than their non-refurbished counterparts and they carry the same exact warranty. The best part about refurbished products is that if Apple does announce something amazing on Tuesday, October 14th, but you don't want to be one of those "guinea pig" customers who have to deal with any possible manufacturing headaches of a first edition of a new product line, if you're patient and wait long enough, sooner or later someone will return a unit and it will appear for less money, re-certified and with a fresh warranty ready for you to grab it up.

 

Around the Web:
external link $800 for a new MacBook? [The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)]
external link "Blu-ray is a bag of hurt," says… [Google News - Sci/Tech]
external link 'Brick' MacBook Pro leaked in up-close spy… [Engadget]
external link 10/14 Apple Event: Who's providing live… [The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)]
external link 13-inch MacBook (aluminum) review [Electronista | Gadgets for Geeks]
external link 24-inch LED Cinema Display with DisplayPort… [I4U News]
external link A big bag of Blu-Ray hurt for Apple [The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)]
external link A closer look at Apple's move to NVIDIA… [Google News - Sci/Tech]
external link A New Line From Apple: The Metal MacBook [NYT > Technology]
external link All Atwitter About Apple's Laptop Event [PC World Latest Technology News]
external link All the New MacBook Details In One Place… [Gizmodo]
external link AMD Delivers Industry's First Commercially… [AMD Press Releases]
external link Amex Announces Cheapish Sleekish Portable… [Wired: Gadget Lab]
external link Amex Digital Does Slim Blu-ray Drive [Ubergizmo]
external link Amex Digital does what Steve won't, intros… [Engadget]
external link Amex Digital does what Steve wouldn't, intros… [Engadget HD]
external link Amex Digital Offers Blu-Ray for MacBooks [Digital Trends]
external link Amex Digital Releases Portable Blu-ray Burner… [Gizmodo]
external link AMEX intros slim Blu-ray burner for Macs,… [Electronista | Gadgets for Geeks]
external link AMEX Portable Blu-ray Super Multi Drive - the… [Tech Digest]
external link Amex Portable Blu-ray Super Multi Drive… [SlashGear]
external link Amex Portable Blu-ray Super Multi Drive plays… [Newlaunches.com]
external link Amex Portable Super Multi Drive Makes Blu-ray… [Gizmodo]
external link Analyst: $999 MacBook Big News - The Mac… [Google News - Sci/Tech]
external link Analysts: New MacBook Prices Too High to… [Wired: Gadget Lab]

Comments

Add a comment Inappropriate or promotional comments may be removed.

Add a comment

Click one of the three commenter types below. Member comments are added immediately once you confirm your email address. Anonymous comments are moderated by our editorial staff.

I want to comment as a new member an existing member anonymously

Email me

  

Comment Preview
Anonymous (5:25 PM on Thu Jan 8, 2009)

Preview your comment here.

Inappropriate or promotional comments may be removed. To create a clickable link, simply type the URL (including http://) and we will make a link for you. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags, but if you're into that kind of thing, you can use any of the following tags: b, i, strong, em, a (href only), p and br.