The link took me to a story about oil consumption/conservation.

Sorry, it looks like the Times Canada has updated the site with this week's edition of stories. I have updated my post above.

I mostly use Mac (own 5 of them) but for work we have to use PC. It is funny to see people come up and ask (as both are sitting next to eachother) and ask which we prefer. Mac of course. I have plenty of people and friends that have made the switch to Mac that said they would NEVER own a mac, well after a few weeks/months they now say they will NEVER go back to PC. when I did own a PC i would feel that i needed to get a new one every few months, i have had my 12'' PB for over a year and have no need for a new one. They just make far superior products for a far more reasonable price. Give it time if/when you go MAC and you will never want to go back.

I am going to make the switch. My 5 yo Dell is dying (sad...I had it since college ) and I am going to get a 12inch iBook. Any idea if there are any sales that go on? I can get it in Portland and not pay sales tax but other than that are there any ways to save a little dough?

Do you want to check them out in the store first, or have you already done that? If the latter, there are several options. Amazon runs $100 mail-in rebates, looks like there's one still going on. The online Apple Store http://store.apple.com/ carries factory certified refurbished units (with same one-year warranty as a new unit, and also qualifies for the AppleCare extended warranty if you like) at good discounts, though there you'll definitely pay tax unless you can have it shipped to Oregon. PowerMax http://www.powermax.com/ is an indie authorized reseller in Oregon. They don't have a real showroom, though, so unless you're actually nearby, it doesn't really change much. You have to call and place your order before you can pick it up. Similar indies are Small Dog http://www.smalldog.com/ in Vermont and ExperCom http://www.expercom.com/ in Utah. Small Dog and PowerMax refurbish their own used units if you're really looking to go cheap. ExperCom is typically land of RAM upgrades at cheap prices and free shipping.

When I buy brand new Macs, ExperCom is usually the place I look at first these days. At any given time, one of these three may have factory refurbished units as well, but more and more Apple keeps these for themselves. I've bought various refurbs over the years with decent results, but that all depends on your comfort level. In my experience with several dozen Macs, the refurbs don't fail any more often than the brand new units. For the iBook in particular, the refurb at Apple is only $100 less than the net price of the new unit from Amazon. If Apple charges tax and Amazon doesn't, then the difference is almost nothing. So the refurbished route may be pointless.

If you want hand-holding for the switch, go to the Apple Store. They're pretty good at that stuff. But, you don't have to buy your computer there to get help from them there. You can always buy it elsewhere then go in and talk to the "genius" folks when you have a question or problem.

Thank you CrazyOne.
One question though: Why would Amazon offer a rebate and Apple not?


I don't think I need the hand holding...my dad has an Apple and loves it...geeks sometimes scare me.

Resellers are free to offer their own promotions. Apple also offers its own. You'll find a few promos that are nearly always ongoing available through Apple, the main one being a $100 rebate when one of certain specified printers is purchased with a computer. There are also sometimes discounts on .Mac when purchased with a computer, and sometimes you can get software discounted as well.

If you have a student, faculty or staff member of an educational institution in your family you are eligible for the education discount. This may take a little bit more off the price of the refurb offers. (Keep in mind though that refurbs don't always qualify for the other discounts/rebates at the Apple Store web site... check the rebate terms and conditions carefully.)

Additionally, several employers have discount programs with Apple, as do federal government employees.

The Apple Store does charge sales tax based on ship-to state. Shipping is free for orders over $50.

Check with your local Apple Retail Stores. I believe the Genius Bar will transfer all files from an old Windows computer to a newly purchased Mac at no charge for Switchers. I don't know if you have to buy the machine there or if you can bring in a recent purchase.

Mac Connection, 800 800-2222, has a $50 rebate on the 12" iBook now, plus free shipping. They charge sales tax only on shipments to Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee, so you'd be OK that way too. I've dealt with them a lot over the years and have always been satisfied.

Thanks so much. I am looking at the website right now

I just broke down and bought it.

Thanks again...

Congratulations, and may you enjoy it for a long time!!!

But please break the suspense. Which Web site?

I went with your advise with macconnection.com


Not only did I get free shipping to WA, but I also got that $50.00 rebate. A lot easier doing it that way that nagging my friend in Portland to go buy it for me


Supposedly I get a carrying case (uh...woo hoo? ) and an Epson printer (can I get another woo hoo? ), not that I will use the printer since I have a great one that prints wonderful pics...hope it'll work.


Thanks again for all the help. After 5 years of not wanting to go Apple, I not only have a Nano (and loving it) but I am an owner of an iBook. Oh, how the world turns

MacConnection has been excellent too over the years. Most reliable of the big catalog vendors (the ones that originated with catalogs 20 years ago and still send them out).

Enjoy your new iBook!

Good intro info geared towards Windows users is here http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/ I particularly like this page http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/switcher/2/ to give to people somewhat familiar with Windows who have to get used to using Macs at our place. Sometimes just knowing a few basic moves can make all the difference.

Woo hoo! Woo hoo!

No reason your existing printer shouldn't work with a new Mac. The most common problem is that its driver CD was burned before the current release of the Mac OS and may not support it. (Windows users trying to use an old printer with a new computer run into the same problem.) The standard fix, for either platform, is to download a new driver from the printer company's Web site. They all make it easy to do this.

I am soooo excited. Been reading up on transferring stuff and widgets. They look so cool. Ahhh...I think I'm a convert and I haven't even gotten it yet!

And if the manufacturer does not have an appropriate printer driver, you can probably find one developed for your CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System) that is already built into OSX! I actually like the CUPS driver better than the one supplied for my HP DeskJet printer!