On 6/8/04 6:40 PM, "Marcin Wichary" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> My questions are: > - is the described system good enough (or too good) for me? > > - can you upgrade/change the memory later with generic sticks, > or can you only do it via the official Apple stores? > Sounds good to me! (I own the slightly older 1.25Ghz model) and I love the keyboard light. Summer evenings I like to sit out on the porch and the backlit keyboard means I can keep the lights off and enjoy the evening. Basically, when buying a notebook I recommend buying the most powerful machine you can afford because what you buy is what you'll have until you sell it. Except for memory, notebooks aren't upgradeable in the same way desktops are. > > - can I drive both digital LCD screens and analogue projectors from > this PowerBook out of the box? > My PB came with dongles for video - I use mine to drive a projector and I *think* the PB can drive digital but since I don't have a digital display I can't say for certain. > > - is AppleCare REALLY recommended? (yeah, I know it is, but it's > a really steep icing on top of the already hefty cake... I guess > I need some horror stories to convince me ;) ) > I've owned/used 10 PowerBooks/iBooks since Apple first introduced the PB140 and I've bought AppleCare for every one but the first. I recommend AC for all new notebook purchases but don't think desktops need it. And make sure the computer is covered under your homeowners/renters insurance too. AC is not an insurance policy, it covers only defects in manufacture, so if you drop or step on your PowerBook it won't be covered. But it could be covered under your homeowners policy. Still, I tend to think of AC in the same light as an insurance policy. In the 15 years I've been paying for home insurance I've made only one claim but I'd never think of canceling it. In the years I've owned PowerBooks AC has paid for at least one repair on 5 of the 10 PowerBooks I've owned. In most cases, one repair will cover the cost of the AC. But the choice is yours. Working at an Apple reseller I've seen more than one customer decide to sell a broken notebook for a loss because s/he couldn't afford the cost of repair. BTW, some businesses offer extended warranty policies other than Apple's. I've seen good experiences and bad, but more bad than good and past experience or good word of mouth doesn't always mean much. Locally, a popular extended warranty provider with a very good reputation was bought out by a company that has quickly developed a local reputation for weaseling out of its obligations and not paying the repair service after authorizing the repair. > > also, you have to buy it straight with the computer, right? or can > you purchase it later? > In the US AC can be bought after purchase so long as it is covered by the 1 year warranty. I don't know about outside the US. > > - I assume that I can't buy this system at my local Apple Store, but > I have to order it as BTO from Apple Store. How much time do you > reckon it should take for the machine to be delivered? > BTO delivery is a crapshoot. I once bought a BTO desktop for myself and a stock desktop for my wife on the same day. Mine arrived in a week, three days before hers. OTOH, I once waited a month for a BTO - and it wasn't a backordered model. david -- G-Books is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-Books list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- >The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
