<p>HS senior daughter would like a laptop for college. She's not a technogeek, so we're thinking that unless her chosen college has a rec for something different (and, so far, none of her schools seem to have a required computer setup) that we'd get her an Apple laptop of one flavor or another on the theory that they require a lot less tech savvy.</p>
<p>So, we'd like to know if college students get significant discounts on laptops that would make it worthwhile to wait until she actually starts college to get one, or whether we should just go ahead and get it this spring so she's really familiar with it by the time school starts.</p>
<p>i've heard you get an ipod (a nano maybe?) on some MacBooks if you wait during the back to school time of the year. i remember when I got a Mac Mini during Christmas a year ago I had gotten a student discount which saved me like $50. I asked them if it was possible to get anything higher than that and they told me that students get the highest discount possible. I'm not saying $50 is what you'll save if you wait. But assuming you wait it might be something similar I assume (maybe $100 if they are generous), probably some other bundles with ipod or printers.</p>
<p>not to mention, every so often they have upgrades to their laptops. so if you want the latest generation macbook, look out to see when the last update was to the product your buying and whether there are any rumors for new updates to those products.</p>
<p>The school/student discount is about 10% per machine, and you can use it once a year. If you happen to be homeschoolers, you can use the discount now. :)</p>
<p>I would wait until about a month before school starts to buy. That way you will get a good deal, iPod, and she still has time to learn how to do everything with it.</p>
<p>Yes, I believe it is worth it to wait for the education discount. Your price will be lower.</p>
<p>Depending on your budget, it may be worth it to look into a student Apple Developer Connection membership.</p>
<p>For example, without any discount, a 15" MacBook Pro is $2000. The generic education discount drops that to $1900. However, with a student ADC membership, the total cost of that 15" MBP is $1700. (The membership costs $100. It gives you the right, though, to purchase a MBP for $1600.)</p>
<p>If your budget is lower, then there are no additional savings with a student ADC membership.</p>
<p>what kind of iPod will they be giving out this summer? Hopefully an iTouch. I feel like thats what they gave out last year… probably not though.</p>
<p>Not everyone needs what the touch has to offer. Or they already have one. Me, due to poor planning, ended up with a first gen iPod Touch, and an iPhone 3g. Don’t particularly need another iPod Touch.</p>
<p>But if that’s the case, you probably don’t need another iPod, and would just eBay the freebie, in which case the iPod Touch would net you more money.</p>
<p>What I’m wondering, is, if they launch a new generation of iPod Touch/iPhone this June like it’s rumored, would they be handing out leftover second gen iPods, or the brand new third gen?</p>
<p>FYI, they don’t “give out” the iPods. They are rebates. You have to buy the iPod first at regular price during the eligibility period, and then send in a form with a proof of purchase and some other information, then wait a couple of weeks (6-8) for the rebate money. However, the rebates are up to the price of the iPod Touch, so if you really want an iPod Touch you can indeed get that – you just have to shell out the money ahead of time.</p>
<p>Whether or not you can get the new generation depends on the amount of the rebate they’re offering – if the new generation iPod Touch will be the same price or less as the current one, then it will be free.</p>
<p>They also give rebates on printers up to $100, which means that you can also get a free printer. They do that most of the year, though, because when I was comparing prices for an Apple last month (I decided on the Sony VAIO instead, but I did love the Macbooks) they were telling me I could also get a free printer (which I didn’t need, since I already had one anyway).</p>
<p>I’d wait until August if I were you, just for the free iPod.</p>
<p>if the touch, would it probably be the 8 gig version? Becuase I already have that. Maybe they could do the 16 or 32 gig version. 95% doubt it though</p>
<p>Last year, I used the educational discount to buy a Macbook. For $100 more, you could upgrade your free 8g itouch to the 16g itouch. I don’t know what they have planned for this year’s promotion.</p>
<p>Another way to save (if your state has it) is to purchase during the “Sales Tax Free Back to School Days” which includes computers up to around $2,500.00. I know GA and FL have these.</p>