<p>With computer technology constantly improving keeping a new laptop new can be difficult. When should entering freshmen buy their laptops? At the end of the summer? During the last semester of high school? Does it matter?</p>
<p>Also, how fast does Apple produce new versions of its laptop, and is a new MacBook on the way?</p>
<p>There are a lot of deal sites where you can find companies that give great temporary discounts on laptops. I use slickdeals.net. I bought my laptop over a year ago when it costed about $1500, but through stacking online coupons, I got it for only $900. Obviously, if I were to buy the same laptop now, the base price would not be so high, but since I paid less for it, it seems to have been worth it. </p>
<p>Outside of looking for deals, its probably best to get your laptop at the last possible moment, or during the late summer. Lots of companies have sales around this time because a lot of students are going to college.</p>
<p>Usually back-to-school sales start around the beginning of August. I second using slickdeals to try and find the cheapest option available. Usually you can check the comments to make sure that you're not getting a POS computer. Also, keep in mind that although newer stuff is always coming out, odds are what you get will be more than you need for a couple of years.</p>
<p>Thanks for this info. I will check it out. BTW, what is POS?</p>
<p>Any tips to navigating this website? I see where they list deals daily (all kinds of merchandise). Is there a way to go to computers only? Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>POS = piece of ****.</p>
<p>Thanks ya'll.</p>
<p>The one problem with waiting til the last minute to order it is everyone else is ordering at the same time so there is a longer wait time. I ordered mine back at the end of May and it arrived 5 days later... over a weekend. OTOH, my parents ordered one two weeks ago (same thing) and it isn't projected to ship for another 2 weeks.</p>
<p>Your campus bookstore might also have a good deal, since they purchase the computers in bulk. You might try calling them in early summer and ordering one you can pick up when you start school.</p>
<p>I got mine for my birthday which is in april. it was nice to have it all summer, but you probably don't want it much earlier than that if you still want it to be newish for college.</p>
<p>Do not expect a MacBook refresh any time soon.</p>
<p>I don't think Macbook is going to be updated anytime soon, but I would wait until October for Leopard to come out.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you wait for Leopard then you forfeit the free printer/iPod promo's (they end Sept. 16).</p>
<p>^ yes, and the educational pricing for Leopard OS X is rumored to only be $69.</p>
<p>Macs are pretty useless for me. I have a PC, and when I really need a Mac which has never happened yet I can go to the school's mac lab which has 20 or so fully equipped Mac Pros with Cinema displays. Of course, it depends on your school facilities and your interests, but I find the PC somewhat more compatible. The only Mac I would consider would be the cheaper MacBook (the non-Pro one). As I am international and cannot carry around a desktop computer I got a very fast laptop. I never use it in classes though.</p>
<p>"^ yes, and the educational pricing for Leopard OS X is rumored to only be $69."</p>
<p>One can only hope (but its not going to happen).</p>