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Starting today, Apple begins its annual Back to School sale for all Macs. In earlier years, the company would throw in a free 8GB iPod touch with the purchase of a Mac for education purposes. This year they are doing things a bit differently. Instead of the iPod touch, every Mac now comes with a $100 gift card to spend on the Mac App Store, iTunes Store, iOS App Store, or iBookstore. It is mainly being advertised as for the Mac store, however the gift card is valid for all of these stores.
In addition to the to the free gift card, students can also take advantage of the special education pricing on Macs which are available all year. The regular, white MacBooks start at $899, which is $100 less than the standard price. Or if you’re more of a power user, the MacBook Pros start at $1,099 and the discounts on all models range from $100 to $200. I have to say though, when getting up to the over $2,000 range particularly for those 17-inch MacBook Pros, a couple hundred dollars off probably will not fill the void in your pocket. Finally, the MacBook Airs start at $949 with a $50 savings and the iMacs start at $1,149 with a discount of either $50 or $100.
Apple surprisingly does not advertise this for whatever reason, but there is also some notable discounts on the Mac mini and Mac Pro. The Mac mini starts at $649 with a $50 discount, which is not much. The Mac Pro, on the other hand, starts at $2,299 but has savings all the way up to $450. Yes, that 12-core powerhouse has that generous discount, bringing it down to the low, low price of — wait for it — $4,549.
Although not too big of a deal, it is generous of Apple to offer a little aid to those on a college budget. In fact, Macs are the most popular computers among college students. I would say that the company made the right move to switch from a free iPod touch to a free gift card. Even though the iPod touch has a higher value at $229, chances are pretty good that anyone buying a Mac already has an iPhone or iPod touch. Plus, gift cards are much more flexible in choosing how to spend it. So those of you looking to take advantage of this offer, you have until September 20. Spend on — in more ways than one.
Links: Apple – Back to School Sale
Im so upset that they arent giving away the ipod. My ipod is acting up and I need a new one. The 100 gift card will not be good towards that. I hardly ever purchase anything from the itunes store. Come on apple. They saw it as cheaper to give the cards away instead of giving away the ipod. Thats horrible.
Here’s what I recommend doing. Since new iPods come out ever September, for the next four months save up your money little by little so when the new iPod touch comes out you can afford to buy it right away.
FAIL. These are awful deals. I can’t believe you are suggesting people get this. Have you seen how much Dell/HP or others offer on education discounts? This year’s Apple discounts are a joke.
Clearly have a TechCrunch/Engadget cool-aid fan here. Someone is reading too much Pouge/Seigler. Half your posts are Apple Apple Apple – http://skattertech.com/author/georgetinari/
How can you defend that the gift cards are not useable for the iPod? Forcing people to use them for Apps is hillarous. Very great move by them. With so many great free apps there is not much people need to spend the money on. Even ton of free games out there already. I bet they have a expiration on when you need to spend the $100 by as well.
And no mention of the free Xbox with PCs huh? Ugh.
I can not read Skatter Tech again if I keep seeing this types of stories. So much other better other news to blog about.
The reason why I’m defending the gift card is because, as I said, it’s more flexible. It’s not for buying ten different types of farting apps. I don’t even own a Mac, but I’m sure I could put the gift card to good use. iWork, for example, is $80 and then the other $20 can be used for other apps and games, should the user choose to spend it on those. Plus, tons of people already have iPods and iPhones. So what about all the people that do? They lose out entirely on the offer.
The free Xbox is a good point, though it probably discourages learning. Again though, all the people that have an Xbox don’t gain anything.
And by the way, I love Pogue and Siegler.
Apple typically clears out older stock of iPods during these “education” specials. This year, there was no old stock to clear out.
You know what that means? A hilariously lame $100 gift card. It would take me 10 years to spend $100 on stupid apps and music for a mac.
Saving for 4 months is terrible advice since the guy clearly had money to buy a FREAKING IMAC OR MACBOOK to get a “free ipod”. He wanted to get the bonus iPod w/computer purchase…. Here is better advice: Wait another year and hope Apple offers the free iPod in 2012. In the meantime, buy a PC and get a free XBOX 360.
Apple failed on this offer and I find it hilarious all the ridiculous fanboys who would support Apple if they gave away anything … maybe an extra Apple sticker next year to brag about, eh?
BTW, George, you should consider getting Steve Jobs lower appendage out of your mouth. This is not a good deal at all. I know few people who buy apps for their macs so many people don’t even freaking have iPod touches who will be left out.
You are out of touch. So please, take your iPad 2, white iPhone 4, macbook pro, and please… stick them up your fanboy behind.
Silly Bill Jenkins. I have a black iPhone 4.
While it’s nice of Apple to do this, I think most people are just disappointed because Apple has in some way created a tradition of giving free ipods now. Stack this on top of Apple making record margins, the value of $100 vs a $229 item, the fact that 30% of proceeds go back to Apple for App Store purchases…AND not to mention iWork and a bunch of “top sellers” are made by Apple…kind of stingy of them. To top that off Microsoft is giving away free X Box 360’s.
So there. While Apple doesn’t HAVE to give away anything, or give a discount, it had already set precedent and expectations. But then, that has never stopped Apple before, has it (well, sometimes)?
That being said, I would still by Apple products. Just probably not directly through Apple, but through online retailers to avoid that tax (at least for now!).
Why not just buy a real computer and several times more than the supposed value of that gift card?