What’s a student to do when he has wads of cash to spend? Buy a MacBook of course. Because not only are you getting Apple’s usual education discount (that lasts year round), you’re getting a free iPod touch, Classic, Nano, or Shuffle thrown in. But you might as well just get the iPod touch.
MacRumors was kind enough to post the rebate information for us:
- iPod touch: $199
- iPod classic 160 GB: $199
- iPod nano 16 GB: $179
- iPod nano 8 GB: $149
- iPod shuffle 4 GB (stainless steel): $99
- iPod shuffle 4 GB: $79
How it works: You basically pay for everything upfront. If you want an iPod touch, you’ll have to buy it right there in the store. At least, that’s how it was back in 2008 when I got my first Mac. I forget if you have to send in a rebate or if the Apple Store takes care of that for you, but you’ll get a slip in the mail a few weeks later which you can dump right back into your bank account. Bingo! Free iPod touch (or whatever).
But before we end this segment, here’s a tip.
When I bought my first MacBook, I was able to pull a little stunt to save some money. Well, it wasn’t as much a stunt as it was financially smart. Instead of keeping my free device, I turned around and sold it on eBay, brand new, for a little less than what it retailed for. I had already made back my $199, so any extra made was just profit. While it was a little harder to sell, I also took advantage of Apple’s free printer deal. You know where I’m going here. A $1600 machine only cost me $1300 at that point with a little finagling, and cheaper 13” MacBooks mean you could net a $700 laptop if you’re savvy enough. I also purchased my computer stuffs on a Tax Free weekend here in North Carolina, which means I paid nothing in tax at the Apple Store. So if you’re going to buy a new Mac this season - that’s my suggestion. Make sure to keep an eye open for key dates and deals which could net you the perfect student laptop for substantially less.
