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    A few last questions...

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by gibson00, Jan 31, 2009.

  1. gibson00

    gibson00 Notebook Evangelist

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    Probably gonna pick up my first macbook ever in a few days. A few last questions...

    I was thinking of buying from Futureshop (Canada). Same price as Apple online, and they have a 2 week return policy, even if opened. Apple charges 10% restock on open returns. Any reason not to buy from FS? Warranty still covered by Apple, yes?

    Will the mac pick up any wireless networks? I notice there is an apple brand wireless base, and wasn't sure if that was needed for the wireless to work?

    Will any backup external hard drive work with the mac? For example, I have a WD Passport drive that I use with my Dell. Will it be compatible with the mac?

    Thanks!
     
    gibson00, Jan 31, 2009
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  2. StrongerThanAll

    StrongerThanAll Notebook Deity

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    Yes, it will pickup any wireless base
    and you are better off buying it from FS afaik

    about the External HD, it depends on the file system
     
    StrongerThanAll, Jan 31, 2009
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  3. Xirurg

    Xirurg ORLY???

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    by default,mac os can only read NTFS drives,but there is a free program called ntfs-3g that will do the trick!
     
    Xirurg, Jan 31, 2009
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  4. HLdan

    HLdan Notebook Virtuoso

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    Buying from Futureshop will be a great idea since their return policy is better than Apple's. The only reason to buy directly from Apple is if you were going to do a BTO option or for the education discount.
    All Macs pick up any wireless signal. There's no "Apple branded" wireless base. Apple was the first in the industry to have a wireless notebook, if anything they should connect easier than other computers.
    Your Password should work just fine, just need to format it to work on your Mac which the Mac will do automatically for you.
     
    HLdan, Jan 31, 2009
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  5. ATC

    ATC Notebook Deity

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    Yep, exactly what I was thinking. I bought from FS, they also have 30 day price protection just in case they or anyone else puts the same machine on sale you're covered in that 30 days. The 14 day return is a huge plus too. Even with apple products, you may very well end up with a machine that has a few annoyances/defects (dead or stuck pixels, battery cover that's not flush with the machine etc...) you won't have to ship back anywhere and no restocking fees. It's the same with BestBuy (same company really). Can't go wrong.
     
    ATC, Jan 31, 2009
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  6. gibson00

    gibson00 Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm thinking maybe what I saw in FS was the AirPort Extreme. Is that not a wireless base?
     
    gibson00, Jan 31, 2009
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  7. Underpantman

    Underpantman Notebook Virtuoso

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    The airport extreme is a "wireless router", but I guess you could call it a base too :)
    Anyways its not necessary for your mac. Only buy it if you need some of its features, like wireless printing or TimeMachine, or superspeed transfers (with 5Ghz "n")... otherwise you can use any old wireless router.

    good luck on the new macbook
    a
    :)
     
    Underpantman, Feb 2, 2009
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  8. JM

    JM Mr. Misanthrope NBR Reviewer

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    Just to note, since lots and lots of Americans read this forum:

    No restocking fees only apply only to Best Buy Canada (operating as Best Buy and FutureShop), a subsidiary of Best Buy Company. All US-based Best Buys will charge a 15% restocking fee on any opened laptops returned within the 14 days.

    Just to make it clear for anyone who might get confused.

    ;)
     
    JM, Feb 2, 2009
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