Any other way to customize a MacBook?

Just speaking theoretically, as I'll *probably* just go with an HP, but if I was to buy a MacBook, are there any ways to get a custom configuration other than going straight through apple.com?

If I *did* go with a MacBook, I'd want a white one with a bigger hard drive and more RAM, so I was wondering...mostly because it'd be nice to avoid tax.

 

Since the hard drive and ram are user upgradeable; *buy* the lowest priced macbook (which happens to be white) and upgrade the ram and hard drive yourself.

How do you plan to avoid tax?

 

Well...if I ordered on-line from a retailer out of state, I wouldn't have to pay tax, would I? Or am I confused? It's been a long time since I spent a large amount at once. Maybe that was a stupid assumption.

The problem with upgrading on my own is that I'd end up with extra parts - especially as the RAM comes in pairs and I'd have to replace both. I don't know that I'd really save a lot that way, though of course I could sell the original parts. Just a bit of a hassle is all. I guess if I do end up going with a MacBook I'll just order from Apple...it's probably the best way anyway. But I figured it was worth asking.

 

I think you have to pay tax regardless UNLESS there is no Apple Retail Store in your state.

 

I thought that would be only *if* I ordered from Apple, which is why I was looking for on-line alternatives, like maybe MacMall...only they don't allow for customization.

But I guess I can live with tax if I gotta. This is assuming I even go this way...even with Boot Camp, I'm nervous about going with a new OS. Just really like the look of the MacBook and I think it could be fun to try something completely different.

 

Upgrading the hard drive and ram yourself will always be cheaper than configuring the hard drive and ram on a retailer's site. From my experience online retailers such as the Apple store and Sony Style charge a rediculous amount for memory.

White MacBook = $1100
120gb HD ~ $130
2gb ram ~ $200
Total = $1430

And if you are a student or teacher you can get $50 off the MacBook.

 

The cheapest MacBook doesn't have a DVD burner...but point taken otherwise. I'm just not sure it's something I want to deal with. I'm perfectly comfortable with doing the swap, but ordering the parts and reloading everything...well, I'll have to think about it, I guess.

So...I take it the answer to my original question is "no", in any case.

 

If you get used to using OS X you will more than likely like it better than Windows, unless you play a lot of games.

 

I don't really game...except for a few old ones, most of which I can live without. I'll be using whatever-I-get for music, movies, internet and writing, pretty much. I have in the past done some very basic music recording as well...so the fact that the Mac comes with Garage Band is another point in its favor.

I think I'm trying to talk myself into this.

 

If you do Multimedia stuff, then you will love OS X lol.

 

OS x takes a litle to get use to it but once you do you will love it

 

it's really easy to upgrade the RAM and HD in the MacBook. there's a video here on how to do it.

 

It isn't the installation part that bothers me...I'm comfortable with that. It's the having to order additional parts, and then sell off the originals in order to really come out ahead.

Yeah, I'm lazy.

Honestly, I'm rethinking all this anyway. The more I read about the heat issues, the more nervous I get. Granted, my current four year old system gets to 60 C even when just browsing and listening to music, even after opening the case and checking stuff out...I run a third party fan utility which helps, but I was hoping to get away from heat problems.

 

Then your best bet is to customize a macbook from a reatiler and pay whatever rediculous price they want to charge you for more memory and hdd space. The only place I know that lets you customize one is the apple online store.

And if heat is an issue, stay away form the MB. It can get unbareably hot.

 

No need to be snippy about it... And actually, in rechecking the Apple site and looking at just *how* much they charge, I'd have to agree you're right that it probably would be silly not to just upgrade on my own, though I think if I did, I'd do it as I had time rather than right as I got the new system.

But I think the heat issues are gonna make me walk away. Sad, because I really like the *idea* of having a Mac, and there really aren't any other systems in that size and price range. Grrr...

Seems like there's no such thing as the perfect combination, and though I'm really not in a rush, I sure would like to find something that clicks for me.

 

I didn't realize I came off as being snippy...You may just be better off waiting for a revision to resolve the heat problems or wait a while longer until they release a totally new macbook, maybe with merom. A good system with that size and price range would be a sz110. Great notebook with more features and less no heat issues.

 

Apple will most likely allways have heat problems while Jobs' is running it. He likes em quite, and thats why the gobs of thermal paste, which in turn makes them fry eggs.

 

Thanks for the advice, gang! Even if I did kinda back out of my original question.

So far I'm still considering the Sony out of my price range, and I worry a bit about Sony's service...but I admit, that's a sweeeet system, xprohx. Saw one in a store for the first time this weekend and was awfully tempted to throw reason to the wind and slap down the credit card right there and then.

Epsi