New swit...errr...adopter, some q's

I just won an auction on eBay for the MacBook Pro 15.4" LED SR notebook after many hours of research and toil. I almost purchased through the apple canada store with a friends student discount for 2599 CAD (something like 2458 USD). But then I found eBay and got lucky (I hope anyway) and won an auction for a "new, sealed in box" posting for 2000 USD, and after shipping came to 2195 CAD. My first question is this. Was this a steal of a deal like I think it is? What should my concerns be with apple's warranty availability in Canada seeing as how it was an American computer(shipping from California)?
Secondly, I am also purchasing an apple care protection plan for macbook pro I believe the part # is MA515LL/A. Is this the correct one? When I try and register my (American) MBP will there be any issues, especially pertaining to me linking this, again American, apple care to my serial number for the MBP?
Basically my photography needs are going to hopefully be satisfied by Aperture. Anything else I should know about running Windows XP and MacOSX via Bootcamp that most people do not know? eg. is there readily available drivers for the mac hardware in windows xp other than the supplied ones from bootcamp? Any feedback would be great and make me feel better about my purchase, sorry for inundating you guys with questions I'm just so excited to becoming an Apple User. Long time lurker, first time poster...

Thanks

 

Congrats on your new MacBook Pro! That's a pretty good deal you got there.

The Apple warranty will be fine in Canada. The warranty is worldwide so anywhere Apple services your MBP can be serviced, and yes, Apple services all of Canada. You can purchase AppleCare anywhere its sold (including outside of country).

Yet again I recommend two articles for switchers. They really help in the transition to Mac OS X from Windows:

http://www.apple.com/support/switch101
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101

 

I would say that it is not a great price - cause you can buy new one in US for $1844 (from macmall.com with $150 rebate)

 

Yeah, he could get the lowest version (2.2 GHz) MacBook Pro for that price, but based on the price he stated he's looking at the 2.4 GHz version of the MacBook Pro.

And on MacMall I find the 2.4 GHz version is being sold $2344 US after $150 (so $2494 original price) rebate. So he's still getting it cheaper from his auction.

Here's the link to the 2.4 GHz MacBook Pro at MacMall:

http://www.macmall.com/macmall/families/new_promo~dp~7254325~family~macbookpro~promo~3.asp

 

Another quick Q,
I can't seem to find the battery that's on the apple canada store on ebay or for sale anywhere which is MA348LL/A, but I have seen tonnes of batteries that are MA348G/A... Are they compatible.?

 

I quickly searched "MacBook battery" on eBay and found a lot of results...

http://computers.search.ebay.com/Ma...orking_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQfromZR40QQsacatZ58058

 

Yeah I was find all of those, the thing is they all say this "Replaces Apple Part Number: MA348G/A" whereas the apple part number for the macbook pro battery is actually MA348LL/A

 

if you are queasy about purchasing an aftermarket battery, you should purchase it from apple directly

 

Plus I haven't heard the best things about MacMall.

Congrats on the purchase!

 

Thanks guys... can't wait the required "please allow ten business days for shipment" :O
The batteries I was referring to were actually apple oem batteries just not sold from the apple store, but you are right.... probably best to pay 3x the price and get it right from the apple store.... don't know if that was sarcastic or not