online vs apple store?

hmoin · Apr 25th, 2006, 11:17 AM

Are they any advantages on purchasing a computer from apple's online store vs their retail store? Planning on picking up a macbook pro (1.82ghz).

Can you get custom build an order at the apple store (on the spot memory upgrade for example)? I did hear reports that if you decide to only get 1 stick of gig ram they don't replace the 512 mb and simply give stick back to you. meaning that you purchase 1 gig of ram separately. Is this true?

Do all apple store get the latest macbooks with the latest serial (meaning recent builds). Earlier builds and buzzing lcds, etc. I don't want to pick up a lemon!

side question: can one install 1.5gigs of ram in a macbook pro? I thought since macbooks have a dual memory controller, it would only accept two identical sticks of ram. Is this true also?

madgunde · Apr 25th, 2006, 12:05 PM

Online gives you real build to order options. The retail store can only add to your machine, and only standard user upgradeable options. On a MacBook Pro, that pretty much means just RAM.

You can put 1.5GB in a MacBook Pro, some people say it will impact performance, but from what I've read online, if there is an impact, it most likely isn't at all noticeable. Of course, the fact that Apple doesn't seem to offer 1.5GB as an option online might make you wonder...

How current Apple store inventory is depends on how much stock they have and how fast the product is selling. I think you can be sure the Apple Store doesn't have MacBook Pro inventory that is older than a week or so, given how well the product is selling. Call them and ask if you are so concerned.

kobogigo · Apr 25th, 2006, 01:42 PM

My advice would be to check with MacDoc, in my experience he will give you good advice.

He walked me through the decision making process, to purchase my MacBook Pro. He explained how the ram needs to be matched etc. I have purchased a few items from him now and everything has always worked out well.

Kobo

dona83 · Apr 25th, 2006, 01:52 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by madgunde
	Online gives you real build to order options. The retail store can only add to your machine, and only standard user upgradeable options. On a MacBook Pro, that pretty much means just RAM.

Untrue, you may order CTO machines (Apple Authorized Retailers only -- the bigger shops, Future Shop, London Drugs, etc. won't do this, but Carbon Computing, MacStation, etc. often will) from retail stores, just that they have to order it from Apple meaning that it has to be configured in Asia (for really internal upgrades. The difference is that shipping times to the store is often as fast as the paid expedited shipping option in the online store.

If you're thinking of the 17" MacBook Pro, everything that can't be user upgraded (memory) is already maxed out so it'd be way faster to get it at the store.

hokuto · Apr 25th, 2006, 03:12 PM

Whoever said MacBook can take 1.5gb of ram is incorrect, it can take 2gb in total. And there are no performance benefits to doing it in pairs. That's only on a Mac Mini due to video and it's not a difference anyone would notice, no matter how into computers you are. Apple Stores can only upgrade Ram, but sometimes they have "Ultimate" builds, meaning around 1GB of ram, with larger hard drive or video, just depends. As one poster mentioned, it is true that you are buying 1gb for example, and getting the 512mb back. This is only true though if you max it out, for example buying 2 1GB chips, then they take out the 512 and give it to you. However, if you go in with a quote from the online store, or get a staff member to show you the pricing online, they will always match that price and never charge more.

madgunde · Apr 25th, 2006, 05:23 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by hokuto
	Whoever said MacBook can take 1.5gb of ram is incorrect, it can take 2gb in total. And there are no performance benefits to doing it in pairs. That's only on a Mac Mini due to video and it's not a difference anyone would notice, no matter how into computers you are. Apple Stores can only upgrade Ram, but sometimes they have "Ultimate" builds, meaning around 1GB of ram, with larger hard drive or video, just depends. As one poster mentioned, it is true that you are buying 1gb for example, and getting the 512mb back. This is only true though if you max it out, for example buying 2 1GB chips, then they take out the 512 and give it to you. However, if you go in with a quote from the online store, or get a staff member to show you the pricing online, they will always match that price and never charge more.

So you're saying if you have a 512MB stock module installed, and you install a 1GB module, it won't work? Why? Obviously it's not because it requires pairs, since the default config only has a single module in it. I'm curious as to the technical reasons. Can anyone provide a link that confirms this?

hokuto · Apr 25th, 2006, 05:31 PM

I never said that. Someone said 1.5 is the MAX ram for MacBook Pro which I said is not correct. However, the 1.83 comes with 512 leaving one slot free. If you go to the online store, 1.5gb is not an option. It's either 512, 1gb or 2gb. In the store, you can easily pay for 1gb and add it on, however its not $120 its $360 which is the price of 1gb on its own because you keep the 512mb in there. The online store is less because Apple never puts the 512 in, just the 1gb. But what I'm saying is that if you show them that 1gb online is only $120 for 1 chip, they usually will always just give you that price. That's what they did for two people I know at least. Doing so will then fill your two slots, but you'll have 1.5GB ram in total, or pay for 2GB and get 2gb basically.

madgunde · Apr 25th, 2006, 05:51 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by hokuto
	I never said that. Someone said 1.5 is the MAX ram for MacBook Pro which I said is not correct. However, the 1.83 comes with 512 leaving one slot free. If you go to the online store, 1.5gb is not an option. It's either 512, 1gb or 2gb. In the store, you can easily pay for 1gb and add it on, however its not $120 its $360 which is the price of 1gb on its own because you keep the 512mb in there. The online store is less because Apple never puts the 512 in, just the 1gb. But what I'm saying is that if you show them that 1gb online is only $120 for 1 chip, they usually will always just give you that price. That's what they did for two people I know at least. Doing so will then fill your two slots, but you'll have 1.5GB ram in total, or pay for 2GB and get 2gb basically.

Sorry, then I misunderstood this statement in your post: "Whoever said MacBook can take 1.5gb of ram is incorrect, it can take 2gb in total." which makes it sound like you can't install just 1.5GB of RAM.

Also none of the posts claimed that 1.5GB was the maximum, they were with reference to the question of whether you can install 1.5GB or not. I think the post you are referring to was mine, which I did not edit.

Anyways, glad we cleared that up.

VNJ85 · Apr 25th, 2006, 06:05 PM

Ok i don't get what the whole fuss is about. Hokuto knows his stuff and basically said it all. As well if you do any research on these forums you might find that other users like me have 1.5gigs of ram, and it works very well.

In my case i wanted to buy an extra stick of 512ram, so i would have 1gig (512x2). I did this in store. The day i was there they just happen to be out of 512mb sticks, so for the same price they gave me a 1 gig stick additional to my 512 stick. hence 1.5gig.

madgunde · Apr 25th, 2006, 06:12 PM

No fuss VNJ85, Hokuto misunderstood my post and I misunderstood his, which I clarified already.