Buying an iBook...

[Justin Wallace]

Hey, guys...

I'm planning on buying an iBook as soon as they start shipping with Tiger preloaded. However, I have a few opinions I want to get from you nice people.

First off, I'm ordering my iBook from MacMall, so I can get the free 512MB stick of extra RAM that they're offering through rebates. Since I am ordering it from there, I can't exactly customize my purchase like you normally can from Apple directly. So, do you think I should get internal bluetooth (since you can't add it later) and buy the Mac from Apple directly?

Second, for 12'' iBook owners here, are you satisfied with the default hard drive capacity of the iBook (30GB)?

This will be my first "real" Mac, by the way... I say "real" because this will be the first one that runs Mac OS X. :)

Thanks,

Justin

[Morphie]

Keep in mind the macmall ibooks might not ship with Tiger for a bit, I never know how that works, as they have the ones they bought from Apple already in stock, and sitting there with panther installed. That might be an issue for you. Make sure it has Tiger if you buy it from them. The 512 ram is a MUST for OS X (and windows for that matter ^_^) As far as bluetooth goes, only get it if you are going to use it. Works for cellphones, wireless mice and keyboards and other low bandwidth goodies. If you never foresee yourself using it, don't waste the money. It's amazing if you use it, otherwise there is not much point.

So those things in mind, buy from the cheapest place you can that has what you want, but if it isn't Apple, make sure they are going to give you Tiger because oh my is it amazing.

[Justin Wallace]

Well, the reason I kind of wanted to get internal bluetooth now is that I know you can't add it later... I may have bluetooth devices that I want to use later, and will probably be mad at myself for not getting it. ;)

But, I guess I could always add a USB or Firewire adapter...

[Martog]

If you think you may use it, get it now. I don't think I would want to have a dongle sticking out if it can be helped. Plus, you really only have one choice if you want a Apple support USB dongle (no FW dongles that I am aware of). I use my PowerBook at home on a stand, and I have a BT keyboard and mouse I use when I am not mobile with it.

[Justin Wallace]

If you think you may use it, get it now. I don't think I would want to have a dongle sticking out if it can be helped. Plus, you really only have one choice if you want a Apple support USB dongle (no FW dongles that I am aware of). I use my PowerBook at home on a stand, and I have a BT keyboard and mouse I use when I am not mobile with it.

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I just called MacMall, and apparently they charge extra for "customizations" such as internal BT... Oh well. I'll probably end up getting the external BT dongle/adapter later. For now, I have a wired USB mouse that I can use when at a desk.

At this point, I think I'll stick with MacMall because I really want that extra RAM. That's not just 512MB, by the way - it's 512MB in addition to the 256MB that normally comes with it. :)