| DealZone | Prices
| Specs | Discuss
 Last
update 10-11-01. Replaced by "October
2001" iBook Guide.
Click
here for the current iBook Buyer's Guide
If you want to take advantage of Apple's "Cool
Stuff" promotion, now is the time to do it. The promotion
officially draws to a close on October 14th.
MacConnection has joined the other merchants offering free
carrying cases for the iBook. As of this writing, MacConnection
didn't have any details about the case on their site aside
from listing it as a bundle option. MacWarehouse, on the other
hand, mentions specifically that they are giving away a Kensington
carrying case. Unfortunately, it is only available with the
top two models, not the CD-ROM iBook.
MacZone has added the Benwin 3-piece speaker set as a new
bundle option with the iBook. It was previously available
with the Power Mac, iMac and PowerBook, but not iBook.
Best iBook Deal Picks This Week: As always check
your state's tax status at these merchants, so that you don't
get a nasty shock at checkout time.
Combo Drive - MacZone
or clubmac :
MacZone has an enticing mix with 256MB extra RAM, free speakers
and an additional $50 rebate on several "cool stuff"
promotion items. ClubMac's $56 instant rebate is tempting
and would more than pay for a 256 MB module. If you install
it yourself, you really come out ahead...
CD-RW Drive - Available through the Apple Store Only.
DVD Drive MacZone
or MacConnection
- MacZone if you are going to get one or more of the Apple
Promotional items. MacConnection offers free RAM installation
($30 savings) and a free carrying case as well.
CD-ROM Drive MacZone
- Thefree 256MB RAM, free Benwin speakers, and additional
$50 on several of Apple's promotional items make for a sweet
package.
On July 18th, Apple announced a new promotion
that applies to their entire computer product line. The "cool
stuff" promotion , only available from authorized
resellers, is twofold. The first is a $69 "instant rebate"
applied to the purchase of a lexmark Z32
Jetprinter (Apple store only), Z22,
Z23
or Z53
Printers. The Z32 lists for $69, so the printer is essentially
free. Apple is also offering $100 rebates on the following
items.
The "cool
stuff" promotion ends October 14th
*Lowest prices listed above are the best prices we could
find using our PriceZone feature and are not necessarily from an Apple
Authorized reseller. Only authorized resellers are eligible
for the "cool stuff" promotion. Be sure to check
before buying!
Reader Reports
No new reports this week - Mail
your iBook sightings and deals or post a note on our discussion
board below.
Note: We receive a small commission
on computers purchased using the links below. Though this
adds no cost to your purchase price it does help us defray
the cost of running MacReviewZone and MacSpeedZone. Your
support is appreciated!
Price Comparison Information
| Vendor |
Price |
Do I Pay Tax? |
Ground Shipping |
Deals |
In Stock? |
| iBook
G3 500/500/256K CD-RW/DVD-ROM (May, 2001) |
| Apple
Store |
$1,799.00 |
Yes |
Free |
cool stuff promotion |
Yes |
| clubmac |
$1,795.00 |
CA |
$15.95 |
256MB RAM $30 install fee applies or $56"instant
rebate"
And cool stuff promotion
|
Yes |
MacConnection
|
$1,799.00 |
OH, MA, TN |
$14.40 |
256 MB extra RAM (free installation) and free carrying
case.
And cool stuff promotion
|
Yes |
MacMall |
$1,794.00 |
CA
TN
WI |
$17.92 |
Kensington carrying case and 256 MB RAM. $30 install
fee applies.
And cool stuff promotion
|
Yes |
MacWarehouse |
$1,794.00 |
NJ, CT, OH, IL, TN |
$15.15 |
256 MB RAM ($30 install fee applies) and free Kensington
carrying case.
And cool stuff promotion
|
Yes |
MacZone
|
$1,794.98 |
WA, NV, OH, TN |
$11.80 |
256MB RAM ($30 install fee) and free Benwin EX4-A3
pc Speakers.
Plus an extra MacZone $50 rebate ($150 Total)
on the following items from the Apple promotion: Visor
Edge, 315 Digital Camera, ZR20 Camcorder and ZR25MC
Camcorder
And cool stuff promotion
|
Yes |
Outpost  |
$1,795.00 |
CT, OH |
Free |
1.) 128MB RAM, not installed.
2.) Lexmark Z23 printer, leather flight bag,
Airport Card and free 256MB module for $2,024 ($229
extra). The Z23 printer is part of Apple's cool stuff
promotion and qualifies for an $80 mail-in rebate.
And cool stuff promotion
|
1-2 days |
| iBook
G3 500/500/256K CD-RW (May, 2001) |
| Apple
Store |
$1,599.00 |
Yes |
Free |
cool stuff promotion |
7 day wait |
| MacConnection |
- |
OH, MA, TN |
$14.40 |
With Canon ZR30MC for $2,499 ($900 over iBook MSRP.
Available for $639 elsewhere). Not available without
bundle.
And cool stuff promotion
|
Yes |
| iBook
G3 500/500/256K DVD-ROM (May, 2001) |
| Apple
Store |
$1,499.00 |
Yes |
Free |
cool stuff promotion |
Yes |
| clubmac |
$1,495.00 |
CA |
$14.95 |
256MB RAM for $30 install fee or $45 "instant
rebate"
And cool stuff promotion
|
No |
JandR Computer |
$1,494.00 |
NY |
$8.25 |
cool stuff promotion |
Yes |
|
MacConnection
|
$1,499.00 |
OH, MA, TN |
$14.40 |
1.) 256 MB extra RAM (free installation) and
carrying case.
2.) Canon ZR25 MC MiniDV Camcorder for $2,149
($650 additional. Available for $557 elsewhere)
And cool stuff promotion
|
Yes - 1
No - 2 |
| MacMall |
$1,494.00 |
CA
TN
WI |
$17.92 |
Kensington carrying case and 256 MB RAM $30 install
fee applies.
And cool stuff promotion
|
Yes |
|
MacWarehouse |
$1,494.00 |
NJ, CT, OH, IL, TN |
$15.15 |
256 MB RAM ($30 install fee applies) and Kensington
carrying case.
And cool stuff promotion
|
Yes |
|
MacZone
|
$1,494.98 |
WA, NV, OH, TN |
$11.80 |
256MB RAM ($30 install fee) and free Benwin EX4-A3
pc Speakers.
Plus an extra MacZone $50 rebate ($150 Total)
on the following items from the Apple promotion: Visor
Edge, 315 Digital Camera, ZR20 Camcorder and ZR25MC
Camcorder
And cool stuff promotion
|
Yes |
| Outpost |
$1,495.00 |
CT, OH |
Free |
Free 128 MB of RAM,
not installed.
And cool stuff promotion |
Yes |
| iBook
G3 500/500/256K CD-ROM (May, 2001) |
| Apple
Store |
$1,299.00 |
Yes |
Free |
cool stuff promotion |
3 day wait. |
| clubmac |
$1,295.00 |
CA |
$13.95 |
256MB RAM for $30 install fee or $15 "instant
rebate"
And cool stuff promotion
|
No |
| JandR Computer |
$1,294.00 |
NY |
$7.88 |
cool stuff promotion |
Yes |
|
MacConnection
|
$1,299.00 |
OH, MA, TN |
$14.40 |
1.) 128MB RAM. (free installation)
2.) Canon ZR20 MiniDV Camcorder for $1,899
total ($600 additional). Available for $495 elsewhere)
And cool stuff promotion
|
Yes - 1
No - 2 |
| MacMall |
$1,294.00 |
CA
TN
WI |
$17.92 |
128MB RAM $30 install fee applies.
And cool stuff promotion
|
Yes - low stock |
| MacWarehouse |
$1,294.00 |
NJ, CT, OH, IL, TN |
$15.15 |
128MB RAM. $30 install fee applies.
And cool stuff promotion
|
Yes |
|
MacZone
|
$1,294.98 |
WA, NV, OH, TN |
$11.80 |
256MB RAM ($30 install fee) and free Benwin EX4-A3
pc Speakers.
Plus an extra MacZone $50 rebate ($150 Total)
on the following items from the Apple promotion: Visor
Edge, 315 Digital Camera, ZR20 Camcorder and ZR25MC
Camcorder
And cool stuff promotion
|
Yes |
| Outpost |
$1,295.00 |
CT, OH |
Free |
128MB RAM, not installed
And cool stuff promotion
|
1-2 days. |
** Shipping charges to California and does not include
cost of shipping bundles, your mileage may vary... For the
outpost, the free shipping option is only good on orders
that are under 100 pounds in weight. If you are buying more
than two machines, order the first two machines, wait for
them to arrive, and then order the next batch (if you are
only ordering iBooks you can order quite a few before you
go over the 100 pound limit!)
Meet The New (May 2001) iBook!
 In
the weeks leading up to Apple's May 1st press conference,
we noted that the supply of iBooks (vintage September 2000)
was drying up. The final straw was the Apple store listing
all iBooks as "temporarily unavailable." As many
predicted, Apple finally took the wraps off a brand new iBook
at the May 1st press conference. As you can see from the photo
on the left, we are not talking a few minor tweaks to the
existing models, the new iBook sports an all new, slimmed
down form factor. It measures 11.2" x 9.1" x 1.35"
down from the previous 'Book's 13.5" x 11.6" x 1.8."
The new iBooks have also shed some serious weight, 4.6 lbs.,
down from 6.7.
The new iBooks borrow from the design of the Titanium G4
PowerBooks but sport, in the words of Jonathan Ive, a "friendlier"
design. They are also, according to Apple, more rugged than
their predecessors, thanks to the impact resistant polycarbonate,
over a magnesium frame. Fruity colors are gone, replaced by
a ghostly white.
There are four configurations available, with the high end
model only available through the Apple store. All 4 have 500
MHz processors with a 256K level 2 cache running at full processor
speed. In fact, if you look over the specs below,
you will quickly discover that the only thing that sets the
four iBooks apart, is the amount of RAM and the type of optical
drive. The drive options are, from low-end to high: CD-ROM,
CD-RW, DVD-ROM and a new combination CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive,
not to be confused with the "super drive" in Apple's
high end G4 tower. For in-depth coverage of the new iBooks,
complete with a side by side comparison with the previous
generation, head over to MacSpeedZone's new iBook
information page.
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