There's been so many sales and price cuts lately that we almost missed this one - 10% off Apple computers this weekend, advertised by Dick Smith. The sale ends Sunday, and doesn’t include iPads or custom configurations.
The sale include this year's new MacBook Pros, as well as the just-announced, thinner, lighter MacBook Air range at the reduced price.
For convenience sake, here's the MacBook Pro pricing compared:
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MacBook Pro 13in 2.3GHz
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MacBook Pro 13in 2.7GHz
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MacBook Pro 15in 2.0GHz
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MacBook Pro 15in 2.2GHz
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Apple
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$1399
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$1698
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$2099
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$2499
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Dick Smith
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$1259
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$1528
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$1889
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$2249
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Some models on the Dick Smith site, including the MacBook Pro 15in 1.2GHz are listed as being on backorder.
Here's what the new MacBook Air costs at Dick Smith, compared with Apple:
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MacBook Air 11in 1.6GHz 64GB
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MacBook Air 11in 1.6GHz 128GB
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MacBook Air 13in 1.7GHz 128GB
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MacBook Air 13in 1.7GHz 256GB
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Apple
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$1099
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$1349
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$1449
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$1799
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Dick Smith
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$989.10
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$1214.10
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$1304.10
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$1619.10
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Of course, you might be able to get a similar discount at other times and places using your own haggling skills. Case in point: while the advertised MacBook prices at the JB Hi-Fi shop we visited today were almost identical to the Apple Store, a sales assistant told us they'd give us 10% off this weekend.
MacBook Air vs Pro: Which to choose?
So, which should you get? As
we explained here, there's no 15in Air, so that's an immediate way of whittling down your options. The new Air is lighter at 1.35Kg, vs 2.54Kg for the same size Pro. If you're going to be carrying your new laptop a lot, the Air has the edge.
The Pro has the edge in performance - you get Core i5 2.3Ghz or Core i7 2.7GHz in the 13in model. Compare that to the MacBook Air 13in, which has Core i5 1.7GHz.
The new MacBook Air has a backlit keyboard, so you can type when it's dark. Plus it has SSD, which will cost extra on the Pro.
In terms of price, the entry level 13in MacBook Pro is cheaper ($1399 at Apple) than the entry level 13in Macbook Air ($1449 at Apple). Step up to the faster 13in Pro and you pay $1698, compared with $1799 for the priciest 13in Air.
In summary, performance and screen size will help you make your decision, among other factors. If you want a 15in screen then you'll be paying more than $2,000 for the 15in MacBook Pro at the Apple Store. If you're happy with a 13in screen, decide whether you want the speed of the Pro, or the portability of the Air.
Meanwhile, here's a Core i5 Windows laptop for under $1,000
After browsing Apple laptops for any stretch of time, walking back into the area of a shop where they sell the Windows laptops can be a bit of a shock. There's plenty of options under the $1500 mark or even under $1,000 if you're after a current generation Core i5 laptop with a 15in screen.
Also read: Apple MacBook Pro: we review the Thunderbolt MacBook Pro
Also read: Thunderbolt - more than a funky name
