I get asked a lot of tech questions by readers, friends, acquaintances, business associates and social media connections, and a good number of them begin, “where is the best place to buy a (fill-in-the-blank)?”
Regardless of what they seek — a new or used Mac, a peripheral device, an iDevice, a performance upgrade, a protective case, or something else entirely — I almost always have an opinion on where to buy the best product of that type at the lowest price.
Let’s start with new Apple products. Since discounts on Apple products are rarer than hen’s dentures, I almost always start with Apple’s Certified Refurbished offerings. These are “like new” products, refurbished by Apple and backed by the same one-year warranty as new products. I can’t remember the last time we bought a new Apple product when a refurbished one was available. With savings up to 30 percent or more, and products that are indistinguishable from brand new, there’s just no reason to pay more.
The only drawback to refurbished Apple products is that inventory can change from hour to hour and the product you desire may not be available when you look. Never fear. Visit refurb-tracker.com, create an alert for the product you seek and you’ll receive notification the moment that item is back in stock.
Another place to find great deals on refurbished stuff is Other World Computing’s New & Used Macs store, which often has older Apple products you won’t find in Apple’s refurbished store and even lower prices. For example, refurbished iMacs from $299; iPads from $165; and MacBook Pros starting at $425.
Other World Computing also has a “garage sale” page where you’ll find new and used peripherals such as hard drives, keyboards, cables and more at rock-bottom prices.
My favorite store for cables, headphones, earphones, displays, batteries and other necessities is Monoprice.com. Most of the products are manufactured by Monoprice, priced aggressively, and offered in a variety of sizes. For example, Monoprice HDMI cables start at around $4, and are available in a wider variety of lengths, gauges, and colors than any other store I can think of. I’ve bought dozens of Monoprice products over the years and have yet to be disappointed.
For do-it-yourself Mac RAM, storage or other upgrades, I recommend Other World Computing or Ifixit without hesitation. Both offer high-quality upgrades for almost any component in your Mac that can be repaired, replaced or upgraded. And most upgrade kits include everything you’ll need such as comprehensive written instructions, installation videos and special tools (torx screwdrivers, spudgers, safety straps, etc.) required for the job.
Finally, I usually get iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch cases or tempered glass screen protectors from Amazon.com, which has a huge selection, of both at reasonable prices.
Resources:
Refurbished Apple Products:
Apple: https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished
Refurb-tracker: http://refurb-tracker.com
Other World Computing: https://eshop.macsales.com
Used Products:
· Other World Computing garage sale: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/garage_sale
Cables and Peripherals:
Monoprice: https://www.monoprice.com
Mac Upgrades:
Other World Computing: https://eshop.macsales.com (search for “upgrades”)
Ifixit: https://www.ifixit.com
Cases and Screen Protectors:
Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com
bob@workingsmarter
formacusers.com
2019-09-06 05:00:00Z
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/drmac/article/An-online-buying-guide-for-Mac-technology-14402217.php
CAIiECviGEpebAUCXP5-LOKVoJUqGQgEKhAIACoHCAow8-P4CjDSst8CMJCMxAU
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "An online buying guide for Mac technology - Houston Chronicle "
Post a Comment