If you’re in the States, buy it from Amazon. Similar deals may exist elsewhere, but I’m not sure. Amazon often has rebates on Apple hardware, plus free tax + shipping. The cost savings are significant. And even more so if you take advantage of the Amazon.com Visa card. Here’s a quick cost breakdown on a new 2.33 GHz 15” Macbook Pro (tax amount based on the fact I’m in Chicago).

Buy from Apple

Base price: $2499 Tax: $156.19 Shipping: $0 (at the moment) Total: $2,655.19

Buy from Amazon

Base price: $2499 Rebate: -$150 Shipping: $0 Tax: $0 Amazon.com Visa sign up bonus: -$30 Amazon.com Visa points bonus: -$75 (gift certificate) Total: $2244

For a total savings of $411.19.

OK, you got me curious. I just checked Amazon, but they’re all standard configs. Here the scenario for my wishlist…

iMac 20-inch 2.16 Ghz, 2GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 256 MB Graphics card, Final Cut Express HD

Buy from Apple w/ Educational discount (via my wife)

$1,904.00 + $138.04 tax (chicago) = $2,042.04 The upgrades plus Final Cut ($99) were ~$505. Comparing apples to apples (ha ha), the base price was $1,500.43 (including tax). They had a “special” store for her university but I don’t know her password :( so the prices were from the standard Educ store.

Buy from Amazon (and Apple and Crucial)

$1,424.99 (base) + $225 RAM (via Crucial) + $230 HDD + $149 Final Cut via Educ. discount from Apple = $2,028.99 (graphics card upgrade not included)

I could keep the HDD and use it for something else, but I don’t get the graphics upgrade. Plus, I would miss the double points from Amazon—I already have an Amazon Visa. Considering they’re so close I’ll probably go through Apple, and it will save my time from ordering from 3 places.

If you’re going to buy through Apple, look into signing up for Apple Developer Connection – you get a hardware discount equal to the signup cost, making the ADC membership a freebie.

I would suggest people look at eCost.com, that’s where I bought mine.

For the MA610LL/A it is $2,344 without the need for any mail in rebates. And if you need Final Cut Express HD and buy it, you get an addition $200 off (rebate). There might also be a $10 off if you buy it through Google checkout.

Also if you have American Express, use that for your purchase as it gives you an additional year of warranty.

I bought my previous PowerBook through Amazon with the $150 rebate. Although the rebate was fairly hassle free it took a few months to get the rebate.