I've been saving for a while and am a month away from laying down the $$$ on a Mac Pro. It'll be standard spec except I want 4GB of RAM put into it.

So here are my questions...

1. Have you bought a new Mac Pro from a reseller in Melbourne? And what was your buying experience like?

2. Did you get extra RAM installed by the store? Do they charge for installation? And is this something they can do while I wait?

I guess once I get answers to Q1 I can make a phone call to get answers to Q2 but I thought I'd ask anyway...

I got a Mac Pro a while ago from Computer Now in Malvern. Like all resellers, the service can be dodgy at times but I had no problems dealing with Comp Now regarding the mac pro purchase. I have also purchased macs from Streetwise & MyMac (city) and had no probs.

& yes they installed the extra ram for me at no charge. But it's not that hard to do it yourself anyway.

Well I've answered my own questions. I took a trip down to the Big Smoke today and dropped in to Computer Now in Malvern. I was intending just to window shop and ask a couple of questions but things went a little further than that!

I ended up placing my order with them, kudos to salesman Adam C. for great service. I got a really good deal and I go back next weekend to collect the beast. Due to the savings I can now afford that Eizo monitor as well.

Sweet deal, good service. But it's gonna be a long week...

Well I picked up the Mac Pro last weekend. Got it home, fired it up and I was very impressed...until I opened Safari. Browser couldn't connect to Internet. But my Windoze PC connects fine...

Oh, and Computer Now screwed up the RAM installation and I only got 3GB instead of the 4GB I ordered. Am still scratching my head about how they messed that up...

So I call my ISP (Internode - GREAT service!) but there were no probs with my connection or DSL modem. Called Apple Support (had a very good experience with them) and after 45 mins of troubleshooting it is established I have dead ethernet ports.

Apple said it was DOA and gave me a choice of repair or replacement. It took me 1 sec to say replacement. So the MP went back into its box and has been sitting in my hallway all week until I go down to Melbourne again next weekend.

Computer Now in Malvern are going to have a replacement Pro ready for me. With 4GB of RAM this time. It's been a disappointing first week of ownership but hopefully by Sunday I'll be smiling again.

Better luck next time

Unfortunately, I'm hearing this style of story more often then I'd like to.

For me, it's the saddest time for Apple and their "quality" products. All they have now is OS X in my book.

pipsqeek

Damn. I wish I'd have seen this thread a week ago. New Mac Pros are REALLY close. If you can ask to have the replacement delayed, then... actually, that probably won't work.

I'd almost ask for a refund. New Mac Pros are probably going to happen at NAB on April 14. That doesn't make your current Mac Pro any worse, but (like always) I suspect you would have got a better mac for the same money if you'd have waited.

Always always always consult the Macrumors buyers guide before buying any Apple product!
http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

Product: Mac Pro
Recommendation: Don't Buy - Updates soon
Last Release: August 07, 2006
Days Since Update: 233 (Avg = 206)

And as for Ram, I'd get it here and install it yourself. It's very easy (the Mac Pros are built to be pulled apart and user serviced).

Yeah, I knew new Mac Pro's are on the way. But the current spec is more than good enough for my needs and I was apprehensive about a price rise on the new model.

And I got a good deal on the 4GB of RAM. It's not Apple memory but I was assured it was just as good and I saved over $600 on it.


I was expecting better reliability from the Mac Pro since it's near the end of model life and being a higher-end machine (and more expensive) one would think it's more carefully put together.

I've asked the shop to test-run the replacement so I'm optimistic it will be 100%. I couldn't handle another 10 hour return drive two weeks in a row...