I know you can go to the website and order a Mac on the Education discount. Has anyone bought a Mac from the Apple Store like Somerset and get the education discount?

Yes, they just ask you for the name of the school.

How much is the educational discount?

Calvin,
I just realized that you specifically asked about a MAC...not products in general. I know you get the discount as I stated on software...I really don't know for sure if it works on the actual computers. Sorry...next time I'll be sure to be awake before I answer a question.
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Every Apple retail store offers the Educational discount on computers and Apple branded accesories to those in Higher Ed (College/University students) or employees of recognized schools. The EDU prices online are the same in the stores. This includes AppleCare too! However, the only thing the stores cannot EDU discount is Apple Software.

Proof of eligibility is an acceptance letter or current student ID and a drivers license/state ID. Employees need a current paystub or proof of employment.

I bought a new MacBook and also AppleCare in June using the educational discount. I needed proof to get the discount - just as Dave said. The amount obviously depends on what you are buying.

I investigated pricing on a 17" MacBook Pro and there was a savings of 10%.

As a retired educator, I have been able to order online from Apple at the education discount (OS upgrades, etc.) However, because I am retired, I wouldn't have the necessary ID for a store purchase.

While talking to an Apple rep about something else over the phone, I asked about the validity of the educational discount for a retired person. He insisted that it is still valid.

Have never tried to use it in the Apple store, but have made the "big" purchases (computers) through catalog companies because the deals were better anyway. (free Ram, etc.)

Quote from Dave: "However, the only thing the stores cannot EDU discount is Apple Software."

Online educator purchases offer significant discounts for the OS & iWork (?maybe some others?)

FWIW, I purchased the educator version of Filemaker Pro 8.5, and it generally fills my basic needs. (MUCH cheaper from the Apple site) But I'm not really satisfied that it is full-featured. (Just a hunch, based on some user interface elements. Maybe I'm mistaken.)

quote:

FWIW, I purchased the educator version of Filemaker Pro 8.5, and it generally fills my basic needs. (MUCH cheaper from the Apple site) But I'm not really satisfied that it is full-featured. (Just a hunch, based on some user interface elements. Maybe I'm mistaken.)

Generally, the education versions are exactly the same as the real thing, but with a different license. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose of learning from them. What's missing in your version?

Thanks for the feedback. -

Many versions of educational software are not upgradeable. You might save 50% to 80% on the initial purchase, but that might not be the best long term strategy. Most software vendors want you to buy the full product, so they structure upgrade prices and educational discounts accordingly.

The discount on Apple software varies. I seem to remember paying around $72 for Tiger, $43 for iLife'06, and $49 for iwork'06.

But:

The Academic price on both iLife'08 & iWork'08 is $71 -- only $8 cheaper than retail.

But

If you download the trial version of iWork'08, when you launch it you'll be given the option to upgrade at the academic price of $49!

Nowhere on the Apple Store for Education are you told this.

If you, like me, ordered iWork'08 without downloading the 470 mb trial version (why download a "trial" if you know you're ordering it?), you're screwed.

Is the reason you can "upgrade" to iWork 08 for $49 because you aren't buying the disk and packaging or do you get a disk in the mail?

Just asking...

For only $22 more, you'll get the software "boxed" with a pretty disk and 3 thin "Getting Started" guides. Oh, and let's not forget the valuable "Apple Software Coupons" (which are as much use as losing MacGroup door-prize tickets )

Nothing on the Apple Store for Education informs you you can save 31% by downloading. This is my biggest complaint -- that the "download option" is a secret!

This rip-off is surprising, as iWork'06 was $49 *boxed", and iLife'06 $43 (iLife'08 is $71 too)

quote:

Originally posted by Jack Beckman:

quote:

FWIW, I purchased the educator version of Filemaker Pro 8.5, and it generally fills my basic needs. (MUCH cheaper from the Apple site) But I'm not really satisfied that it is full-featured. (Just a hunch, based on some user interface elements. Maybe I'm mistaken.)

Generally, the education versions are exactly the same as the real thing, but with a different license. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose of learning from them. What's missing in your version?

Jack - I'm not expert enough to know what's missing deep in the heart of the app - maybe nothing. In my case, I would like a template for a VERY basic way to track an inventory count, but the educator version doesn't have one. (It has an "inventory" template, but it only is designed to document items, but not a count that accommodates sales and adjusted numbers.)

Actually I have used Account Edge (formerly MYOB) since 1994 for my principle sales business, and it is very full featured, including inventory tracking. However, was hoping to set up a very basic db for a different activity.

Actually, I am generally very happy with FM Pro, and hope to learn it more thoroughly as time goes on. Perhaps I shouldn't have even mentioned it. Have set up a few other databases from it that are working fine - but not complicated.

[Maybe I'll have to break down and learn spreadsheets! Sigh!]

quote:

In my case, I would like a template for a VERY basic way to track an inventory count, but the educator version doesn't have one. (It has an "inventory" template, but it only is designed to document items, but not a count that accommodates sales and adjusted numbers.)

Well, that's all my "Advanced" version has too, so I don't think you're "out" anything.

Thanks Jack.
By the way, just rec'd an email from AWUG announcing that the new version of iWork - '08 now has a spreadsheet application "Numbers."

Maybe Apple has come up with a way to make them more accessible for us average users.

I'm comfortable with simple tables, but when I open the spreadsheet in AppleWorks and see those hundreds of cells, I panic. Also never located a good book or in-depth tutorial on spreadsheets for beginners. They tend to describe the interface and how to use it, but nothing much else. Personally, learn best with sample documents type tutorials.

A digression, but it seems to me that there's some relationship between databases & spreadsheets.

The unpublicized $49 educational price to upgrade the iWork'08 trial version to a licensed copy was an error on Apple's part. Clicking the "buy" button now quotes the same $71 charge as the Apple Store.

Rather than upgrade the trial version online, you're better off going to the Apple Store for Education and buying it. Same price and free shipping. That way you'll get the pretty box, CD, printed "getting started" booklet, and the valuable "Apple Software Coupons".

For Mary Jo: AWUG has a publication of their own on how to use spreadsheets which is quite good. It has sample exercises too. I think it might hav e even come with a CD of exercises, but I'm not sure. I used to use it as a recommended source for my students when I taught courses on the various component modules of Appleworks at Washtenaw Community College. Even though it was published for Appleworks, I am sure the principles would serve you well with the new version.