Nothing funny about feldspar

If I Custom Order a 24″ iMac by starting with the 2.4GHz model, I can save a couple of hundred bucks and still get a 2.8GHz chip with 4GB ram.

Here’s how:

• Option 1 — Custom build with 3rd party RAM
  • Go to the 24-inch: 2.4GHz ordering page. Cost: $1,799.
  • Choose to upgrade the processor to 2.8GHz. Total so far: $2,049.
  • To make it comparable, get the 500GB hard drive. Total so far: $2,149.
  • Pay the tax (in my case, 6%) and have it shipped to your house (free). Total so far: $2,278.
  • Order a matched pair of 2GB RAM sticks from Otherworld Computing (been using them for years) @ $230 for the set. Add $9 for shipping if you’re in a hurry (otherwise, $4). Total so far: $2,517.
  • Fill out the rebate form, and send back the 1GB stick that came with the iMac. Assuming it works, you’ll get a check back for $25.
  • Total for your 24-inch, 2.8GHz iMac with 4GB RAM and 500GB drive: $2,492.
• Option 2 — Stock build with 3rd party RAM
  • Go to the 24-inch: 2.8GHz ordering page. Cost: $2,299.
  • Pay the tax and have it shipped to your house. Total so far: $2,437.
  • Order a matched pair of 2GB RAM sticks @ $230 for the set. Add $9 for shipping. Total so far: $2,676.
  • Send back the two 1GB sticks that came with the iMac. Get back for $50.
  • Total for your 24-inch, 2.8GHz iMac with 4GB RAM and 500GB drive: $2,626.
• Option 3 — let Apple sell you and install the 4GB of memory:
  • Go to the 24-inch: 2.8GHz ordering page. Cost: $2,299.
  • Choose the 4GB RAM option. Total so far: $2,999.
  • Pay the tax and have it shipped to your house.
  • Total for your 24-inch, 2.8GHz iMac with 4GB RAM and 500GB drive: $3,179.

Here’s a little math:

So you can save anywhere from 130 to nearly 700 bucks, even if you don’t send back the ram for a rebate. (You can save another $106 by not getting the bigger drive, but with TimeMachine coming, that’s risky.) By ordering the unit with only 1GB RAM, you’ll be at most of the way to buying AppleCare (or Leopard). Of course, you have to wait for all the RAMmy goodness to arrive in the mail, but if you order them at the same time…

By the way, you can save even more if you can wing an edu discount. Education prices:

• Option 1: $2,349 (a savings of $143 from “consumer” option 1)
• Option 2: $2,467 (a savings of $159 from option 2)
• Option 3: $2,946 (a savings of $233 from option 3)

Of course, this doesn’t actually get me any closer to an Intel-based Mac (which I want, because I really want to declutter my office and get rid of a cheapo-PC and the two old Macs that are stealing desk space), but it is an interesting exercise in remembering why one doesn’t just run to the Apple Store to come home with a shiny new toy.

(P. S. I did the calculations using Apple Numbers. I don’t have a lot of experience with it, but I would say that it isn’t for power spreadsheeters. Just sayin’)