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A reminder that you can purchase a computer from anywhere, provided it meets the minimum specifications.
Does the College have any recommendations of which device to purchase?
Generally speaking, the best device is going to be the one your daughter is most comfortable using.
The most popular device used by students at the College is a MacBook, typically a MacBook Air.
The MacBook Air is highly represented within the student body and is an excellent device. The entry level MacBook Air is exceptionally good value and offers excellent performance and battery efficiency.
Where is the best place to purchase from?
You can purchase a laptop from anywhere you like. As a starting point a reputable bricks and mortar store are preferred as it gives you a tangible point of contact should you need to follow up for service or warranty.
This includes stores like JB-HiFi, OfficeWorks, Harvey Norman, etc.
When purchasing your laptop, just be sure that it adheres to the minimum standard required by the College, and that there is a repair/accidental damage cover available.
If purchasing an Apple MacBook you also have the option of buying directly from Apple Education, which affords a 10% discount on purchases for students. See below for more details.
That said, other stores will often have sales on which may offer cheaper deals on some hardware, especially where new models are released and the previous model is on clearance.
Apple Education
The Apple Education store is an online shop providing discounts on certain Apple hardware. It is available to teachers and students.
The discount is approx 10% off RRP.
From the Apple Education Store you can purchase an Apple MacBook from Apple along with any accessories you like.
A base model Apple MacBook Air is great machine as it will breeze through all everyday tasks without skipping a beat and can also step up to run various creative software.
AppleCare+ is an insurance policy that Apple sell which covers accidental damage. However due to recent changes in Australian insurance law, you are no longer able to purchase it at the same time as your MacBook.
When you purchase the MacBook you get a 'complimentary' 7 day AppleCare+ trial. After that 7 days expires you can purchase the AppleCare+ program.
It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you purchase the AppleCare+ program to ensure you have a strategy in place for any unforeseen issues.
Recommended Device
Base model MacBook Air (M4 /16GB RAM / 256GB SSD)
An M4 MacBook Air costs approx $1,550 from Apple Education. You can also get clearance M2 MacBook Air for approx $1,387 from other vendors such as JB Hi-Fi.
https://www.apple.com/au-edu/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air
Accidental Damage Cover
AppleCare+ is available 7 days after the initial purchase
https://www.apple.com/au/support/products/mac/
Remember that you can also source your own insurance policy / strategy from anywhere you choose or even add the device to your home and contents insurance.
For more information see next section about Repair Strategy.
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