The first kid is going off to college! I know squat about about Macs and would appreciate some help. She's decided on an 13" Aluminum MacBook. She got these prices at an Apple Store in a mall: MacBook: $1499 iWorks $49 MobileMe $69 AppleCare $183 (must buy within 1 year) Good prices? Should we be shopping elsewhere? She concerned that if she goes elsewhere she won't get the support she needs if something goes wrong. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Buy one through the Book Store at your kid's college or store.apple.com or check this chart out: http://www.appleinsider.com/mac_pri... That last site is a matrix of the best prices (on the net) for nw Macs.You'll get a decent discount on a new Mac from the school but check out the matrix, it's sometimes cheaper to buy through one of the vendors there than through the school. MobileMe you can pass on unless the school requires it for freshmen..you save 70 there. iWork for 50 is decent, she'll need that for the cornball papers and assignment you must do as a freshmen lol. Applecare, you you can buy when the standard warranty runs out...in college Applecare saved the day for me, it's tech support and parts/labor taken care off. I had a logic board die in my 1st Mac Mini, they found a local tech for me, sent out a board to that tech and then tech fixed it and I had my Mac back the very next day. 2 days without a Mac is a long 2 days. I hope this helped. Good luck to you and your daughter :)