Kibbles & Bytes Blog

When I started as an employee of Small Dog Electronics over a decade ago I didn’t know anything about Mac. I’d used the Apple IIe in Elementary school, but all I remember is the poor graphics on my favorite game Oregon Trail; Sally seemed to always break her leg and never made it to the end of the trail. In College, I’d seen a few students using colorful Apple laptops, but the operating system looked so foreign to me I couldn’t figure out how anyone used them. Thankfully my first position with Small Dog was shipping and receiving. Really all I needed to know what how to accurately match up part numbers on an invoice with part numbers on a box. My first office workstation was an Indigo Blue G3 iMac. Having to use Macs every day at work I quickly adjusted and started to more easily navigate around on a Mac. I still can’t believe we had a Mac that was old enough to run Mac OS 8, which we used to process US Mail shipments.

Before I start to date myself and my time at Small Dog any further, where is this article going? It was in my early days at Small Dog and my time in shipping lane that I slowly began my baby steps into the Apple Ecosystem and it all began with a used laptop.

One evening at a Small Dog company party I as the lucky winner of a used G4 iBook. I think the hard drive was all of 30GB and had minimal memory. That little machine was the start of it all. I pushed aside my Dell PC at home and I never looked at a PC again. My little used iBook did everything that I needed it to do but it didn’t take long to have my eye on a silver shiny PowerBook. The only catch, I didn’t have the funds for my new dream computer. Eventually, we found some deals on refurbished Powerbooks and I traded up in the laptop world. I loved that little 12in Powerbook. It went everywhere with me, even on a cross-country trip and never missed a beat. I was so impressed with the performance of my refurbished PowerBook that when an opportunity came along and a great deal on a refurbished 17in iMac I jumped on that . After all, two computers were better than one! I admit, I didn’t even have a real need for it other than I didn’t want to share my PowerBook when I was at home.

It took about 2-3 years to become a full-time member of the Apple Ecosystem as bit by bit I added more accessories. It was so easy to sync an iPod and set up a new Airport that I could not imagine using another product line. I was a real computer novice at this time so to be able to set these devices up with minimal help was a real treat. I’d keep my eyes out for deals and when I upgraded computers migration assistant made it seamless. In the following years iPhones and iPads synced up with minimal effort, the list goes on. Now over a decade later I have just about every Apple gadget and my household is filled with Apple products everywhere you look.

My eye for great deals hasn’t stopped either. We recently purchased a number of Apple products from Watches to iPad to computers that are less than perfect boxes or have some minor damage but are still in excellent condition. I have my eye on a TouchBar MacBook Pro at the moment; it’s got some cosmetic damage but I can see past a blemish or two for a great deal! Not to worry though, we have many computers that only have some blemishes on the boxes. Don and I actually spent an afternoon last week opening up computers with damage to their outer brown boxes to find nothing more than a minor dent in the white Apple boxes.

Here are some of my favorite deals on some bad box computers and iPads that would make for a perfect addition to your Apple Ecosystem, or if you know other young Emilys out there who have not made the switch you should share these deals with that friend!

iPad Air 2, 32gb Wifi Gold – Opened box but new condition, was $399.99 now $349.99 Just one left!

MacBook Pro 13in w/Touch Bar 3.1GHz i5 DC 8GB/256GB – Dented Box was $1799.99 now $1699.99

MacBook Pro 15in w/Touch Bar 2.8GHz i7 QC 16GB/256GB/2GB – Dented Box, was $2399.99 now $2299.99

MacBook Pro 13in 2.3GHz i5 Dual Core 8GB/256GB – Space Gray – Dented Carton, Was $1499.99 now $1349.99

Science fiction becomes science reality with the Apple Watch Series 3 with LTE cellular capability. This is the watch that I have been waiting for and mine is coming this week! The Apple Series 3 Watch has a lot of new features including the S3 processor that is 70% faster, an altimeter, a W2 chip for better Wi-Fi and of course, the new cellular capability.

What does cellular capability mean? It means that your Apple Watch (while still tied to your iPhone in terms of its Apps and phone number) does not need the iPhone to function! So, you can leave the iPhone at home and people can still call you and you can answer them using the Watch’s microphone or your AirPods, Beats X or other Bluetooth headphones.

Not only that but settling arguments will be easier since you will have Siri at your side (on your wrist) at all times ready to look up that sports score or trivia factoid. You might not be able to store too many songs on your Apple Watch, but with LTE capability you’ll still have access to your Apple Music subscription. You’ll have an endless supply of tunes to listen to while you work out, run or just lay around!

What do you need? All Apple Watches need an iPhone but to use an Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular you will need an iPhone 6 or later with iOS 11 or later. Of course, you will also need a wireless carrier plan. The good news is that your Apple Watch will share the same phone number as your iPhone. That is essential because no one wants to remember or tell all their friends about a 2nd number to reach them on their watch.

The watch takes advantage of Wi-Fi calling when you have a Wi-Fi signal which helps in connectivity as well as preserving your data plan. Speaking of data plans, you will have to contact your cellular carrier to add the Apple Watch Series 3 to your plan. I have AT&T and it is a simple phone call to add the plan. I will get 3 months for free and then it adds $10 a month. Your carrier may have other plans.

You need a SIM card to use any cellular service, but you are in luck, the Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular has an eSIM in it, so there is no need to get a SIM card or transfer your SIM. Activation happens over the air. It is easy to get started. When you pair your new Apple Watch with your iPhone you will be prompted and guided through the set-up. If you aren’t quite ready for cellular you can skip the cellular set-up and go back to it at any time.

You can use your Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular for voice or data over LTE and UMTS wherever your cellular provider has service. Unfortunately, if you travel internationally, roaming outside your provider’s network is not allowed, even if your iPhone is capable of roaming. But if you are in Wi-Fi range it will work on the Wi-Fi network out of the country to make calls using Wi-Fi calling.

Getting ready for your Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular. If you are like me and ordered one soon after the announcement you may be getting it soon. Now is the time to check with your cellular carrier to discover what their plans are for the Apple Watch. I can’t wait to get mine and I will report on my Dick Tracy watch very soon!