Okay, so maybe you're not in the market for a $399 MP3 player. Could it be because you've been saving up for a whole new Mac, instead? Well, if so, then have we got news for you: faithful viewer Mark Czynski points out that, just in time for the holidays, Apple has just trotted out a new pair of promotions geared to get you plunking down the cash for a dollop or two of desktop-y goodness. (Sorry, portable customers; the PowerBook and iBook were both recently juiced up with faster processors, more storage, extra features, and the like-- so no rebates for you. Cry us a river.)

Promo number one, in classical Apple "let's make sure we pick a cute name so people don't notice that we're obviously clearing inventory" fashion, is called "Snap It Up," and it grants purchasers of 600 MHz and 700 MHz iMacs a choice of a free HP Photosmart 318xi digital camera or $150 back by mail. Note that the promo page just says you need to "buy an iMac," and even the mail-in coupon isn't clear about what constitutes a "qualifying" unit-- but if you click through from the Apple Store, it's plainly stated that only the $1299 and $1499 models rate for free stuff. So if you had your heart set on Indigo because it would offset the drapes in the den so perfectly, you're plumb out of luck. May we suggest a Snow model and a can of Krylon?

For those of you in the market for a little more oomph, Apple's second new promotion is called "Crystal Clear Savings"; just buy a Power Mac G4 together with any Apple display and you'll qualify for up to $500 back by mail-- or up to $500 off at purchase time, if you're buying online via the Apple Store. Interestingly enough, the size of your rebate is not determined by which display you buy (you get the same rebate whether you opt for the $499 15-inch Studio Display or you splurge on the intensely droolworthy $2499 Cinema Display), but rather by which Power Mac you purchase. A basic 733 MHz model gets you $100 off, an 867 MHz unit is worth a $300 savings, and only the big mother dual-processor 800 MHz Power Mac qualifies for the $500 rebate.

Both of these offers are valid on purchases made from now until the end of the year-- which is pretty standard fare, seeing as Macworld Expo commences just days later, and generally brings with it all manner of shiny new Macs. Last year at around this time, we had rebate offers on both Power Macs and PowerBooks-- and January brought us the PowerBook G4 and the first Power Mac G4s running at above 500 MHz. So, by extension, it's not an unreasonable thing to assume that we're not going to see any new iMacs until next year. Yes, it's a bummer, but hey, at least the uncertainty's gone, right? In the meantime, take advantage of these promos and never mind about what might be available in January; you can always just buy more later, right, Rockefeller?