Buying macbookpro refurb from Apple store - advice ?

trout

I've been running two machines at home ... a diy build wintel box primarily for college coding assignments and PC games, and a succession of macs ranging from ibook, then mac mini and currently a G4 powerbook.

I use the mac for documentation, music and anything online such as lurking on boards.ie, online banking, etc. etc. Due to malware/spyware/AV paranoia i almost never go online from the PC

Reason I'm posting is ... both mac & PC are showing their age, and I'm looking at the macbook pro as satisfying both sets of requirements (PC games and secure/stable browsing). Question : Am I being naive ?

Only problem is the price of the MBP... seems a little steep to me.
Looking at the Apple store there seems to be half decent savings in the Refurb. section.

Has anyone here bought Refurb. kit from the Apple store ? Any thoughts/advice ? Should I look elsewhere ?

As an example ...
Refurb MacBook Pro 15.4" Core Duo 2.16GHz /1GB /100GB /SuperDrive /AirPort /Bluetooth - Apple Certified

Original price: Eur 2,519.00
Refurb price: Eur 1,698.69

linkeh http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/irlstore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=E677EA3F&nclm=Certified

davehey79

im in a similar situation to OP, was just wondering if it comes with all the same items the full price version comes with i.e. software, remote, DVI to VGA adapter, install/restore DVDs & printed and electronic documentation. would these be near new condition?

stooge

I don't know why I'm telling you this, as I am thinking about buying a refurb MBP also...anyway here goes....

The model you give in your post is an older model i.e Core Duo 100GB HD

The new MBP is C2D i.e. Core 2 Duo 120GB. It's the first MBP listed in the refurb link you gave. It's the same price as the one you mentioned but it will have better performance so don't be fooled by the 33% saving compared to 15% saving.

Aside from this, I have recently heard from someone who bought a 20' iMac 250GB from the refurb store - it arrived in perfect condition, no scratches, fully packaged and including all extras. So it seems that if you can't avail of the educational discount for brand new models then the refrub store is the way to go.

I really like the MBP, in terms of performance it looks very good indeed. BUT, you didnt mention whether you actually need a laptop. If you don't then my advice is to buy the 20inch iMac - very good value.

Sad Professor

I agree with stooge, you should try and get the C2D if you can. It'll be worth it in the long run, especially with Leopard on the horizon.

trout

stooge wrote:

The model you give in your post is an older model i.e Core Duo 100GB HD

The new MBP is C2D i.e. Core 2 Duo 120GB. It's the first MBP listed in the refurb link you gave. It's the same price as the one you mentioned but it will have better performance so don't be fooled by the 33% saving compared to 15% saving.

fair point ... i was more impressed by the % saving than the performance, but you are quite right

stooge wrote:

I really like the MBP, in terms of performance it looks very good indeed. BUT, you didnt mention whether you actually need a laptop. If you don't then my advice is to buy the 20inch iMac - very good value.

Pesky wife is demanding full and final use of the spare room, which is pushing me down the laptop route ... I've been so pleased with the powerbook I thought the MBP was the obvious next step.

thanks for the wisdom

J.S. Pill

stooge wrote:

I don't know why I'm telling you this, as I am thinking about buying a refurb MBP also...anyway here goes....

The model you give in your post is an older model i.e Core Duo 100GB HD

The new MBP is C2D i.e. Core 2 Duo 120GB. It's the first MBP listed in the refurb link you gave. It's the same price as the one you mentioned but it will have better performance so don't be fooled by the 33% saving compared to 15% saving.

Right on

I used to work for apple last year in their aftersales department. Refurbished computers are usually in very good condition (unlike refurbished iPods which we had a lot of returns of), don't forget that you can always avail of a refund if the machine seems unsatisfactory (I'm not sure what the refund period is at the moment - and if you go over the refund period by a few weeks if you hassle the sh*t out of the techie guy on the other end of the phone they'll usually be quite flexible). I reccomend ordering over the phone and make sure you know exactly what returns conditions are being offered.

grumpypaddy

have bought an ibook and lately a macbook off the refurb store, they were both v clean and work fine, neither had any scratches. they dont come in the retail box but all the accessories, documentation and discs are supplied.. same guarantee as buying the full spec model.
no complaints my end

deevey

Well my mom decided to get a 20' imac refurbished for dual booting (i gave her my old lombard and osx 2 yrs ago so knows how to use X).

Its a stunning machine c2d 250 gig/1gb, €1488 inc applecare (they gave me it for €149) absolutly perfect condition except for a few scratches on the mouse (keyboard was new)

had it set up for her once she got home from work .. her excct words ..

"Oh that was a bargain, I should really buy another at that price" :O

even her friends are so envious they want one hahaha .. loads of converts on the horizon.

The sound and Itunes/Applestore has her hooked constantly )

[edit]
Oh and it did come in full retail packaging.
[/edit]

savemejebus

Bought a macbook pro off the refurb site last week and had to send it back yesterday as the latch/hinge was defective. I'll be buying a new machine off them when i get my refund so wasn't put off by the experience but there is a bit of a downside in that if your machine is defective you don't get a replacement (even if they are in stock on the site) they either offer you repair or refund which takes at least 10 days, so not the most convenient.

Apart from the latch and a couple of raised keys on the keyboard the machine was smashing though. I was so sorry to see it go.

Didn't come in retail packaging though

squonk_ie

I took delivery of a refurbished Macbook Pro 1.5in core 2 duo. It did not arrive in the fancy box but was beautifully packaged with all hardware included. It is in perfect condition and works like a dream.

Rollo Tamasi

i recently picked up a 20" iMac, 2.16ghz intel core duo, 1gb ram and 250gb harddrive for 1099 (pre vat)

no problem whatsoever with it.

trout

Rollo Tamasi wrote:

i recently picked up a 20" iMac, 2.16ghz intel core duo, 1gb ram and 250gb harddrive for 1099 (pre vat)

no problem whatsoever with it.

Just placed order for similar spec / price (2 Ghz instead of 2.16).

Hugh_C

great thread, didn't realise the IRL refurb store was open.

hc

grumpypaddy

yeah, its been open for a few months now, and not just on wednesdays!!