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2011 base mac mini refurb!

Yeah, they are down to just the base model now. I have been stalking the refurb store lately waiting for the new models to show up and missed the one I wanted. They had some 2010 models (with the superdrive) up yesterday, and I was really tempted to get that base model for $469, but I didn't think it would be much of an upgrade over my 2009 2.26 model. Of course, that one is about to get a major upgrade since I just ordered the 8GB RAM kit and a new hard drive for it. Guess I'll stick with it for a while longer.
 
steve2112 said:
Yeah, they are down to just the base model now. I have been stalking the refurb store lately waiting for the new models to show up and missed the one I wanted. They had some 2010 models (with the superdrive) up yesterday, and I was really tempted to get that base model for $469, but I didn't think it would be much of an upgrade over my 2009 2.26 model. Of course, that one is about to get a major upgrade since I just ordered the 8GB RAM kit and a new hard drive for it. Guess I'll stick with it for a while longer.
Click to expand...

the 2010 2.4 and the 2009 2.26 are not that different in performance. the best thing about getting a 2010 2.4 refurb is a 1 year warranty and it does look nice.
 
philipma1957 said:
the 2010 2.4 and the 2009 2.26 are not that different in performance. the best thing about getting a 2010 2.4 refurb is a 1 year warranty and it does look nice.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's why I passed on it. They briefly had the 2010 2.66 model in the store, but it was an extra $50, so I didn't really think it was worth it. I'm going to try the new drive and RAM in my Mini and see how that performs for now. I'll probably spring for the i5 model in a few months or so.
 
Remember, without tax or shipping costs, a new mid-2011 Mini from a place like Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama Camera, or MacConnection will only be a few dollars more than a refurb from the Apple Store.

Getting a refurb 2011 Mini doesn't make any sense yet, until the prices are a lot lower.
 
Negritude said:
Remember, without tax or shipping costs, a new mid-2011 Mini from a place like Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama Camera, or MacConnection will only be a few dollars more than a refurb from the Apple Store.

Getting a refurb 2011 Mini doesn't make any sense yet, until the prices are a lot lower.
Click to expand...


Amazon is 568 new I get 3% off (amazon visa card) so it is about 551.

the apple one is 519 I pay 7 percent tax (New Jersey) do it is about 556.

I get 5 percent off (Discover card) the 519 or 26 so 556 minus 26 is 530. So for me with no legwork (just use the correct credit card) it is 26 cheaper to buy the refurb. Now if I am in the mood to try and get it really cheap I look for a good deal on an apple gift card on ebay. a 500 dollar card can be as low as 450 which can get the machine down to 480. This mini cost me 484 from the refurb store. I have purchased many minis from the refurb store once in a while you get extra ram and more rarely a better hdd.


I do agree that if you are in a high tax state the refurb store does not save a lot of money over amazon.
 
My new mid 2010 mini cost me nothing when amex points had a 30 percent off sale last spring along with my reward points. My only cost was a 4gb kit from owc for $25. The free mini is now my main desktop. My wife got her free ipad2 the same way. Ive had an amex gold card for yesrs and the point thing is great. I use the card for everything i buy unless a merchant doesnt take it so the points add up.
 
GekkePrutser said:
Yeah but it doesn't know about the 2011 models yet, unfortunately.

I think it only picks them up if it has ever seen them in stock.
Click to expand...

Seems to be there now:

Screen shot 2011-10-13 at 3.01.59 PM.png
 
(EDIT re typo error) Don't all the mid-2011 Minis come with either OSX Lion or OSX Lion Server, since they were first released after Lion came out? And shouldn't a refurb mid-2011 Mini come with Lion or Lion Server?

I thought I saw in the description of the refurb mid-2011 base Mini last week that it came with a previous version of OSX, not Lion. Is that possible?

I had the base model in my cart when I noticed this, then spent a few minutes checking around to see what was going on, and then they sold out and auto-removed the Mini from my cart. :(

None of the mid-2011 Minis are eligible for the free OSX Lion update, it seems from this listing, which might cause a hassle.
http://www.apple.com/macosx/uptodate/systems.html#refurbished

Maybe I didn't see the refurb description correctly, or Apple made a mistake?
 
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frank4 said:
Haven't all the mid-2011 Minis came with either OSX Lion or OSX Lion Server, since they were first released after Lion came out? And shouldn't a refurb mid-2011 Mini come with Lion or Lion Server?

I thought I saw in the description of the refurb mid-2011 base Mini last week that it came with a previous version of OSX, not Lion. Is that possible?

I had the base model in my cart when I noticed this, then spent a few minutes checking around to see what was going on, and then they sold out and auto-removed the Mini from my cart. :(

None of the mid-2011 Minis are eligible for the free OSX Lion update, it seems from this listing, which might cause a hassle.
http://www.apple.com/macosx/uptodate/systems.html#refurbished

Maybe I didn't see the refurb description correctly, or Apple made a mistake?
Click to expand...

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC815LL/A?mco=MjYwNzc0Nzg


you get lion with it. look at the link above and see the photo it is a photo of the lion screen.


besides 2011 mac minis running snow leopard would make you a rich man.

as of today no one can get snow leopard to run fast on a 2011 mac mini.


if apple sent you a working 2011 mac mini running snow leopard at full speed


(6000 plus for geekbench)

you would have been very lucky indeed.
 
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Refurb are such good deal, although I've only bought an iPod nano refurb so far, but I have set up MacBook/iMac which were refurbs and everything work without issue.

I was browsing the store and I saw a Core 2 Duo Mini for $449 or $419, I can't remember, but it was dirt cheap. Another tempting purchase is the 24" Apple Cinema Display, it's a shame Apple only sells the 27" model(since the Mini only support one 27" and a maximum of the resolution the 24" has)
 
philipma1957 said:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC815LL/A?mco=MjYwNzc0Nzg


you get lion with it. look at the link above and see the photo it is a photo of the lion screen.


besides 2011 mac minis running snow leopard would make you a rich man.

as of today no one can get snow leopard to run fast on a 2011 mac mini.


if apple sent you a working 2011 mac mini running snow leopard at full speed


(6000 plus for geekbench)

you would have been very lucky indeed.
Click to expand...


Hmmm I think maybe they edited that webpage because I recall they specified which OSX it came with (maybe it was 10.6), and now it just says OSX with no version specified. Makes sense that a refurb mid-2011 Mini woud include OSX Lion.

On a related question, would a generic USB DVD external DVD drive (to do the same job as Apple drive but less expensive) that only has Windows drivers be OK? Many of the external USB DVD drives say on their boxes that they are compatible with Windows only, while a few drives say they work with either OSX or Windows.
 
frank4 said:
On a related question, would a generic USB DVD external DVD drive (to do the same job as Apple drive but less expensive) that only has Windows drivers be OK? Many of the external USB DVD drives say on their boxes that they are compatible with Windows only, while a few drives say they work with either OSX or Windows.
Click to expand...


It should be fine, but I'd do some googling on the exact model before I purchased one for this cause(or buy from a store with a good return policy).

I have a USB DVD drive that my brother got when he got a Asus netbook and he needed MS Office installed. I ended up with the drive and while I won't leave it out as part of my set up, its a nice back up for the rare optical disk I get.

The Apple DVD drive is nice and only needing to plug it into USB it awesome, but 80 dollars is a lot for the functionality of something I already own.
 
frank4 said:
Hmmm I think maybe they edited that webpage because I recall they specified which OSX it came with (maybe it was 10.6), and now it just says OSX with no version specified. Makes sense that a refurb mid-2011 Mini woud include OSX Lion.

On a related question, would a generic USB DVD external DVD drive (to do the same job as Apple drive but less expensive) that only has Windows drivers be OK? Many of the external USB DVD drives say on their boxes that they are compatible with Windows only, while a few drives say they work with either OSX or Windows.
Click to expand...

yes they did do that caused me a lot of grief with a 2011 macbook pro it listed it as snow came with lion and the dj gear I was setting up needed snow what a P>I>T>A !!! Lots of low cost dvd players i will find a link for you




zap2 said:
It should be fine, but I'd do some googling on the exact model before I purchased one for this cause(or buy from a store with a good return policy).

I have a USB DVD drive that my brother got when he got a Asus netbook and he needed MS Office installed. I ended up with the drive and while I won't leave it out as part of my set up, its a nice back up for the rare optical disk I get.

The Apple DVD drive is nice and only needing to plug it into USB it awesome, but 80 dollars is a lot for the functionality of something I already own.
Click to expand...


80 bucks is too much samsung has one for 30 or 40 I am looking for a link


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151228


link's works well.

sometimes it gets weird just pull the usb cord out and put it back in seems to reset it.
 
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The current model Mini & Mine Server are again in the Refurb store, I ordered the base model. They seem to be popping up as Refurbs every week or so. Best to check the store in the morning as they usually sell out by mid afternoon.

To keep the cost down I'm going to use my old Logitech wired optical mouse since it works fine and I modified it to remove the "clicks" from the wheel so it's pretty slick. Also going to get a wired USB keyboard for $15. Already have a 22" Samsung LCD monitor. So I'm into the current Mac world (Lion etc) for just over $500 which is about as low as possible.

Later I may get the sexy Apple wireless mouse, keyboard and trackpad but I figured I'd wait in case I decide the Mini is not enough and I decide to get an iMac instead. Looks like a minor iMac update is coming soon.

My 6 year old Toshiba Windows XP notebook still works great and I could use it a few more years but I finally decided I wanted to check out the Mac stuff, like the ecosystem synergy with the iPad.
 
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