Hi folks,
I'm planning to buy a new Macbook Pro when Merom's finally announced. I was going to go for a 17" model, 7200rpm and max out the RAM for video editing. I need a laptop for presentations, going to see clients, etc so a Mac Pro on its own isn't an option right now. I'm guessing the machine will retail for about £1600 plus VAT (c. $3000), plus cost of Crucial RAM, which I can just about manage.
BUT I happened to spot an ex-display MBP in a local retailer, 15.4", 1.83GHz, 512MB, 60GB 5400rpm, for £630 + VAT today. It's not what I was after originally, but it would save a load of cash, and £1000 gets me 2/3 of the way to affording a Mac Pro in a few months time.
The things I'm concerned about buying ex-display:
- Battery. How will it have fared being plugged in 12 hours a day, 7 days a week and maybe not calibrated properly to start with?
- It's going to be a very early build - what are the main hardware problems I should try to check before buying?
- Dirt on trackpad - luckily the thing's mostly clean as it's been locked in a perspex cage, but the trackpad is exposed and has got a bit dirty. Can it be cleaned with a slightly moist cloth, or nail-varnish remover, or...?
- Resetting the machine to factory default -- it's coming up "Register your new Mac" now, can I quit this to play with OSX before buying? I read Cmd+Q somewhere? Is it easy to put in OSX DVD and reset to factory default when I get it home?
- Warranty. The retailer says it has 12 month Apple warranty - but can I take it straight to Apple with any problems or do I have to go through the retailer and risk them messing about with it in an attempt to fix it?
It's tempting to get a MBP for less than the price of a MB, and this price is much less than the refurb prices on the Apple Store online. If they can give me a 7-day no-questions asked return policy, I think I might do it.
Thoughts anyone?!
I'm planning to buy a new Macbook Pro when Merom's finally announced. I was going to go for a 17" model, 7200rpm and max out the RAM for video editing. I need a laptop for presentations, going to see clients, etc so a Mac Pro on its own isn't an option right now. I'm guessing the machine will retail for about £1600 plus VAT (c. $3000), plus cost of Crucial RAM, which I can just about manage.
BUT I happened to spot an ex-display MBP in a local retailer, 15.4", 1.83GHz, 512MB, 60GB 5400rpm, for £630 + VAT today. It's not what I was after originally, but it would save a load of cash, and £1000 gets me 2/3 of the way to affording a Mac Pro in a few months time.
The things I'm concerned about buying ex-display:
- Battery. How will it have fared being plugged in 12 hours a day, 7 days a week and maybe not calibrated properly to start with?
- It's going to be a very early build - what are the main hardware problems I should try to check before buying?
- Dirt on trackpad - luckily the thing's mostly clean as it's been locked in a perspex cage, but the trackpad is exposed and has got a bit dirty. Can it be cleaned with a slightly moist cloth, or nail-varnish remover, or...?
- Resetting the machine to factory default -- it's coming up "Register your new Mac" now, can I quit this to play with OSX before buying? I read Cmd+Q somewhere? Is it easy to put in OSX DVD and reset to factory default when I get it home?
- Warranty. The retailer says it has 12 month Apple warranty - but can I take it straight to Apple with any problems or do I have to go through the retailer and risk them messing about with it in an attempt to fix it?
It's tempting to get a MBP for less than the price of a MB, and this price is much less than the refurb prices on the Apple Store online. If they can give me a 7-day no-questions asked return policy, I think I might do it.
Thoughts anyone?!