Got 2 refurbished CD Macbooks, some observations

[iW00t]

For starters these things are amazing, apart from the box they are literally new!

I did notice something of interest though. Of the two machines I got, one of them arrived in a brown box with gray "Certified Reconditioned Product" at one side. The other one arrived in a retail-look-alike white box with a small sticker on the front saying the same thing.

Guess which machine has a bonus 80GB hard drive and 1GB memory? Similarly guess which one has a non-refurbished serial number (ie: doesn't start with RM******)?

I really suspect all those that comes in the white box are really new computers that they couldn't sell before the C2D models got released, and hence they repacked them to sell them off as refurb. The brown box ones on the other hand are preowned, and getting one of those gives you a small chance to get some free bonus

After colour calibration the monitors on these 2 Macbooks look insane, especially when compared to my Macbook Pro costing almost 3X as much.

 

[livingfortoday]

That's very cool, congrats! I've considered getting a refurb C2D MacBook once they start having them in the store, and it's good to read positive experiences with them. Are they both white?

 

[iW00t]

That's very cool, congrats! I've considered getting a refurb C2D MacBook once they start having them in the store, and it's good to read positive experiences with them. Are they both white?

Both white, because paying extra for a paint job is such a rip off

The CD ones at least are really like some lotto, getting free upgrades is so cool.

 

[smueboy]

Let us know if you have any problems with them - I also am interested in getting one, but have seen wildly different opinions on the quality of refurbs (though i'm sure each one varies a lot, especially if some are new and some are refurbs)

 

[livingfortoday]

Both white, because paying extra for a paint job is such a rip off

The CD ones at least are really like some lotto, getting free upgrades is so cool.

Ok, cool. My first taste of Apple refurbs was my Nano which came in a small brown box, and was perfect. So I was hoping that carried over to their computers, too!

 

[Scarlet Fever]

Congrats on the buy! Hope you enjoi them

by the way, great avatar

 

[iW00t]

The Macbook displays are really pretty amazing, absolutely no hint of "grain" at all. The only down side to them is the colour gamut seems rather narrow, you miss out on the shadow details for those night shots, but hey, definitely a good compromise~

 

[technicolor]

Congrats on your new computers.

 

[phungy]

First, congrats! Wow, (at least?) three Macs..all for yourself?

Second, from Apple online? 1.83 or 2.0Ghz? Yay for free upgrades!

 

[AmdMacBook]

go refurb!

I got a refurb MacBook (CoreDuo 2GHz; 512MB RAM, 60GB HD, Superdrive) from Apple for $800 back in Nov. I have to say I am impressed. I replaced the RAM and HD it came with. So I now have 2GB RAM and a 120GB HD. Overall I probably spent $1100, including upgrade. If you buy the same thing on Apple store and upgrade through apple, you will end up paying over $1400.

The MacBook was abso-freakin-lutely flawless! So I've decided to go rufurb all the way with Apple. Just bought a reburb black 30gb iPod a few days ago...I'm hoping that will be just as flawless!

I wanted the black MacBook, but I am more than happy with the white one! Dont see any reason to shell out $200-300 extra for a diff color.

 

[Paul Wright]

Congratulations on your macbooks

Now you mention this, i might get a refurb of something in the future, atleast you know apple have looked at it and made sure its in good working order i guess, have you ever had a problem with them?

i wouldnt mind waiting for refurbs and have the pleasure of not returning to the sotre to keep getting it repaired... ive been with mates before and it gets annoying when you go there more for repairs than to actually make a purchase : but then again nothing is perfect

 

[iW00t]

Hmmm... just realised something so thought people might be interested to know.

Seems like there are 2 stuck pixels on the machine with twice the bonus upgrades, bummer! Wouldn't have noticed if until I started wiping the tiny red spot on the screen. Time to run JScreenFix and see if it helps.

 

[quigleybc]

After colour calibration the monitors on these 2 Macbooks look insane, especially when compared to my Macbook Pro costing almost 3X as much.

are the MBP's display's that bad? and the MB's are that much better?

hmmm, I keep going back and forth on which one to get....I can't get squat for at least two months...

 

[Jiddick ExRex]

are the MBP's display's that bad? and the MB's are that much better?

hmmm, I keep going back and forth on which one to get....I can't get squat for at least two months...

Then wait for two months and decide then.

 

[bbydon]

Is it the glossy screen thats making it more vibrant?

 

[iW00t]

are the MBP's display's that bad? and the MB's are that much better?

hmmm, I keep going back and forth on which one to get....I can't get squat for at least two months...

Well I have 2 pixels stuck to red on my current MB display.

One of them is right smack in the middle.

Even then I am not half as bothered by them than by the grain on my MBP's screen! But YMMV.

 

[madmaxmedia]

It was only $800? Currently the only $800 model is the 1.83GHz Combo drive model (which I ended up buying. It did come with some bonus RAM though- 1GB instead of listed 512MB.)

For the money, these refurb MacBooks are GREAT machines. I've had mine for a few days and have had absolutely zero problems.

I got a refurb MacBook (CoreDuo 2GHz; 512MB RAM, 60GB HD, Superdrive) from Apple for $800 back in Nov. I have to say I am impressed. I replaced the RAM and HD it came with. So I now have 2GB RAM and a 120GB HD. Overall I probably spent $1100, including upgrade. If you buy the same thing on Apple store and upgrade through apple, you will end up paying over $1400.

 

[aquajet]

For the money, these refurb MacBooks are GREAT machines. I've had mine for a few days and have had absolutely zero problems.

I agree. That's what I did with my MBP CD. Great deal, especially if you don't mind using a previous model (CD).

 

[iW00t]

It was only $800? Currently the only $800 model is the 1.83GHz Combo drive model (which I ended up buying. It did come with some bonus RAM though- 1GB instead of listed 512MB.)

For the money, these refurb MacBooks are GREAT machines. I've had mine for a few days and have had absolutely zero problems.

The govt store had a $100 instant rebate a while ago. Promo has since expired though

Seems like the two stuck pixels I got are stuck here for good, ran JScreenFix for a day and it is still there!

 

[phungy]

The govt store had a $100 instant rebate a while ago. Promo has since expired though

Seems like the two stuck pixels I got are stuck here for good, ran JScreenFix for a day and it is still there!

eBay it

 

[iW00t]

eBay it

If I can get rid of the stuck pixels than I will be able to add one more statement in my listing saying as such

 

[kerisimasi]

Why purchase 3 Laptops?

If I can get rid of the stuck pixels than I will be able to add one more statement in my listing saying as such

Hey iWoot, just wondering what you use 3 laptops for?? I have a 2.16 C2D, upgraded from Macbook. I like the MBP, but just miss the portablility and size of CD MB...do you use all 3?

 

[phungy]

Hey iWoot, just wondering what you use 3 laptops for?? I have a 2.16 C2D, upgraded from Macbook. I like the MBP, but just miss the portablility and size of CD MB...do you use all 3?

He sold one of them...assuming he'll sell the second...

 

[CaptainCaveMann]

How does everyone like the macbook keyboard compared to the powerbook/ibook keyboard? Take some getting used to? Nice feel?

 

[phungy]

How does everyone like the macbook keyboard compared to the powerbook/ibook keyboard? Take some getting used to? Nice feel?

I haven't tried the keys on a powerbook but I'm assuming it is similar to the ibook? If not, I've tried my friend's ibook and the feel is def different. Took me a few days to get use to the MB keyboard but I think its great now. I can type (almost) normally and fast without any mistakes.