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Macbook or Refurb MBP now or wait?

S

somabc

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 30, 2006
16
0
I know this has prob been asked before thousands of times but here we go again ;)

Hi I have sold my windows laptop and want to switch to a mac laptop. I use my laptop for work so i do really need a new laptop soon but could wait a few weeks. I lose the use of my windows laptop this week.

I alreay have a new Core 2 Desktop PC at home for games etc, so my first thoughts were to buy the cheapest Macbook (£749) and upgrade the RAM & HD myself later although i would miss a decent graphics card and the superdrive.

Then i saw a refurb macbook pro 2GHZ 1GB RAM 100GB HD for ~£1100 (30%) off at the apple uk store and i ordered one today (was so surprised by the price i couldnt resist). The say they can deliver it on the 14/09/06. My max budget is £1000 but i thought the extra £100 is worth it for all the extras on the MBP and it should be pretty futureproof.

So what do you guys think? Should i cancel the order and wait a few weeks?

When the new laptops come out do you think the old style MBP will fall further in price? If so i will wait. There is no way i could afford the MBP at full price so i see it as a choice between a new Macbook (memron?) or refurb MBP?

Under the apple return policy i could return the laptop if there are better deals on the 16th?
 
somabc said:
So what do you guys think? Should i cancel the order and wait a few weeks?
Click to expand...

If you could of waited, why didnt you wait in the first place? Rule of thumb: If you need it now get it now, if you can wait, wait.
 
When I say I can wait I mean I can wait 2 weeks not really any longer and it will take 2 weeks to get here so i really need to order now.

I would hate to spend over a thousand pounds on a macbook pro that arrives Friday and by Sunday, its obsolete!

So my main question is what are the chances of me getting a better deal on an old MBP when the new ones arrive?
 
somabc said:
I would hate to spend over a thousand pounds on a macbook pro that arrives Friday and by Sunday, its obsolete!
Click to expand...

All computers are obsolete within weeks or months of their release. You have advance knowledge that something (better) will be coming out in a few days/weeks. Make your decision based on whether or not you can wait.
 
somabc said:
I would hate to spend over a thousand pounds on a macbook pro that arrives Friday and by Sunday, its obsolete!

So my main question is what are the chances of me getting a better deal on an old MBP when the new ones arrive?
Click to expand...

First, you got a good deal. By purchasing a refurb you got a better piece of hardware for a little more than you had planned to pay for the MB.

Second, my mother is currently using a laptop I purchased over four years ago. It's running 10.3.9 just fine thank you. She uses it for web browsing/email and playing some solitaire games. And she loves it. Your system won't be obsolete for some time to come. In fact our family just gave away a Mac system that my father purchased almost seven years ago. The recipient is literally a starving student and is using it for word processing. You system may not be the latest and greatest anymore in a few weeks, but that's going to happen, several times, before you finally move to your next system.

Lastly, I don't think you would see anywhere near the savings you are realizing when Merom comes out.
 
People make "obsolete" mean "prehistoric" around here. A friggin MacBook Pro is a great laptop and better than what 99% of every human on earth uses.

My Nintendo Entertainment System still gets use.
 
I think you are right the MBP is already much more powerful than I need, so i will get that.

(but if any siginificant changes are announced in the next 3 weeks I may send it back under apples return policy, though probably not)
 
somabc said:
I think you are right the MBP is already much more powerful than I need, so i will get that.

(but if any siginificant changes are announced in the next 3 weeks I may send it back under apples return policy, though probably not)
Click to expand...

Buy a refurb MBP you usually get the upgraded memory included and other nifty things for the same price if not cheaper
 
Is buying a refurbished MBP worth it? i know that there is a huge negative stigma surrounding the word refurbished but i've heard some pretty good things about refurbished macs (i.e. they look brand new/they work perfectly). any opinions
TIA
 
Cygnus311 said:
People make "obsolete" mean "prehistoric" around here. A friggin MacBook Pro is a great laptop and better than what 99% of every human on earth uses.

My Nintendo Entertainment System still gets use.
Click to expand...

I agree, I think there are VERY few people that need the latest technology RIGHT when it comes out. It will be about 2 or 3 years before we see very heavy emphases anyhow (along with a new wireless standard, etc.) By that time, an upgrade will be due anyhow. My mother uses a 1 GHz stock aluminum powerbook, and I can say, it's just as good as a lot of PC's being sold currently and was purchased back in 2003! So, unless your using a 1400c, I don't feel sorry for you. Heck, even the Powerbook G3's are great computers!
 
Even IF Apple does update to Merom processors in 2 weeks, you could be waiting
another few weeks for your order to arrive, but being without a laptop that long
won't do.

Refurbs are great! That's also a sweet machine.
You may get some extra refurb candy at no extras cost too.
 
Cygnus311 said:
People make "obsolete" mean "prehistoric" around here. A friggin MacBook Pro is a great laptop and better than what 99% of every human on earth uses.
Click to expand...

This is a nice definition of obsolete in this context:
"Obsolescence is when a person or object is no longer wanted even though it is still in good working order."
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsolete)

:)
 
Mac'Mo said:
Is buying a refurbished MBP worth it? i know that there is a huge negative stigma surrounding the word refurbished but i've heard some pretty good things about refurbished macs (i.e. they look brand new/they work perfectly). any opinions
TIA
Click to expand...

Normally I would steer clear of Refurbs but Apple Care would seem to make up for that. If there are any problems within a year Apple will repair them for you free. You also have the option to extend the warranty to 3 years.
 
Mac'Mo said:
Is buying a refurbished MBP worth it? i know that there is a huge negative stigma surrounding the word refurbished but i've heard some pretty good things about refurbished macs (i.e. they look brand new/they work perfectly). any opinions
TIA
Click to expand...

Its totally worth it. You get a machine thats been rechecked using stringent standards, you have a 60% chance of getting silent upgrades and it has the same warranty as a new machine and its thoroughly cleaned that you couldn't tell the difference from a new one.

Oh yeah you also get 10-45% off the normal price. So i ask you, whats not to like?
 
Bah I was checking the refurb apple store and saw a MBP 2.16GHZ 1GB 100GB(7200rpm) 256MB X1600 for £1200 (41% off) so I cancelled my order and tried to order this but by the time i had filled out the form it had been sold!

Now I think i will wait a few days and watch the refurb store like a hawk.
 
somabc said:
Bah I was checking the refurb apple store and saw a MBP 2.16GHZ 1GB 100GB(7200rpm) 256MB X1600 for £1200 (41% off) so I cancelled my order and tried to order this but by the time i had filled out the form it had been sold!

Now I think i will wait a few days and watch the refurb store like a hawk.
Click to expand...

Don't worry, something will pop up....always does.
 
somabc said:
Bah I was checking the refurb apple store and saw a MBP 2.16GHZ 1GB 100GB(7200rpm) 256MB X1600 for £1200 (41% off) so I cancelled my order and tried to order this but by the time i had filled out the form it had been sold!

Now I think i will wait a few days and watch the refurb store like a hawk.
Click to expand...

.....yeah i may have been responsible for that. I just ordered one for my sister. It was a steal and had to get it..merom or not.
 
daneoni said:
.....yeah i may have been responsible for that. I just ordered one for my sister. It was a steal and had to get it..merom or not.
Click to expand...
you *b'stard!
 
daneoni said:
Its totally worth it. You get a machine thats been rechecked using stringent standards, you have a 60% chance of getting silent upgrades and it has the same warranty as a new machine and its thoroughly cleaned that you couldn't tell the difference from a new one.

Oh yeah you also get 10-45% off the normal price. So i ask you, whats not to like?
Click to expand...

You won't get the box, that's the trouble :eek:
 
Refurbs?

generik said:
You won't get the box, that's the trouble :eek:
Click to expand...


Ummmm .... where do you get that? Refurb items come in a regular box just like if you bought a new one off the shelf. Check the Refurb page on Apple's website for confirmation.

As for Refurbs ... As long as it is an "As good as New" refurb without blemish, ALWAYS go for the refurb. Refurbs, on general, are checked out more than a new item off the line. Other than the refurb Serial Number a Refurb Apple products is BETTER than a new one in my opinion. All the perks of a New one except your wallet is alot heavier after your done.
 
generik said:
You won't get the box, that's the trouble :eek:
Click to expand...

What are you buying the box or the machine?. Whilst you wont get the original box normally, you get a box which is packed just as the normal box only difference is its brown and slapped with a certified refurb label but the packaging is exactly the same.
 
Heads up somabc, the store has the exact same type of MBP at the same price up on the refurb store again today
 
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