New 2.8Ghz iMac or Refurbished 3.06GHz iMac?

[dannyboxer]

Hi I'm wondering to either buy a brand new 24" 2.8Ghz iMac with 320GB Hard drive or a refurbished 24" 3.06Ghz iMac with a 500GB Hard drive.

I will be using my iMac to edit High Definition video on Final Cut Express.

Also can you change to a wireless keyboard and mouse when buying a refurbished iMac?

What are refurbished iMacs like? Are they like brand new and do they have any scratches on them?

Please help if you have any suggestions.

 

[Eidorian]

You can't set any build to order options on refurbished Macs. You'd have to get the wireless keyboard in addition to the wired one that would come with it.

I'd go for the refurbished iMac nonetheless. All of the refurbished Apple products I've bought have come in new condition. I just saved money by being patient.

 

[netdog]

For video, if cost is the same, I'd go for the admittedly only marginally faster 3.06.

 

[IroquoisPliskin]

Refurbished are always going to have a much better value.

 

[themoonisdown09]

I would go with the refurbished one. My friend just got the 24" 2.8 GHz model refurbished and he loves it.

 

[dopey423]

i just bought a 3.06 refurb less than a month ago. now while it came in EXCELLENT shape and there were NO cosmetic defects, i turned it on... and there were dead pixels right in the middle of the screen. it wasnt one or two, but in fact it looked like someone dropped a little pebble of water on the lcd and blew out the pixels. i ended up taking it to the apple store that night, got the lcd replaced, and got it back the next day. thumbs up for apple on the repair job and no dust within the monitor, but thumbs down on the dead pixels....

btw it was about 2 centimeters in diameter

 

[ChesterP]

Just buy the new one, you can never trust anything refurbished in my opinion.

 

[firstapple]

Just buy the new one, you can never trust anything refurbished in my opinion.

This is not true at all. I purchased an iMac from Apple's Online Store and it came in brand new condition. No problems whatsoever.

As for the OP's question, I would say wait for Apple to release the iMacs. Then you can decide between refurbs marked even cheaper or a new one with whatever features they come out with.

 

[dannyboxer]

As for the OP's question, I would say wait for Apple to release the iMacs. Then you can decide between refurbs marked even cheaper or a new one with whatever features they come out with.

But according to this thread
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/594436/

there will be no iMacs before Christmas and and I am not waiting until MacWorld in January.

 

[IroquoisPliskin]

Just buy the new one, you can never trust anything refurbished in my opinion.

Thats not a very accurate opinion. An Apple refurbished is no different than a new machine, in fact it is a new machine!

Computers that are refurbished usually means that it did not initially pass quality standards. Computers are complex machines, there will always be a few units with 1 or 2 defective parts off the line which is what quality control is for. They fix the unit and sell it at a discount price because it cannot be legally sold as new since it has had components replaced.

There really is no reason NOT to buy a refurbished Mac unless they don't have the configuration you want.

 

[sam10685]

But according to this thread
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/594436/

there will be no iMacs before Christmas and and I am not waiting until MacWorld in January.

I'd go for the refurbished unless you need the extra speed. Apple certified refurbished machines are almost brand new.

 

[dannyboxer]

Wait. I just found out I can get educational discount. Looks like a brand new 3.06Ghz iMac for me then!

 

[Eidorian]

Wait. I just found out I can get educational discount. Looks like a brand new 3.06Ghz iMac for me then!

I still think the refurbished discount is greater then the educational one.

 

[dannyboxer]

Yeah but it will be my first ever Mac and i want it to be completely brand new.

 

[IroquoisPliskin]

i want it to be completely brand new.

Then buy a new or refurb. They are both completely brand new.

 

[Rapmastac1]

My first Mac was a refurbished and I'm glad it was. It's like getting a new Mac except there are going to be no problems as it has been "tested". So you won't take it home and find out a week later your GPU is DOA. But hey, it's your money not mine. It's your wants vs needs, not mine.