Opinions on 20" 2.66 Refurb

[novada]

I am in the market for a new all-in-one computer and I'm looking for a good deal.

How good of a machine is the 20" 2.66 Refurb model ($999) when compared to the new 24-inch 2.66GHz machine? I am having a hard time convincing myself that I really need a 24" display or a 640GB hard drive. Is the lifespan of these machines significantly different? How do you justify the $500 price difference? I can pick up a 4GB memory pack for around $60 correct?

Here are the specs on the 20" 2.66 Refurb from apple's web site:

20-inch glossy widescreen display
2GB memory
320GB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memory
Built-in iSight Camera

Will the refurb likely come with an iLife09 disk?

 

[Hellhammer]

If you can, go for the 24" 2.8 refurb, it's a great deal. And yes it comes with iLife '09

 

[matt1219]

I think the refurb will get iLife '09, as I have heard others have received a disk with theirs. I would get the refurb. If you don't need too much hard drive space, then it's okay. And plus, the new DDR3 RAM isn't much faster than the original.

 

[trose]

I ordered it and am very happy with my decision. I was very close to going for the 24", but I have a small desk and already run at 1680x1050 resolution (the 20") and find that it's more than enough for me... especially when using Spaces to manage clutter from multiple apps.

I intend to do a bit of gaming as well, so the 2600 Pro made more sense than the 9400m.

I think it's a steal at $999!

I'm going to take the $200 I saved from not going with a 24" and put it towards getting a decent TV... which is the only place I feel like I need a larger screen (Especially seeing as I have no TV now, heh)

 

[novada]

If you can, go for the 24" 2.8 refurb, it's a great deal. And yes it comes with iLife '09

I don't see this listed at the moment, although I did read it was offered at $1199 yesterday. I'll probably keep checking for a couple of days before I buy anything. If I see the 24" 2.8 refurb offered again I will definitely consider it.

 

[Hellhammer]

I don't see this listed at the moment, although I did read it was offered at $1199 yesterday. I'll probably keep checking for a couple of days before I buy anything. If I see the 24" 2.8 refurb offered again I will definitely consider it.

Good. It's only 200$ more for a nice, big screen.

 

[DannySmurf]

If you have a chance to get a refurb 20" 2.66GHz from the last generation for a good deal, jump at it if you're not wedded to a 24" screen. The old 2.66s are superb machines.

 

[Chris.]

Great choice, I have the 20" 2.66GHz iMac which I bought brand new in August, and its the best computer I have ever had.

Enjoy!

Chris.

 

[zen]

I was just in a similar boat - have one 20" 2.4 GHz iMac, needed a second one for the wife. I've just grabbed a 20" 2.6 GHz for about half the price of a new (updated) model, and of course the old 2.6 has a discrete graphics card as opposed to be integrated one in the new model.

Sweet!