Personally I like to see the computer I am buying " in person" before I take it home, so that I can make sure there are no out-of-box issues.
If the Apple Stores I go to, one in Towson, Maryland and one in Christiana, Delaware stocked refurbs I would might go that way, but with a student discount the prices we close enough to make buying new the way to go.
They used to sell 'open box' store displays with a discount, but these were units taken off the shelves, software restored ( maybe ), and set on a table to be sold.
That table was like a flea-market at times and you had to check it regularly for deals. Once I bought batteries for a Powerbook I used to have for 50% off. They were sealed, new in the box old stock.
If the Apple Stores I go to, one in Towson, Maryland and one in Christiana, Delaware stocked refurbs I would might go that way, but with a student discount the prices we close enough to make buying new the way to go.
They used to sell 'open box' store displays with a discount, but these were units taken off the shelves, software restored ( maybe ), and set on a table to be sold.
That table was like a flea-market at times and you had to check it regularly for deals. Once I bought batteries for a Powerbook I used to have for 50% off. They were sealed, new in the box old stock.
