So Imac Refurb?

[gmanrique]

hello there

Sorry if I sounded harsh, that was not my intention. It just sounds more odd to me that somebody might expect a new machine when buying a refurbished one, than Apple simply shipping refurbished iMacs in new boxes.

I've never heard of a refurb coming in anything other than a brown cardboard box.

I am in no way expecting a new iMac, I ordered a refub and that is exactly what I'm expecting.
I'm just curious as to what will actually come in now that a few rumors are flying.
I have NO problems getting my refurb.

Is there something wrong with someone getting excited if there is a possibility that a refurb that they ordered would come in as a new one?

 

[Ibonic]

About 5 or 6 years ago, I ordered a refurb iMac and it came in the original box. No brown box.

 

[patricem]

I am right there with you...if the previous 3.06 refurb had been reduced to say $1600, I would have been all over it. But then if I wait for that to happen, it may never happen, and the 2.8's will all be gone!

I say we just go for it...

Should we just do it???? I mean how much better can the 3.06 be?? Don't you think they will have to 'clear' them tho soon? I've been waiting and waiting...this 2.8 is a good deal. Should we??? I know I worry about them running out too. I'm sure we would be very happy with it.

 

[WndrWmn78]

Should we just do it???? I mean how much better can the 3.06 be?? Don't you think they will have to 'clear' them tho soon? I've been waiting and waiting...this 2.8 is a good deal. Should we??? I know I worry about them running out too. I'm sure we would be very happy with it.

I know I would be happy with it; it's honestly more than I even need right now...and if I need more in the future, I can upgrade then. I think I'm just hesitant because this will be my first mac, so I have to decide if I'll be okay with spending $1200 on an interim mac until quad-cores come out.

What's funny is that the 4gb limit on RAM is also making me hesitate...as if I could afford to bump it up to 8gb!!!

 

[Ibonic]

I know I would be happy with it; it's honestly more than I even need right now...and if I need more in the future, I can upgrade then. I think I'm just hesitant because this will be my first mac, so I have to decide if I'll be okay with spending $1200 on an interim mac until quad-cores come out.

What's funny is that the 4gb limit on RAM is also making me hesitate...as if I could afford to bump it up to 8gb!!!

Something better is always down the line. Buying refurb has that disadvantage because you see what the current line-up is. Had you bought this a year ago, you wouldn't even think about the 8GB vs 4GB limit, because that wasn't even on the table. But think about those that bought it months ago and now see the price drop.

If you want a quad, wait for it, if that's what you want.

ETA: Yeah, I hesitated on the 8GB too... I have no idea why either. Haha.

 

[patricem]

Something better is always down the line. Buying refurb has that disadvantage because you see what the current line-up is. Had you bought this a year ago, you wouldn't even think about the 8GB vs 4GB limit, because that wasn't even on the table. But think about those that bought it months ago and now see the price drop.

If you want a quad, wait for it, if that's what you want.

ETA: Yeah, I hesitated on the 8GB too... I have no idea why either. Haha.

I definitely can't wait for any more updates. I'm dyin' here with this emac G4 800mhz with it's atrocious fans...and my white macbook it's just too small for me. So....I'm ready. But but but...I want the 3.06 for a super great deal too like the 2.8 !! I was thinking give til Monday . I could have bought a brand new 3.06 from e-bay a couple months back for $1569.00, but wanted to wait for updates...plus I thought old generations would go down in price. So...have to see how long I can hold out. My total would be $1282 w/tax, that really is a smokin' deal. I buy a computer then keep it for zillion years, so, want the best but for best price!

 

[Mike in Kansas]

I know I would be happy with it; it's honestly more than I even need right now...and if I need more in the future, I can upgrade then. I think I'm just hesitant because this will be my first mac, so I have to decide if I'll be okay with spending $1200 on an interim mac until quad-cores come out.

What's funny is that the 4gb limit on RAM is also making me hesitate...as if I could afford to bump it up to 8gb!!!

What makes you so sure a quad is just down the road? Many folks said that about this update, the update that didn't take place in January at MacWorld, the update that didn't take place in October, etc. What would you be able to do with a quad that you couldn't do with a C2D? Unless you are doing some serious video rendering or major multi-tasking that takes advantage of 4 cores, you wouldn't even be using the power of the quads. Don't let the Dell/HP hype make you think you NEED a quad.

Do you think a quad would really sell for $1200 - $1500 when it comes out? Do you want to spend the $800 to get 8GB of RAM? What's all that extra RAM gonna do for ya?

 

[nm156]

What makes you so sure a quad is just down the road? Many folks said that about this update, the update that didn't take place in January at MacWorld, the update that didn't take place in October, etc. What would you be able to do with a quad that you couldn't do with a C2D? Unless you are doing some serious video rendering or major multi-tasking that takes advantage of 4 cores, you wouldn't even be using the power of the quads. Don't let the Dell/HP hype make you think you NEED a quad.

Do you think a quad would really sell for $1200 - $1500 when it comes out? Do you want to spend the $800 to get 8GB of RAM? What's all that extra RAM gonna do for ya?

I agree. I don't know how well Leopard handles memory, but coming from the MS world, I've never used more than 1.5gbs of my memory running numerous programs (4gb installed, 3 recognized by vista). DDR3 supposedly doesn't outperforming DDR2 and isn't worth the money right now, so I don't see the benefit of needing 8 gigs of memory. I suppose if you are doing what Mike has listed then maybe you could use the extra 4 gigs...

 

[Ibonic]

I definitely can't wait for any more updates. I'm dyin' here with this emac G4 800mhz with it's atrocious fans...and my white macbook it's just too small for me. So....I'm ready. But but but...I want the 3.06 for a super great deal too like the 2.8 !! I was thinking give til Monday . I could have bought a brand new 3.06 from e-bay a couple months back for $1569.00, but wanted to wait for updates...plus I thought old generations would go down in price. So...have to see how long I can hold out. My total would be $1282 w/tax, that really is a smokin' deal. I buy a computer then keep it for zillion years, so, want the best but for best price!

G4, oh how you suffer. My G5... that fan was crazy too.

Oh the waiting game. Haha. I played that. I bought a monitor for my old MacBook last year while I waited for a refresh to get a new MacBook, but I didn't like the refresh (wanted more power to CPU). So I thought well I have a monitor, let's see how the MacMini refreshes, so I waited for that. Didn't like that either. So the refurb.

Well if you can wait until December, it would probably surface by then and the deal should be really good. You'll probably need to give it a month.

 

[patricem]

G4, oh how you suffer. My G5... that fan was crazy too.

Oh the waiting game. Haha. I played that. I bought a monitor for my old MacBook last year while I waited for a refresh to get a new MacBook, but I didn't like the refresh (wanted more power to CPU). So I thought well I have a monitor, let's see how the MacMini refreshes, so I waited for that. Didn't like that either. So the refurb.

Well if you can wait until December, it would probably surface by then and the deal should be really good. You'll probably need to give it a month.

Thank you for your sympathy! Honestly I don't know how I manage to block it out. I considered a while back getting a new monitor to hook up the macbook, but it seemed like you have to leave the macbook open the whole time you are hooked to monitor. Is that actually true? This G4 is killing me daily - I'll never last another month. Now I'm wondering if maybe I should just spring for the 2.93, I could order thru Powermax , no tax, total $1788. Would be difference of $500 bucks. Not sure if it would be worth that or not. I don't know how much ram costs (for the 2.8), the extra hard drive is always nice as I keep my computers long time, but really, how much do you need. The white macbook would hook right into the 2.8 firewire , correct? To transfer files? So you ordered the refurb? Why aren't they clearing out the 3.06 I wonder?? And if they did I wonder how low would price even go? ARGGG decision!

 

[jena55]

When I was chatting online with an apple rep... i questioned her to be sure my refurb would come with a keyboard that had a number pad. I didnt figure it would come with the new numberless keyboard, but just my luck if I hadn't asked it would have!! Anyway.. she told me that it does come with a number keypad, but she added that all refurbs are shipping with new keyboards. They are shipping them with the keyboard that goes with the model ordered, but a new one rather than the refurbed keyboard. So Mike, this may explain why your keyboard looked so clean!

 

[Ibonic]

Thank you for your sympathy! Honestly I don't know how I manage to block it out. I considered a while back getting a new monitor to hook up the macbook, but it seemed like you have to leave the macbook open the whole time you are hooked to monitor. Is that actually true? This G4 is killing me daily - I'll never last another month. Now I'm wondering if maybe I should just spring for the 2.93, I could order thru Powermax , no tax, total $1788. Would be difference of $500 bucks. Not sure if it would be worth that or not. I don't know how much ram costs (for the 2.8), the extra hard drive is always nice as I keep my computers long time, but really, how much do you need. The white macbook would hook right into the 2.8 firewire , correct? To transfer files? So you ordered the refurb? Why aren't they clearing out the 3.06 I wonder?? And if they did I wonder how low would price even go? ARGGG decision!

If you get an external mouse and keyboard you can close the macbook and wake it up by moving the mouse and keyboard. You'll probably need to by a USB hub since the macbook only has 2. Or a wireless/bluetooth keyboard which is the route I went, but I still needed the hub for the external drives.

I don't know about hooking up the laptop to the iMac, as I've never tried that, transferring usually over my wifi network.

I went for the refurb. Gone down that path 2 times already, great deal. First time buying refurb, I was full of anxiety, but they're practically new. I'll see if that holds true for this latest order.

I found this thread useful:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/661496/

 

[roski11]

I got my 24" 2.8 ghz a few hours ago. No new box, but it works pretty well.

 

[patricem]

I got my 24" 2.8 ghz a few hours ago. No new box, but it works pretty well.

How is the fan noise? Is it quiet or do you hear things running? Thx

 

[adammelancon]

I got my 24" 2.8 ghz a few hours ago. No new box, but it works pretty well.

Same for me. What an amazing machine!

 

[patricem]

Same for me. What an amazing machine!

Fan noise?

 

[roski11]

Fan noise?

Quiet as hell for me.

The CD drive makes some noise though.

 

[WndrWmn78]

When I was chatting online with an apple rep... i questioned her to be sure my refurb would come with a keyboard that had a number pad. I didnt figure it would come with the new numberless keyboard, but just my luck if I hadn't asked it would have!! Anyway.. she told me that it does come with a number keypad, but she added that all refurbs are shipping with new keyboards. They are shipping them with the keyboard that goes with the model ordered, but a new one rather than the refurbed keyboard. So Mike, this may explain why your keyboard looked so clean!

So are you saying that in order to get the keyboard WITH the number pad, I should call my order in rather than buy online? I got a little confused with the part I underlined...thanks!

Everyone else, thank you for your input...you are absolutely correct in that I do not need quad-core or 8 gigs of ram. And in the future if it turns out that I do, I'll be ready to update by then.

 

[Osprey]

I just ordered a Clearance iMac online, the 24"- 2.8 and I need some reassurance that this will be a decent computer. Although we own two MBPs (his and hers), we have never owned an iMac. I am assuming that it will run Photoshop CS4 alright, but you know what they say about assuming. I have to be honest, I was pretty nervous about purchasing an iMac because I am not sure I like all the aspects of the all-in-one concept of iMacs, but a MacPro would be over kill and I would have spent much more for a new Mac Mini with 24" display. Are the iMacs usually pretty dependable?

 

[dborja]

I just ordered a Clearance iMac online, the 24"- 2.8 and I need some reassurance that this will be a decent computer. Although we own two MBPs (his and hers), we have never owned an iMac. I am assuming that it will run Photoshop CS4 alright, but you know what they say about assuming. I have to be honest, I was pretty nervous about purchasing an iMac because I am not sure I like all the aspects of the all-in-one concept of iMacs, but a MacPro would be over kill and I would have spent much more for a new Mac Mini with 24" display. Are the iMacs usually pretty dependable?

It should run Photoshop CS4 just fine. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how capable the iMacs are. The displays are gorgeous; although, it depends on how you feel about the glossy display. It does take some getting used to but the images are sharper and brighter. I'm also leery about anything that's "all-in-one" but, in the case of the iMacs, it is well done.

 

[scicc]

version of iLife on refurbs

Do the refurbs have an older version? I spoke with an apple salesman before the new release, and he discouraged the refurb for this reason.
Also, is there no ed discount with the refurb?
I have to decide between the refurb and the clearance.
Since I'll be using iPhoto and iMovie a lot, the latest version of iLife is important to me.
Thanks, Scicchitano

 

[Mike in Kansas]

Do the refurbs have an older version?

I ordered the 20"/2.66 refurb an hour after Apple announced the new iMacs and all the old ones were put on clearance. When I received it yesterday it came with iLife '08 pre-installed and an iLife '09 drop-in disk. I installed iLife '09 yesterday and everything was good to go.

 

[KratosKilla]

iLife

Do the refurbs have an older version? I spoke with an apple salesman before the new release, and he discouraged the refurb for this reason.
Also, is there no ed discount with the refurb?
I have to decide between the refurb and the clearance.
Since I'll be using iPhoto and iMovie a lot, the latest version of iLife is important to me.
Thanks, Scicchitano

Can't you get iLife for like a cheap amount even if you buy the refurb?

 

[Mike in Kansas]

Can't you get iLife for like a cheap amount even if you buy the refurb?

Not sure. If you bought new after the iLife upgrade announcement but before all of the stock had either the pre-installed version or the drop-in version you could get the upgrade shipped to you for ~$10.00. Apple's refurb policy is to give you at the minimum the software that was pre-installed on that machine that it originally came with. So I guess if you get a refurb unit that was for sale after the iLife '09 upgrade then you get a disk with it.

Otherwise, you need to pay the full iLife '09 price.

 

[Osprey]

Do the refurbs have an older version? I spoke with an apple salesman before the new release, and he discouraged the refurb for this reason.
Also, is there no ed discount with the refurb?
I have to decide between the refurb and the clearance.
Since I'll be using iPhoto and iMovie a lot, the latest version of iLife is important to me.
Thanks, Scicchitano

I purchased the clearance iMac because it was only $100 more than the refurbished one. I don't think it really matters as far as quality goes. And to the best of my knowledge there is no educational discount with the refurbished, but there is with the clearance. When I placed my order and went to checkout I couldn't figure out why the price had increased so much. Then I saw for some reason it had automatically put iLife '09 in my cart as well. Could have just been a glitch, but since I had already purchased iLife "09, I deleted it from my cart.

So I know that doesn't answer your question, you could call Apple and get a more definitive answer, but I would really think that the clearance ones should ship with iLife "09.