08-01-2009, 12:05 PM

Hi Everyone--

So I am finally going to drink the Kool-Aid and get a Mac. Everyone I know that has ever had one has been supremely happy with it. I'm starting an MBA program in the fall at the University of Michigan. They offer several brand new MacBook Pro's with 3-year protection plans. I can get a 2.66 ghz version with the following specs for $2088:

2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
15.4" LED-backlit glossy widescreen display (1280x800)
320GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 rpm)
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500) (on 2 SO-DIMMs); supports up to 8GB
8x slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD+/-R DL; DVD+/-RW; CD-RW)
NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics processor; and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi (802.11n)
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit) Ethernet
Built-in iSight camera
Two USB 2.0 ports
SD Card Slot
One Firewire 800 port
Built in 73-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard
iLife '09 (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, GarageBand)
5.5 lbs. (14.35" x 9.82" x 0.95")
3-year AppleCare extended warranty


HOWEVER, I found someone selling their NIB MacBook Pro 2.4 ghz with the following specs for $700:

15" Apple MacBook Pro

* Model Name: MacBook Pro
* Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo
* Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
* Number of Processors: 1
* Total Number Of Cores: 2
* L2 Cache: 3 MB
* Memory: 4 GB
* Bus Speed: 800 MHz
* Screen type: matte
* Chipset Model: GeForce 8600M GT
* VRAM (Total): 256 MB
* Resolution: 1440 x 900
* Backlit keyboard
* Height: 1.0 inch (2.59 cm)
* Width: 14.1 inches (35.7 cm)
* Depth: 9.6 inches (24.3 cm)
* Weight: 5.4 pounds (2.45 kg)
* AppleCare Protection Plan: expires March 28, 2011

I'm not a computer gamer. I know that some of the coursework I will be doing will involve a lot of multimedia-type projects or course content. What are your thoughts on the differences between these two machines? Will I even miss what the 2.4 doesn't have? Also, is there any visual difference between the two?

Thanks!

Matt

08-01-2009, 12:13 PM

depends on your budget, that $700 MBP is the older model, but an excellent machine for the price and only a little slower than the new model

08-01-2009, 12:16 PM

I can afford a brand new one, but it's been my experience in the past that I've "overbought" based on my actual needs. Do the two models look different from one another, or is all the difference on the inside? Thanks! **EDIT**--saving $1300+ on my computer purchase allows for other things, like stocking the bar, etc. But in the end I'm committed to getting an excellent machine. I just thought this might be a really great deal, and, for my purposes, I wouldn't notice the difference.

08-01-2009, 12:47 PM

The $700 machine looks fine to me. Sure, it's nice to have the newest and greatest but that 2.4 MBP is by no means a sloucher.

08-01-2009, 01:25 PM

Oh, and one other thing--do you know if this model would have the new unibody design?

08-01-2009, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by mnoesen

Oh, and one other thing--do you know if this model would have the new unibody design?

Based on the specs you provided...the $700 MacBook Pro would not be the Unibody design.

- Nick

08-01-2009, 02:00 PM

The price at $700 is too good.

Too good to be true unless you can purchase it "in person" to check it out.

First question I have - how would that machine be NIB and at the same time be 16 months into the warranty.

08-01-2009, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by bobtomay

The price at $700 is too good.

Too good to be true unless you can purchase it "in person" to check it out.

First question I have - how would that machine be NIB and at the same time be 16 months into the warranty.

Couple of great points!

This particular model MacBook Pro (the $700 one we're talking about)...was discontinued in Feb. 2008.

The Apple Care according to the post above expires March 2011...so this sounds like someone bought a 2 year Apple Care at some point.

But it's the "New In Box" part that's kind of hard to believe. Who would purchase a new MacBook Pro, buy a 2 year Apple Care plan, and let it sit for 18 months or more untouched! It's possible, but very very unlikely.

What's MORE likely...is the MacBook Pro was used by the buyer...they kept the original box...and are now definitely S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G the meaning of NIB (New In Box)!!!

As far as the price for this model 15" MacBook Pro being too good. It's a very good price & not impossible. I purchased a 2.33ghz 17" MacBook Pro a couple of weeks ago for $725...with a brand new $100+ battery.

At $700 it's a great deal, and if it has no signs of wear & tear...since the aluminum body get really get banged up, dented, and scratched...then it would be an awesome deal!

- Nick

08-01-2009, 03:30 PM

I've never been a fan of purchasing things from people online unless I can meet them in person so my advice would not only be to meet this person for pickup but to test the machine in their presence before you hand over the cash. I don't mean just turn it on either. Test wifi if you can (or at least make sure it can pick up signals), run through System Profiler to check the specs and status of equipment (click Apple logo in top left corner > About This Mac > "More Info..."), etc. Call it paranoia if you will but $700 is a lot of money to waste on equipment that may be broken.

Also, make sure it comes with everything that was included with it when it was new - restore discs, power adapters...