- Joined
- Feb 9, 2011
- Messages
- 184
- Reaction score
- 4
- Points
- 18
- Location
- Hong Kong
- Your Mac's Specs
- 21½" 3.6GHz Core i5 iMac, 12GB Crucial RAM
So Uncle Sam wasn't as generous as I'd hoped he would be and I didn't get "all that" back this year. No worries, I'm still getting a smokin' iMac! Naturaly I selected the best iMac I can afford, the 21.5" 3.2GHz Intel Core i3, selected my config (which absolutely must include iWork and a full-sized keyboard /w numeric pad) and was ready to rock. I
...but wait, refurb iMac to the rescue!
The 21.5" 3.2GHz Intel Core i3 I'd selected has the 1TB hard drive & the ATI Radeon HD 5670 with 512MB, but I discovered a 21.5" 3.60GHz Intel Core i5 refurb for about literally $8 more (after tax) than the new i3. Its got the same 1TB hard drive & the ATI Radeon HD 5670 with 512MB, but $8 cheaper and has a faster processor. Almost sounds like a no-brainer.
Almost.
Unfortunately when I add on the requisite iWork ($79) and the full-sized keyboard with numeric pad ($49), am I really ahead? The only difference between the "new" 21.5" 3.2GHz Intel Core i3 iMac and the 21.5" 3.60GHz Intel Core i5 refurbed iMac is the cost of the i3-to-i5 processor upgrade; $180...and I'm paying $128 of that just to get the iWork and must-have full-sized keyboard I'd have otherwise ordered with the i3.
Essentially, it comes down $52 (if I upgraded my i3 to an i5 myself). Is it worth saving $52 to get a refurb over a new iMac (particularly when the refurb could have issues or dings)?
...but wait, refurb iMac to the rescue!
The 21.5" 3.2GHz Intel Core i3 I'd selected has the 1TB hard drive & the ATI Radeon HD 5670 with 512MB, but I discovered a 21.5" 3.60GHz Intel Core i5 refurb for about literally $8 more (after tax) than the new i3. Its got the same 1TB hard drive & the ATI Radeon HD 5670 with 512MB, but $8 cheaper and has a faster processor. Almost sounds like a no-brainer.
Almost.
Unfortunately when I add on the requisite iWork ($79) and the full-sized keyboard with numeric pad ($49), am I really ahead? The only difference between the "new" 21.5" 3.2GHz Intel Core i3 iMac and the 21.5" 3.60GHz Intel Core i5 refurbed iMac is the cost of the i3-to-i5 processor upgrade; $180...and I'm paying $128 of that just to get the iWork and must-have full-sized keyboard I'd have otherwise ordered with the i3.
Essentially, it comes down $52 (if I upgraded my i3 to an i5 myself). Is it worth saving $52 to get a refurb over a new iMac (particularly when the refurb could have issues or dings)?