Macbook Pro DILEMMA

Hi all! I`m lookin right now at Apple website, under REFURBISHED Macs section... I want to buy one refurbished Macbook Pro 15" but I don`t fully understand some detalis under the "specs" so I`m asking for someones help with this two MBPs:


Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.0GHz quad-core Intel i7 - $1,529.00

Originally released February 2011
15.4-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display, 1440-by-900 resolution
4GB (2 x 2GB) of 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
500GB Serial ATA @ 5400 rpm
8x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Intel HD Graphics 3000 and AMD Radeon HD 6490M
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Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.66GHz Intel Core i7 - $1,569.00

Originally released April 2010
15.4-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display (1440 x 900 pixel)
4GB (2 x 2GB) of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM
500GB Serial ATA @ 5400 rpm
8x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M graphics processor with 512MB of GDDR3 memory

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I don`t understand that "Originally released April 2010" line.... Is that the device manufacture date or what? What is the better deal here by your opinion and why? All I wanted is to save some money and avoid to pay 1800usd for new MacBook Pro from Apple website and to go on that Refurbished option and save some 300usd.... Is that smart thing to do anyway?

Many thanks 4 your help !!!

Apple seems to use those dates to denote changes to a particular product lineup (product refresh). In the case above - Apple went to Sandy Bridge quad core processors in early 2011. Between the two computers above - I would definitely take the Feb 2011 MBP.

Yes, buying a refurb is a very smart thing to do. Apple stands behind it as if it were a new computer.

I agree with the poster above me. The first thing you will want to do is upgrade your RAM, which is very easy to do and should not cost more than $100 or so. It will give you a nice speed increase.

I agree with both Brian and Brad. Definitely would go with the 2011 model, a significant speed up per Geekbench and you also get Thunderbolt which may become a big factor as Thunderbolt compatible devices begin to appear.

Razormac said:

I agree with both Brian and Brad. Definitely would go with the 2011 model, a significant speed up per Geekbench and you also get Thunderbolt which may become a big factor as Thunderbolt compatible devices begin to appear.

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