best used mac laptop to get?

id like a used mac laptop, but which one should I get? is macbook air a good choice? I have no idea.

macgig said:

I have no idea.

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We have no idea of your budget. Gotta give us an idea of max budget before a "best used laptop to get" can be suggested.

- Nick

Your question is akin to me asking "What's the best used car to buy?"

What will it be used for? Graphics? Video? Internet?

The mid to late 2015 13" Macbook pro is a good choice but likely to be pricey. I suggest this because it is the last version with the older USB3 ports X 2, HDMI, card reader and Thunderbolt ports X 2. You might even be able to pick up with a 512 Gb SSD like mine. The current equivalent new model will set you back about AU $2000.00 (128Gb), AU $2200.00 (256GB) and only has Thunderbolt ports meaning you will need adapters or Bluetooth for everything peripheral.

macs tend to be expensive so that part scares me. it's possible that even used they may cost more than what I can afford. it would be used for email, web surfing mostly.

macgig said:

macs tend to be expensive so that part scares me. it's possible that even used they may cost more than what I can afford.

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Still can't really help without a number.

- Nick

can I get a good used mac laptop for under $500?

macgig said:

can I get a good used mac laptop for under $500?

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Sure. About 18 months ago I got my wife a 2015 MacBook Air for $600. That same computer should be around $500 or less now. That could be one possibility.

That was a pretty good deal. Some were selling for $700-$750 at the time I got it for $600.

- Nick

is that a 13" model? 4GB ram or more? I'm thinking 4gb ram is not enough. But i'm not sure they come with 8gb ram in that price range. and where is the best place to buy it?

thanks.

macgig said:

is that a 13" model? 4GB ram or more? I'm thinking 4gb ram is not enough. But i'm not sure they come with 8gb ram in that price range. and where is the best place to buy it?

thanks.

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Yes it was a 13" model. It has 8gig of RAM (I wouldn't get anything with less than 8gig these days).

"Best place to buy it?"...you very likely won't find these prices in stores (remember these are used computers not new). Craig's List & eBay.

- Nick

p.s. Least expensive on the Apple Store (refurbished) = $849. This is why to get the prices I mentioned you gotta shop Craig's List or eBay.

I agree 8gb RAM is a must these days. I was thinking ebay also but never bought a computer there before so I was wondering if it's a safe option. thanks for the help.

macgig said:

I was thinking ebay also but never bought a computer there before so I was wondering if it's a safe option.

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I wouldn't have suggested it if otherwise. But just like buying anything used...you need to do due diligence to to make sure what you paid for is what you got.

- Nick

I agree, a MacBook Air would be fine. I would try for 256Gb if possible but 128Gb will no doubt be cheaper. That would be fine if you don't want to store gigs of photos and music. You can make use of free cloud storage as well or keep photos on an external drive.
As for due dilegence the most you can do is try to limit your purchase to someone you can actually visit to inspect the device in person.
I once bought a virtually brand new device (MacBook) that had been given to the seller as a promotional deal, essentially never used. The owner preferred his Windows PC.