Am i missing out by buying a refurb?

blakediamond · Feb 17, 2009

Am i missing out by buying a refurb macbook?

In the next week or so ill be making the jump to a mac! I've settled on either the 2.0 or 2.4 unibody macbook (still trying to justify if I really NEED the backlit keyboard). Anyways, I've been looking on the apple refurb store and they have both models for $200 off. Now what I'm asking here is, since it will be my first Mac,will I be missing out any un virginizing unboxing expierence here? Am I setting myself up for failure here by simply buying a refurb? Any insight is appreciated!

bobtomay · Feb 17, 2009

It's extremely rare myself to purchase refurb, although, I have not heard any issues from those that have purchased refurb Mac's. From the posts I've seen, they are just as tickled as those that did buy new.

If you're in the mode of needing to try and save that extra cash outlay, then you'll have to decide for yourself if an original box vs a plain box is worth $200 or not. Beside the visual on the outside of the box, the unpacking, and I would think the excitement of it all, will be the same with both.

ADKhikerVW · Feb 17, 2009

I can certainly vouch for refurbs. I have bought a MacBook, a MacBook Pro, and an aluminum iMac from the refurb section. They were all flawless and good as new. It is definately worth saving the money.

Oh, and get the backlit keyboard, you will be glad you did.

jram · Feb 17, 2009

Many called them refurbs, I call them used. How did they become refurbs ? I know I never traded my machine in for another one. Did they run Hot? Did they have minor problems that Apple fixed ? Where did they come from? Why? Many questions to ask yourself. I myself never buy used, but that's me. If your only saving 200$ , I would buy new.

cwa107 · Feb 17, 2009

I bought a refurbished 15" Core Duo Macbook about 2 years ago. It was absolutely flawless, with the same warranty as new. The only difference was the packaging - and believe me, it's not worth the money. Once you take it out of the box, it goes in the basement and you'll probably never see it again

cwa107 · Feb 17, 2009

jram said:
Many called them refurbs, I call them used. How did they become refurbs ? I know I never traded my machine in for another one. Did they run Hot? Did they have minor problems that Apple fixed ? Where did they come from? Why? Many questions to ask yourself. I myself never buy used, but that's me. If your only saving 200$ , I would buy new.

Why does it matter? If it has the same warranty as new, then any problems should be handled by Apple.

The term "refurbished" means that it was a previously used device that was returned and made "like new". Frankly, with the increasingly poor quality control at Apple's sub-contracted manufacturing facilities in China, you probably stand a better chance of getting a flawless refurb than you would a new machine.

garyk · Feb 17, 2009

jram said:
Many called them refurbs, I call them used. How did they become refurbs ? I know I never traded my machine in for another one. Did they run Hot? Did they have minor problems that Apple fixed ? Where did they come from? Why? Many questions to ask yourself. I myself never buy used, but that's me. If your only saving 200$ , I would buy new.

Or perhaps they just didnt want it? You can return it for any reason and not just because it is faulty. I just got a 13.3" macbook refurb for £178 less than a brand new in box model, looks mint and the only difference? It came in a plain white box rather than a stylish apple one!

Gary

AirAddict · Feb 17, 2009

Backlit keyboard is over rated, Had the 2.4 and now the 2.0 and prefer the 2.0, sounds crazy, but this one is quicker, and have no idea why?

JohnCL · Feb 17, 2009

Nothing at all wrong with saving money! I have a refurbed iMac and I could in no way tell a difference from new. The warranty was the same, the quality was the same, and I got to unbox it the same. The box was brown instead of white, but does that really matter?

In the end I am staring at a perfect iMac and I saved a few hundred bucks to boot.

Staszek · Feb 17, 2009

jram said:
Many called them refurbs, I call them used. How did they become refurbs ? I know I never traded my machine in for another one. Did they run Hot? Did they have minor problems that Apple fixed ? Where did they come from? Why? Many questions to ask yourself. I myself never buy used, but that's me. If your only saving 200$ , I would buy new.

There is a difference between used and refurb, this is not a car. I think you are comparing them to the Certified warranties that say a BMW offers where really they dont do much to the car but extend the warranty.

Refurb is completely different, if there was a problem it is fixed, many times the plastic and glass is replaced, they look brand new and have a new warranty.

I also agree with the other poster, since the refurbishing is done by Apple themselves not the plant in China (and this is only my opinion) the quality control should be as good if not better then when new.

eddielee · Feb 17, 2009

I can't say anything about referb products...as long as they have that new Mac smell it should be okay

You all must know the smell I mean

And backlit keyboard is defiantly worth it... im so glad I payed the extra

jroller · Feb 17, 2009

I would recommend that you NOT buy new if you can find a refurb you like.

blakediamond · Feb 18, 2009

ok i made the jump. I settled on the 2.0 unibody macbook! My final price after tax was $1,197.91 which i think is a fiarly good deal. I couldn't justify $300 more for the backlit keyboard.

Thanks for everyone input.

Mama Luigi · Feb 18, 2009

Good deal! Yes, reburbs are great. Basically new machines (same warranty as new) but cheaper. Can't go wrong.

Qua Sar · Feb 18, 2009

cwa107 said:
Why does it matter? If it has the same warranty as new, then any problems should be handled by Apple.

The term "refurbished" means that it was a previously used device that was returned and made "like new". Frankly, with the increasingly poor quality control at Apple's sub-contracted manufacturing facilities in China, you probably stand a better chance of getting a flawless refurb than you would a new machine.

This quote is correct. Refurbished just mean it was previously a used device, it may or may not have had some problem. But with the refurbished title, it means everything has been fixed or tuned up with the refurbished mac, and it will pretty much be new, besides the fancy box. Now, on the question about if you should get refurbished or not, it really matters if you want to spend the money. But with the same warranty as a new one, i wouldn't see the problem unless you like to KNOW you have a new one with a fancy box. I myself have a refurbished macbook pro core duo and i got it about two to three years ago, and it runs great, even after i have added ram and replaced the hard drive (nothing was wrong with the hard drive, i just wanted a bigger one). I hope that helps with your question

as well (although it seems you have made the choice which i did not notice haha): The backlit keyboard to me is unjustified. I don't see the need for a backlit keyboard for a extra couple hundred. I can understand if you cannot type (which is not a bad things just means you spend less time in front of a computer

) but if you can touch-type without looking at the keyboard then the backlit keyboard to me seems useless. If I am wrong feel free to set me straight but that is my understanding. As well, if you alwys have a light on the backlit keyboard seems useless as well.