Buying a refurbished Mac advice

Hello

I'm interested in this Mac from Cex...

https://uk.webuy.com/product.php?sku=SDESAPPIMA121001B#.WFRHK2SLRGE

It's really all I can afford at the moment, but wanted some advice from people who know what they are talking about i.e. You guys!

I basically need a new iMac as mine is a 2007 model and I cannot run anything above OSX 10.9.5. I just want to run Logic X in my very basic home studio and need to know if the above iMac would be a fairly good one to choose?

Thanks for any advice you guys may have for me in advance.

Cheers

Dan

My advice is...

Unless you can REALLY confirm what a companies refurbishing process includes...it's really just a used computer. Which isn't 100% bad...just warning you to not get a false sense of security when a company says "refurbished".

Apple sells refurbished computers (usually models that are 1-2 years old). And these come with a full 12 months of Applecare (exactly like brand new computers).

But agian. I'm not necessarily saying purchasing a used computer is bad. Just don't be led astray by the term "refurbished". It can mean very very different things from different places.

As far as the iMac in the link. It's a mid-2011 iMac. Going to be a lot better than a 2007 iMac (if what you have is a 2007 iMac). And if this 2011 iMac is the most your budget will allow. Then it's the best newer computer you can afford.

- Nick

The only refurbishers are Apple, and those machines come with a full year warranty and thye ltest operating systems. Do a Google for Apple Refrurb UK and see if anything you are interested in comes up. They do have a 27" iMac September 2013 for £1179 if the budget runs to it. It has the full year warranty and 27" models it is quite simple to increase the memory. 2012 and onwards 21.5" models you cannot do this. The mid 2011 model shown, you can simply increase the memory to 8GB if you purchase it.


http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/imac/27

I would be a little concerned that it only has 4gb of memory. You might consider upgrading it to 8gb or more. That computer can easily handle 32gb. Also the hard drive is a potential point of failure as it is 5 years old.

Replacing the HDD with an SSD might be something to look into. If you increase the memory and add an SSD it will increase the speed of it a lot. This could be a future upgrade if you get the computer.

Lisa

Thanks everybody. So is the general consensus that I should avoid anything that isn't from apple? Can anybody recommend anywhere that may sell used Macs who are trusted other than apple themselves?

Thanks again

You might check OWC . They are quite knowledgeable and carry some pre-owned Macs and related gear. There is a warranty though I think it is only 90 days whereas Apple's is one year.

DR13 said:

Thanks everybody. So is the general consensus that I should avoid anything that isn't from apple? Can anybody recommend anywhere that may sell used Macs who are trusted other than apple themselves?

Thanks again

Click to expand...

What I'm saying is...don't equate what Apple sells as refurbished...and what other companies/stores sell as "refurbished". Unless the other places can describe in detail what they do to refurbish a computer...AND...include a 12 month warranty. Then what they are probably selling is a used computer...and all they've done is make sure that everything functions.

What the other companies are selling (for the most part) is probably fine. But what they are selling are used computers...with a short 30-90 day warranty...and they are charging (in some cases) upwards of 50% more than what the same used computer could be purchased for via Craig's List or eBay.

- Nick

Someone I used to work with loved to buy from MacMall, http://www.macmall.com/?store=macma... - Brand&utm_term=macmall&utm_content=MacMall, but that was mostly new or more current Macs.

Another option is Mac of all trades, http://www.macofalltrades.com/

ferrarr said:

Another option is Mac of all trades, http://www.macofalltrades.com/

Click to expand...

I've used Mac of All Trades several times and have had good results. I think they sell gently used machines that come from the refresh cycles of businesses and universities.