I want an Apple Laptop/ used what to get?

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Hi
I bought a used macbook pro-late 2011 model off of ebay but it came already set up and with a host of problems such as imessage and facetime not working/ not letting me log in. So after trying every single suggestion I have been offered, I decided to start from scratch and return this one. I have a budget of about 500 dollars for a macbook. I would like 8gb ram and would prefer a solid state drive if its an older machine. My husband asked me to try to get something newer than that one since the problems could have been either the hard drive or just the age/ obsolescence. But since I only have a budget of 500 I know that's not much in Apple world.
What I need to be able to do is light phot/video editing, school work (I have to draw anatomical pictures for my current class) but I also have to log into biodigital human, if you've ever seen that. I have to make powerpoint presentations ( I can get the software for mac from my school) But I want iMessage and Facetime to work.
I am not a heavy gamer or coder. I am the furthest thing from an audiophile. I barely ever listen to music. I like Youtube videos but I don't need the best sound system to hear those. It doesn't have to have the latest and greatest but it does have to get me through school work and allow me to contact my family/ friends using the imessage app and Facetime since most of my long distance family members use these apps and want to keep in touch with me/my kids etc.
Newer than 2011 preferred, since that did not work well for me. Macbook Pro or Air. Can someone tell me what to kind of look for? Even a link to ebay or other sellers would help? Would like to stick to 500 if possible. I need advice since I am new to the apple world. Decided to switch after wanting to punch a hole in multiple windows laptops for giving up on me less than 6 months after purchase. And what I said I do on a laptop is ALL I do. Schoolwork, photo editing, make drawings, check facebook and email that's it. I am boring. So they shouldn't have given up and frozen so much. I decided to leave Windows after the third laptop in a year was just...bad. Any help appreciated. I don't want to get another clunker.

I was looking at this
NICE APPLE MACBOOK AIR 11" 128GB SSD | 8GB RAM | 1.4GHz Intel i5 A1465 +FREECASE | eBay

Wondering if its a good deal and a good thing for what I need??
 
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chscag

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I was looking at this

NICE APPLE MACBOOK AIR 11" 128GB SSD | 8GB RAM | 1.4GHz Intel i5 A1465 +FREECASE | eBay

Wondering if its a good deal and a good thing for what I need??

First, I would be leery about anything purchased from eBay even when the seller has good rep and the item looks like a good bargain. Just my opinion, so use your best judgement.

As for the 11' MacBook Air, it's highly portable but the screen may be too small to do any kind of graphic work on. And Apple may no longer support that model. It's listed as a model A1465 which means it could be a 2013, 2014, or the last one Apple produced in 2015. Ask the seller which year it is.

I suspect it's an older model since he's only asking $299.00.
 
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First, I would be leery about anything purchased from eBay even when the seller has good rep and the item looks like a good bargain. Just my opinion, so use your best judgement.

As for the 11' MacBook Air, it's highly portable but the screen may be too small to do any kind of graphic work on. And Apple may no longer support that model. It's listed as a model A1465 which means it could be a 2013, 2014, or the last one Apple produced in 2015. Ask the seller which year it is.

I suspect it's an older model since he's only asking $299.00.

The description says 2014
Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction then. I dont mean huge graphic work and i do have an external monitor. I mean drawing anatomical pictures like labeling the brain or something like that. Also i need to be able to read my books from it til i can pony up for an ipad later. Lol. Well anyway i can do 13" but i don't need huge since i have 2020 vision. Im colorblind so i don't need fancy hd. I cant even tell the difference in anHD image and a normal one.

Any advice from where to get one would be great. I want to stay within 500 if possible for my budget.
 

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I had an 11-inch MacBook Air and even with good vision I often found the screen size too small unless portability/weight is the number one criteria.

I don't really know what prices older MacBooks currently fetch in the US, but if one can get a 2014 11-inch MacBook air for $300.-, one should be able to get a 13-inch one that same year or even a year younger for $500 or less.

I would suggest post whatever you are considering here and see what members think about the unit.
You can also check out Buy Certified Refurbished Apple Products | RefurbMe and see what is listed there.

Maybe bump the price range up to $550.- so you don't miss any priced just a bit over $500.- and I would strongly suggest to stick with the 8GB RAM requirement.
 
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Well anyway i can do 13' but i don't need huge since i have 2020 vision. Im colorblind so i don't need fancy hd. I cant even tell the difference in anHD image and a normal one.

Any advice from where to get one would be great. I want to stay within 500 if possible for my budget.

If you can't tell a difference, in truth, you're probably better off with a 13-inch display. Also, if you have a $500 dollar budget, try to find something in that range. I personally think you can find something better for a $500 dollar budget.

Furthermore, I think the advice of chscag is right on. Something to think about.
 
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I had an 11-inch MacBook Air and even with good vision I often found the screen size too small unless portability/weight is the number one criteria.

I don't really know what prices older MacBooks currently fetch in the US, but if one can get a 2014 11-inch MacBook air for $300.-, one should be able to get a 13-inch one that same year or even a year younger for $500 or less.

I would suggest post whatever you are considering here and see what members think about the unit.
You can also check out Buy Certified Refurbished Apple Products | RefurbMe and see what is listed there.

Maybe bump the price range up to $550.- so you don't miss any priced just a bit over $500.- and I would strongly suggest to stick with the 8GB RAM requirement.


Found this
Refurbished MacBook Air 13.3" (Early 2015) - core i5 - RAM 8GB - SSD 128 GB | Back Market


Is this a good site?

Ty for the advice btw.
 
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If you can't tell a difference, in truth, you're probably better off with a 13-inch display. Also, if you have a $500 dollar budget, try to find something in that range. I personally think you can find something better for a $500 dollar budget.

Furthermore, I think the advice of chscag is right on. Something to think about.

Yeah I honestly cant tell. It might not be my color blindness lol. I could just be visually stupid. But yeah I found a bigger screen and newer model for just under 500 on backmarket.com and hope its a good enough one for my needs. I just realized my husband wants to use it on occasion too and he's got bad vision so would be happier with the bigger screen.
 
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Yeah I honestly cant tell. It might not be my color blindness lol. I could just be visually stupid. But yeah I found a bigger screen and newer model for just under 500 on backmarket.com and hope its a good enough one for my needs. I just realized my husband wants to use it on occasion too and he's got bad vision so would be happier with the bigger screen.

I think that is a better deal. However, with all purchases of used items on the internet, you are taking a risk. So think about that before you purchase.

My MacBook Air is exactly the same thing, year and all. However, I only use it for browsing the web, emails, and playing music. So other then that, I can't really comment on it. It is not my main computer and don't do much with it. With that said, I have been happy with it though.
 
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I think that is a better deal. However, with all purchases of used items on the internet, you are taking a risk. So think about that before you purchase.

My MacBook Air is exactly the same thing, year and all. However, I only use it for browsing the web, emails, and playing music. So other then that, I can't really comment on it. It is not my main computer and don't do much with it. With that said, I have been happy with it though.
Ok i will probably land on that after my refund processes onto my credit card
 
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I would wait and see what others think and have to say before you jump on a purchase. I am not trying to be controlling or anything like that, but others may have different thoughts, suggestions, ideas or experiences that I don't that could influence your decision.
 

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I know nothing about backmarket.com - just do a bit of checking on the net.
Probably better than buying from Craigs List.

I would check where they ship from and where it needs to be returned if there is a problem.
Also, the return period and the warranty helps a bit.
It looks as if this is a French company, maybe with a presence in the US since that is a huge market.
The Macs are supposedly fully checked and refurbished if necessary - thatr all sounds good.
I just did a quick look and didn't see any obvious red flags - but I would try to do as much checking about the company as possible before you buy.
 
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Ok thanks. I appreciate all the feedback. I wont be getting a refund processed for a few days if not a week just because my return doesn't get picked up until Tuesday. And the refund is processed after shipment. Then i have to wait the 3 days it takes to go back on the card. in the meantime I will be browsing and keeping an eye on the thread as well.
 

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Looking at the ad again, I personally would spend the extra money and go for the $450 "good" one with no scratches on the screen.

One thing to check when you get it is the battery and the % charge it will take.
 
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Looking at the ad again, I personally would spend the extra money and go for the $450 "good" one with no scratches on the screen.

One thing to check when you get it is the battery and the % charge it will take.

Alright. Is that one on backmarket?
 
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Looking at the ad again, I personally would spend the extra money and go for the $450 "good" one with no scratches on the screen.

One thing to check when you get it is the battery and the % charge it will take.

You're right I didn't see that at 1st. The screen has damage.

This one seems a bit better CLICK HERE or if you wish to spend $50 more, this one seems a bit better at $500 CLICK HERE.
 

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You're right I didn't see that at 1st. The screen has damage.

Well, I wouldn't call it "damage"
For a 4 or 5 year old laptop that gets moved around, it's hard to find one that doesn't have fine scratches on the screen.
They are usually not really visible once the screen is lit up.
 
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Well, I wouldn't call it "damage"
For a 4 or 5 year old laptop that gets moved around, it's hard to find one that doesn't have fine scratches on the screen.
They are usually not really visible once the screen is lit up.

Well, mine, looks brand new. No scratches anywhere. Although you are right. It is hard to find one like that.
 
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First, I would be leery about anything purchased from eBay even when the seller has good rep and the item looks like a good bargain. Just my opinion, so use your best judgement.

So I'm just wondering what the recommended alternatives are for purchasing used Macs when the same conditions can apply to any site or place selling used equipment.

At least the buyer has some sort of protection as opposed to buying from a private Classified sale.

But even some of those could provide a pretty good bargain.


- Patrick
======
 
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So I'm just wondering what the recommended alternatives are for purchasing used Macs when the same conditions can apply to any site or place selling used equipment.

At least the buyer has some sort of protection as opposed to buying from a private Classified sale.

But even some of those could provide a pretty good bargain.


- Patrick
======

pm-r, by no means do you seem like newbie. As I am sure you know, you have to do research on the seller on any website. I have done this numerous times with various things and have not had any issues at all over the years. However, I do not purchase used computers, only new ones.

I have purchased used vintage stereo equipment and it is kinda the same thing. Do research on the seller and decide if you are willing to take the risk. So far, I haven't had any issues.
 

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