Buying first IMac, alot of questions

[lclev]

I will add to the refurbished is great camp. We purchased a refurbished iMac from Apple - 2013, i5, 8GB memory - at my work. It arrived in a new box, packed up in all new materials, absolutely in pristine condition and works wonderfully.

Lisa

 

[bobtomay]

Yeah, I've looked at that one and not quite willing to pay Apple's price for the RAM nor for that 1 TB flash storage. I must be gettin' old cause I'm havin' trouble pressing the buy button on what I do want - even after the wife told me to "quit whining about it and just go get it".

 

[Slydude]

Yeah, I've looked at that one and not quite willing to pay Apple's price for the RAM nor for that 1 TB flash storage. I must be gettin' old cause I'm havin' trouble pressing the buy button on what I do want - even after the wife told me to "quit whining about it and just go get it".

You have far more restraint than I do my friend. You have the best excuse in the world: Permission from your better half. Use it before it disappears.

 

[wornslick]

Sorry to have taken so long to reply but I have a hard time making decisions like this, I seem to worry and think too much into it.

I have narrowed it down to these two. They are the top two on the list, but I do have a questions. I know that both of them will work for what I do on a computer but should I concern myself with what year they were originally built? Are they the same inside?

Refurbished iMac 27" - Apple Certified Refurbished Mac Desktop Computers - Apple Store (U.S.)

Thanks for all the help you have given me.

 

[pigoo3]

I have narrowed it down to these two. They are the top two on the list, but I do have a questions. I know that both of them will work for what I do on a computer but should I concern myself with what year they were originally built? Are they the same inside?

Yes the date mentioned is important. The date refers to the what model it is. Same dates mean the same model release. Different dates mean different model releases.

Since both of these have the same RELEASE date (that's what that date is)…both of these computer are the same model generation. In fact…those tow computers are practically identical…except the more expensive one have more video ram.

HTH,

- Nick

p.s. By the way. The computers listed in the Apple refurbished area change all the time (some disappear & new ones appear)…is can be a very "dynamic" area.

So saying 'It's the top two on the list"…may or may not always be correct.

There was about 1 hour between your posting & my response…so hopefully things didn't change in the refurbished list.

 

[wornslick]

Unless I am reading it wrong,or mistaken, they do have different released dates. Oct 2012 and Sept. 2013.

 

[wornslick]

So saying 'It's the top two on the list"…may or may not always be correct.

There was about 1 hour between your posting & my response…so hopefully things didn't change in the refurbished list.

I now see what you are saying, the top one on the list, the cheaper one has disappeared.

 

[pigoo3]

I now see what you are saying, the top one on the list, the cheaper one has disappeared.

Ok…that's what I was afraid of…things changed between the time you posted & I responded.

When I looked the top 2 in the list were both "September 2013". No biggle. Between "October 2012" and "September 2013"…I probably would have recommended the September 2013 anyway.

It's very possible that there was only one of those October 2012 27" iMac's in the refurbished area. And when that one was sold…it disappeared from the list. Stuff in the refurbished area can be VERY limited quantity.

- Nick

 

[wornslick]

Well after 2 weeks of trying to figure out what is wrong with my current computer, with no luck I finally pulled the trigger and got a Apple computer. I bought the 27" Mac with retina display. Best Buy had it on sale for 1899.00, but I fooled around and waited to long and missed the sale so I paid 1979.00. I can't wait to get it and I am sure I will have lots of questions like this one, what's the best way to transfer all my info from my old computer to my new one? And if my old computer does have a virus is it safe to hook them together? I do have Carbonite on my old computer.

 

[pigoo3]

Well after 2 weeks of trying to figure out what is wrong with my current computer, with no luck I finally pulled the trigger and got a Apple computer.

Hey glad to hear you pulled the trigger...and finally got something!

I bought the 27" Mac with retina display. Best Buy had it on sale for 1899.00, but I fooled around and waited to long and missed the sale so I paid 1979.00.

This sounds like the lower-end 27" iMac that Apple just released recently (about 2 weeks ago). I'm surprised that Best Buy had it on sale already (since it was only just released). Price at the Apple Store is $1999.

I can't wait to get it...

Since you purchased it from Best Buy...and since this model is in stock at the Apple Store...how come you have to wait? I would have thought you could have walked out the store with it (after purchasing it).

...and I am sure I will have lots of questions like this one, what's the best way to transfer all my info from my old computer to my new one?

This question gets asked quite a bit (in fact maybe even "ad nauseam"). So since you have some time...please do some Mac-Forums searching. You're bound to find quite few threads discussing this.

Congrats again on your purchase!!!

- Nick

 

[wornslick]

Thanks Nick, the last time I was at our local Best Buy they didn't have any in stock, the salesman said they were an order item so I bought it online and it will be shipped to my house.

 

[pigoo3]

Thanks Nick, the last time I was at our local Best Buy they didn't have any in stock, the salesman said they were an order item so I bought it online and it will be shipped to my house.

Good deal...hopefully it arrives soon!!!

By the way. Without reading this thread all over again. I was rereading the very first post in this thread...and you mentioned wanting to get the 21" iMac because you didn't have enough room for a 27" iMac. Now you purchased the 27" iMac...and I was wondering...how did you find the room? Or what changed your mind?

And by the way. It's sort of good that you did take your time deciding which Mac to purchase. Since 7 weeks ago when this thread was started...the iMac model you purchased wasn't available (just released about 2 weeks ago). 7 weeks ago...the only 27" retina iMac that was available was the $2499 model.

- Nick

p.s. Also after re-reading your first post in this thread. It makes sense that you purchased from Best Buy online. Not only because the price was slightly lower than the Apple Store price...or because best Buy didn't have it in stock. But because you mentioned living 25 miles from Best Buy...and 120 miles from the nearest Apple Store.

I'm guessing though...that if Best Buy had it in stock...you would have been willing to drive the 25 miles to get it! 25 miles is not too bad.

 

[wornslick]

Oh yeah, I would have went and picked it up for sure. At first I didn't think the 27" would work but after getting the dimensions of the computer I took a piece of cardboard and made a template of a 27" with the 21" inside of it so I could make up my mind. The 21" wasn't much bigger than the monitor we have now and the 27" wasn't as big as I thought it would be. Also my wife reminded me that we are not getting any younger and the bigger monitor will be easier to see! LOL

 

[pigoo3]

I think that you will love the 27" display. The 27" iMac retina display is probably one of the best display's available in the "computing world" at the moment!

Not only does it look great. But depending on what sort of display you were using with your current/previous computer...you will have a ton of "screen real estate" as well!

One thing you may find with such a large display. You may find that you need to sit back a little bit further from it to be able to properly "drink it all in"!

- Nick

 

[wornslick]

After a little glitch in the order from Best Buy, Mrs. Slick is going after our new imac tomorrow. I am very happy that there was a glitch, they just went on sale for $1799.00, and that's what we paid. I did contact Apple about transferring my files and such and was told by them to give them a call when I was ready and they would walk me through the process, great customer service already! Looking forward to getting this bad boy.

 

[pigoo3]

I am very happy that there was a glitch, they just went on sale for $1799.00, and that's what we paid.

Very nice price. I know you mentioning that you missed the last sale (due to procrastination)!

Apple's selling the lower-end 27" retina iMac for $1999...so $1799 is a super price!

I don't know if you were thinking of purchasing extended Applecare. But with that $200 savings...that would about pay for it (3 years of coverage against manufacturing defects). And phone support if you purchase it soon.

Of course let us know how the unboxing & initial use go!

- Nick

 

[wornslick]

I don't know if you were thinking of purchasing extended Applecare. But with that $200 savings...that would about pay for it (3 years of coverage against manufacturing defects). And phone support if you purchase it soon.

Of course let us know how the unboxing & initial use go!

- Nick

Yes, I am planning on getting the Apple Care, how soon do I need to buy it to receive the phone support? I will keep in touch on the unboxing and first use, and probably quite a few after that!

 

[pigoo3]

Yes, I am planning on getting the Apple Care, how soon do I need to buy it to receive the phone support?

Apple makes this kind of confusing. I checked Apple.com and the Applecare FAQ...and they don't exactly spell it out. I think that it used to be within either 30 or 60 days of purchase.

Since you mentioned calling Apple to help with file transfer. Ask them then about when you need to purchase Applecare+ to get 3 full years of phone support (you only get 90 days with the included free Applecare).

Then please let us know what they say...so we know the latest & greatest from Apple.

- Nick

 

[wornslick]

I will let you all know what they say.

 

[wornslick]

I just read this on Macworld....

"How long it extends support: For Macs and displays, AppleCare gets you a total of three years’ support—in other words, it extends phone support by 33 months and the limited warranty by two years (for a total of three years). For all other products—iPods, iPads, iPhones, and Apple TVs—AppleCare gives you a total of two years of support. "

So if I am reading this correctly I have 3 months to purchase Apple Care.