To buy or not to buy

[thollenbeck]

I'm new here so forgive me if this is the wrong forum or otherwise inappropriate.

Novice needs a lightweight machine to do online course access, browsing, Skype, light WP, DVD watching, etc. No power user.

What does anyone think of this deal:
Apple MacBook 13" A1181 White - $199.98
Condition: REFURBED
Processor: 2.0 GHz Intel "Core Duo" (T7200) processor
RAM: 2GB 667 MHz PC2-5300 DDR2 MemoryC
Connectivity: 802.11a/b/g WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
Hard Drive Size: 160GB
AC Adapter: INCLUDED
Media: DVDRW
Operating System: 10.7
30 day warranty

Reputable online and storefront dealer, not an eBay or Amazon seller.

Thanks for your opinions!

 

[pigoo3]

To be honest. In 2015…I wouldn't purchase any Mac (as my main computer) that didn't support at least 4gig of ram. This MacBook does not support 4gig of ram.

It is also cannot support OS 10.7 (as the spec list mentions).

- Nick

 

[cptkrf]

To be honest. In 2015…I wouldn't purchase any Mac (as my main computer) that didn't support at least 4gig of ram. This MacBook does not support 4gig of ram.

It is also cannot support OS 10.7 (as the spec list mentions).

- Nick

Nick is absolutely right. Anything less than 4gb is going to be a real problem. I had to replace a perfectly good 2009 Mac Mini for the wife because the apps outgrew the 2gb and the beachballs began to roll.

4gb will work, but if you are buying now, I would have to say that 8gb is the new minimum. 2 or 3 is going to put you in the slow lane.

 

[thollenbeck]

Thanks both. I did a bit more research and read where 2gb is the min. 10.7 will run under. I also read that 4gb can be installed, but only 3 will be addressed. Agree 4 would be the desired min., so I think this model is a no-go. 'Novice' will have to get by with a cheap PC!

Thanks again.

 

[pigoo3]

I did a bit more research and read where 2gb is the min. 10.7 will run under. I also read that 4gb can be installed, but only 3 will be addressed. Agree 4 would be the desired min., so I think this model is a no-go. 'Novice' will have to get by with a cheap PC!

Nope…not correct. The key detail that was mentioned in post #1 was that this computer was a "Core Duo". With a "Core Duo" CPU…this computer has a max. ram of 2gig…and max. OS of 10.6.8.

Now if this computer was a "Core 2 Duo"…then what you mentioned is correct. 4gig of ram can be installed (only 3gig addressable)…and a max. OS of 10.7.5.

Don't give up on helping this person get a Macintosh computer. They just need to spend a little bit more money…to get a slightly newer model. If this person really wanted a Mac (and use the Mac OS)…getting a "cheap PC" is not the answer. Windows and the Mac OS…and Mac hardware and Windows hardware are very different.

A "cheap PC" is not a great substitute for a Mac if this person wanted a Mac.

- Nick

 

[thollenbeck]

Ah, thanks for the corrections. I use both PC and Mac myself, and know this person can get by with a PC for the limited use case he'll have. thanks again.

 

[pigoo3]

Ok...no problem.

- Nick

 

[harryb2448]

Simply too old and Lion OS X.7 is now three operating systems back and will be the next one dropped for security updates by Apple.