Apple Filter: New or Refurbished?

September 5, 2007 7:44 PM

Apple filter: New or refurbished?

Here's the deal. I am looking at a new Macbook Pro. I am a grad student so I can get a new one for $1799 or I can get a refurbished one for $1699. I read Apple's explanation of a refurbished machine, but that was of little help. I need real world experience.

An obvious pro to buying refurbished is the $100 savings. But for $100 more I can get a brand spankin' new MBP.

So, what do I do? Are the refurbished machines a good option? Has anyone had experience with a refurbished Apple? And if so, would you do it again? Regardless of what I buy I get a 1 year Apple warranty. (AppleCare is on the list, as well).

Thanks in advance, Mefites.

posted by mjger to Computers & Internet (19 answers total)

For $100.00, go new. "Refurbished" means "mysterious history;" is it a repaired return? An open box return? A lemon that they gave up on and swapped out the motherboard? No telling. Better odds with brand new, and less likely to have ghosts in the machine.

Note: I've had significant personal success with refurbed electronics, and I imagine others will chime in here with similar stories. I also know there are refurb nightmares out there. For $100.00, or less than 10%, I'd buy new if it were my decision to make.
posted by ZakDaddy at 7:51 PM on September 5, 2007

You're only saving $100 for a refurb? You may want to keep checking Apple.com to see if you can get a better deal. New units can be posted on a daily basis.

I got a refurb'ed MBP earlier this year and saved almost 30%. The first one that Apple shipped was DOA. Got that one exchanged for another one that has worked perfectly for the past six months and counting As I shipped the dead one back, a better model came up on the website for the same price, so I got to change my order.

I would do it again in a heartbeat.
posted by shino-boy at 7:52 PM on September 5, 2007

do they have all the same specs? if the refurbished machine has more memory or bells and whistles, it might be worth it.

no matter what, get applecare.
posted by thinkingwoman at 8:02 PM on September 5, 2007

1. do not get a mac without applecare. it's not an option, it's a requirement.
2. refurbished machines from apple are not the same as refurbished machines from other tech companies, especially since you will have applecare and they'll take care of any problems that pop up. i'm typing this quite happily on a refurbished macbook pro, my second refurbished laptop from apple, which is
3) also the second one i saved about 30% on, more than enough to pay for applecare. wait for a better deal, they pop up regularly so just keep refreshing.
posted by lia at 8:05 PM on September 5, 2007

Yes, keep checking for a better deal. Very carefully check the specs of what you're buying. Then buy it.

I've bought Mac refurbished stuff a couple times, saved a bunch (should be more than 100 bucks in your case... again, check ALL the specs) and have not had a single problem.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 8:10 PM on September 5, 2007

just to add another data point: I bought a refurbished iMac 4 years ago. it still runs beautifully and has never given me any trouble in all that time. but I agree with everyone who says either wait for a better deal or go new if the difference is only $100, and to get AppleCare. depending on your local Genius, it can be a huge lifesaver.
posted by dropkick queen at 8:11 PM on September 5, 2007

Response by poster: The specs are the same between the two machines. The $100 savings for the refurb is skewed because I get an education discount. If I was buying as a regular old joe then the savings would be $300.

The MBP in the refurb store is the newest MBP model (LED LCD, Santarosa, etc.) Sure the price on this machine will drop over time, but will the price drop in the near future?
posted by mjger at 8:20 PM on September 5, 2007

Quick question regarding Applecare (and sorry for slight hijack). Does the Hivemind suggest Applecare for Mac Towers also? I've always been of the opinion to get it on portable stuff (like laptops & ipods & such) but have forewent getting it on desktop models.

I ask because as soon as the new OS comes out, I'm replacing my old g4 (which hasn't had many issues other than those that come with heavy use and age).
posted by Wink Ricketts at 8:53 PM on September 5, 2007

Sure the price on this machine will drop over time, but will the price drop in the near future?

Possibly, though it depends what you mean by 'near'. My guess is that there won't be a price cut before MacWorld Expo in January, but if one does come, it'll be when Leopard comes out (ETA October). On that point, if you buy now (refurb or new) you probably won't be within the window that entitles you to a cheap upgrade.
posted by holgate at 8:55 PM on September 5, 2007

Response by poster: What is the window for the cheap OS upgrade?
posted by mjger at 9:00 PM on September 5, 2007

you get a free iPod nano (the old one) with a new laptop, so there's another consideration.

also, I'm typing from a Santa Rosa MBP, a little under a week old and I couldn't be happier with it.
posted by heeeraldo at 9:50 PM on September 5, 2007

I use a refurb G5 tower at home and I'd buy another refurb in the future. Think of it this way: The refurbs have gone through more quality control checks than brand new computers, so your chance of getting a lemon is probably lower. (Not that there are high incidences of lemons.)
posted by pmbuko at 9:52 PM on September 5, 2007

What is the window for the cheap OS upgrade?

For Tiger, it was the time between the announcement of a firm shipping date and the start of pre-orders (April 12th '05) and the actual shipping date (April 29th). It was a coupon you mailed in with $10 to cover (yeah, right) the cost of the boxed media.
posted by holgate at 10:26 PM on September 5, 2007

Wink Ricketts, I'd only recommend it on the laptops. I've had a desktop Apple atop my desk since 1981, never had AppleCare, never had a problem.
posted by ikkyu2 at 11:21 PM on September 5, 2007

Having sold hundreds of new and refurbished units, I would buy refurbished. Even if the savings was only $10. I've got full faith in Apple-certified refurbished computers.

On the other hand, we once got a batch of refurb previous-gen iPods, that came back with what I'd estimate at a 20% failure rate. Those went back to Apple and I don't buy refurb iPods anymore.

2c.
posted by churl at 11:23 PM on September 5, 2007

Does your school sell computers through the bookstore or their own computer store? If they do, they might have their own better deals available.

My school's computer store offers MBPs for $1899 that includes three years of Applecare, which is a better deal than the standard Apple Store educational price.

Personally if it's only a $100 difference I'd buy the new one. Like others have said, a 30% price difference would make buying a refurb worth it.
posted by needled at 5:01 AM on September 6, 2007

Apple's refurb program is great, probably the best I have ever seen. There's no difference between a new and a refurb with Apple gear.

Then again, $100 is not a lot of difference. Get the free nano. :)
posted by rokusan at 5:48 AM on September 6, 2007

I've got a refurb Pro and I love it to death. It was something like $400 off the list price and even $100 off the educational discount (I work at a large university). Best of all, even though I ordered directly from Apple, I was still able to get the educational discount on AppleCare, which gave me another hundred bucks off.

My boyfriend is a computer geek with colleagues who moonlight as Apple pimps. All of them say that this was the way to go.
posted by Madamina at 6:36 AM on September 6, 2007

There's no difference between a new and a refurb with Apple gear.

The new ones come in a nicer box. Refurbs come in a plain cardboard box.
posted by andrewraff at 7:34 AM on September 6, 2007