refurbished macbook?

[datadesign]

hi guys.
i need a macbook pretty soon. when i say need, i mean, my school is requiring it for the graphic design program.
i've been using pcs all my life, but started using the macs in the labs.

so...
refurbished macbook? anyone think its a good idea. you save around 300-400 bucks for a macbook someone returned.

or should i just get it brand new? i need a macbook pro btw, at least 15 inch.

[holycow77]

If you can afford brand new, get brand new.

That's assuming that these refurbed machines are different to what you can get new.
If you can get a refurbed machine with the exact same specs as a new one, with the exact same warranty as a new one, it may be worth looking at. But make sure the warranty is there.

[PrintDriver]

Depends on who's doing the refurb.
If it's an Apple dealer, your chances are better.
Occasionally places like CDW have return-refurbs.
Both with full warranties.
If it's Ebay, skip it.
Laptops get dropped on their heads too many times.

[b3njamin]

If it was me I'd go for a refurb no questions; just wish there were more available, I'd be reluctant to compromise on spec.

Comprehensive laptop insurance is way less (~$150 annually for MBP level of cover) than the $300-400 you save on the laptop, and is worth getting anyway, regardless of whether the machine was new or refurbished.

[greedo]

if you can find a refurb direct from Apple, get a refurb - but it is likely you will not find one. do NOT get a refurb from anyone other than apple.

having said that i would go new if you want to get the exact specs you want - we just ordered a new macbook pro that should actually be delivered today. we went for the middle 15" with the 2.66 processor, the 500GB 7200 RPM drive and 4GB of RAM. Matte screen of course. with the remote and the VGA and DVI dongles and 3 years of applecare and tax it came to about $2500.

the other important point is that as a student you get an academic discount. i teach so the above laptop was discounted, at normal retail it would have been about $2800.

[CMYK girl]

After getting a new mac book within the first year I've had it in for case cracking, and CD burner stopped working which seems to be a bug. Both were replaced and now the case is cracked again and it's only a year and half old. I'd go for a refurbished, specially if it's from Apple like greedo said and save some money. Find out if the CD burner has been replaced. The screen is not so good for exact color management and you can't use it outside much. Go for it.

[The_Black_Knight]

if you can find a refurb direct from Apple, get a refurb - but it is likely you will not find one.

I find this statement curious, because I see plenty of refurbs directly from Apple right here: Refurbished Mac (http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac?mco=MTM3NDY2NTI)

FWIW, my current home computer is a PowerBook that I purchased as a refurb six years ago. Apart from needing to replace a hinge twice, I haven't had any issues with the hardware at all.

[greedo]

usually refurbs are hard to come by for the specific configuration you want - but looks like there are plenty of macbook pros to be had at the moment.

[urstwile]

The refurbs are definitely going to be available based on popularity and timing. But I've got a refurb Mini, directly from the link TBK provided, and it works great.