15" Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.4GHz C2D any good?

[jbachandouris]

Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
15.4-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
2GB memory
250GB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Built-in iSight camera
Illuminated keyboard
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics processor; and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
$1299

It doesn't mention the 7 hour battery life, so I assume its older? Seeing as the new 15" start at $1799, I thought this might be a good compromise. Any thoughts?

 

[Hellhammer]

It's great deal for 1299$, definitely get that!

 

[jbachandouris]

It's great deal for 1299$, definitely get that!

What about battery life? If it doesn't mention 7 hours, what should I expect?

 

[Buck987]

Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
15.4-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
2GB memory
250GB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Built-in iSight camera
Illuminated keyboard
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics processor; and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
$1299

It doesn't mention the 7 hour battery life, so I assume its older? Seeing as the new 15" start at $1799, I thought this might be a good compromise. Any thoughts?

it has OS 10.5...

I owuld go with the $1349 version with 4gigs and OS X10.6

Only $50 more

 

[Hellhammer]

What about battery life? If it doesn't mention 7 hours, what should I expect?

It's ~5 hours but the battery is removable

it has OS 10.5...

I owuld go with the $1349 version with 4gigs and OS X10.6

Only $50 more

It has only 9400M... The 2.4GHz has both, 9400M AND 9600M GT. SL is only 29$ and it leaves you option to use Leopard as some people like it more. Then buy 4GB RAM.

2.53GHz with 9600M GT is 1449$, also a good deal as it has 4GB DDR3

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FB471LL/A?cid=AOS-US-AFF-FEED

 

[jbachandouris]

it has OS 10.5...

I owuld go with the $1349 version with 4gigs and OS X10.6

Only $50 more

I didn't scroll down far enough. You are right, that's a better deal since it has 4GB, SD Card, AND the '7' hours battery life. Apparently, the other one has no SD card reader (which I don't really need) and, if my research is correct, only 2 1/2 battery life (I already have that battery life with my outdated PC laptop).

 

[Hellhammer]

I didn't scroll down far enough. You are right, that's a better deal since it has 4GB, SD Card, AND the '7' hours battery life. Apparently, the other one has no SD card reader (which I don't really need) and, if my research is correct, only 2 1/2 battery life (I already have that battery life with my outdated PC laptop).

For 180$ more, you can get 2.66GHz with 9600M GT + 7-hour battery

http://www.refurb.me/go.php?c=us&ref=FB985LL/A&r=s

 

[jbachandouris]

For 180$ more, you can get 2.66GHz with 9600M GT + 7-hour battery

http://www.refurb.me/go.php?c=us&ref=FB985LL/A&r=s

I am not working right now, that's why I am looking for a good deal, but if I am going that high up wouldn't the brand new 15" be the best option (plus anti-glare is available)?

What is the advantage of the two graphics chips? I assume one is dedicated and the other integrated? Better performance?

 

[aiqw9182]

Why not get just a new 13-inch?

Same processor
Fairly same GPU performance
4 GB of RAM
Snow Leopard
Mini-Display Port with audio out
Trackpad with inertial scrolling
10 hour battery life

Only downer is the screen size over the 15". You could also bump up the HDD space to 500 GB on the 13" and it would bring it out to $1349.

 

[Hellhammer]

I am not working right now, that's why I am looking for a good deal, but if I am going that high up wouldn't the brand new 15" be the best option (plus anti-glare is available)?

Well, do you need better GPU? 9400M is enough for normal usage but for gaming the 9600M GT is worth it.

For 1399$, you can get the 2.53GHz 15" antiglare with 9400M

http://store.apple.com/us/product/G0GS2LL/A?cid=AOS-US-AFF-FEED

 

[jbachandouris]

Why not get just a new 13-inch?

Same processor
Fairly same GPU performance
4 GB of RAM
Snow Leopard
Mini-Display Port with audio out
Trackpad with inertial scrolling
10 hour battery life

Only downer is the screen size over the 15". You could also bump up the HDD space to 500 GB on the 13" and it would bring it out to 1,349.

Another 'downer' is the single in/out jack. I am not sure I need it just yet though. And I am also considering that. I have applied to work at the Apple store, so the outcome of that will aid my decision.

 

[aiqw9182]

Another 'downer' is the single in/out jack. I am not sure I need it just yet though. And I am also considering that. I have applied to work at the Apple store, so the outcome of that will aid my decision.

To be honest I haven't even touched the audio jacks in my Mac since I got the Griffin iMic. The line-in on Macs is a joke in my eyes because they don't have power for a microphone.

 

[jbachandouris]

To be honest I haven't even touched the audio jacks in my Mac since I got the Griffin iMic. The line-in on Macs is a joke in my eyes because they don't have power for a microphone.

As I said, I probably wouldn't need it, I just mentioned it as a difference.

 

[aiqw9182]

As I said, I probably wouldn't need it, I just mentioned it as a difference.

Either way all this should really come down to is if you need a slight resolution increase over more RAM, the latest Mac OS, 10 hour battery life and better portability.

It's up to you.

 

[Hellhammer]

As I said, I probably wouldn't need it, I just mentioned it as a difference.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/G0GS2LL/A?cid=AOS-US-AFF-FEED

Check that. It's antiglare but as aiqw9182 said, the new 13" is better in terms of performance but has no antiglare so up to you

 

[jbachandouris]

Either way all this should really come down to is if you need a slight resolution increase over more RAM, the latest Mac OS, 10 hour battery life and better portability.

It's up to you.

My biggest thing is battery life. I am using an HP Laptop and even with a 12 cell battery it only gets 2 1/2-3 hours battery life. That battery makes it weigh 7lbs!

As for resolution, Apple seems to use such high quality displays that a 1280 on a MBP is MUCH better than the 1280 on my 15" HP.

 

[aiqw9182]

My biggest thing is battery life. I am using an HP Laptop and even with a 12 cell battery it only gets 2 1/2-3 hours battery life. That battery makes it weigh 7lbs!

As for resolution, Apple seems to use such high quality displays that a 1280 on a MBP is MUCH better than the 1280 on my 15" HP.

If battery life is key then the current 13" is definitely what you're looking for. If you need anti-glare you can always get a matte screen protector or something similar of the sort.