Congrats, here is what I would do.
First, what I am basing my advice on doesn't seem the same, but I think the outcome would be great.
Last year I sold FIVE computers and bought one aluminum unibody MacBook. It was the 2.4 GHz, for $1599, and I upgraded the RAM myself for $105 and I upgraded the HDD myself for another $115. With taxes and all, I have $2000 invested, which later was the basis for a decision to spend MORE money. Get back to this in a moment.
One of the computers I sold was an original MBA. I loved the form, and I loved the hype but after being an initial buyer, it proved completely NOT capable of performing. In addition, I was really not happy with Apple's handling of it. When I bought the unibody MB, I didn't believe that Apple had truly reinvented the MBA. Remember it was three weeks later that the new MBA started shipping. After reading a post from NC MacGuy here, I started to really want the MBA. Used many rev Bs over a few months and fell in love.
Bought the rev B MBA 1.86 GHz with SSD. It was a small fortune but the total of both MB and newer MBA was less than the cash I raised by selling off my old five computers. Selling two of my old Macs really made me frustrated though as I wished I had not sold my MBP and my BlackBook. So I decided I would keep unibody MB as a backup.
My kids kept wanting to take over my MB for games and videos. But they are young and really would mistreat it, so I decided it was too big of an investment to let my kids ruin even though I am not using the MB. So, I thought about buying a MBP just like the one I sold OR a MB for my kids to use as a entertainment device. I thought the prices were insane for all of the "old" stuff on Craig's List And eBay.
HERE IS WHAT APPLIES TO YOU - I then thought why not post a WTB advertisement in Craig's List and let people submit the specs of their machine and their lowest sale price. I got some amazing replies and fast. Over a Friday and Saturday I had 26 submissions. There were some great and cheap Macs. I also said I was NOT concerned by physical or cosmetic damage IF the Mac performed basic tasks well AND would consider a notebook with damaged display. I have read about many who found a MB with broken LCD for $500 range. The main point was to get something that would WORK without needing to be pretty.
It came down to three machines for me. A broken iMac WITH an external 20" ACD for $700. The iMac's native display was broken and was white iMac but came with aluminum ACD.
The second machine was a WhiteBook with upgraded RAM to 4 GB and a 320 GB HDD at 7200 rpms. The catch was had many hairline and one big crack for $450.
The third was a $2499 original 2.33 GHz V2,2 MBP with 256 MB ATI graphics. Also had 320 GB HDD at 7200 rpm and 4 GB RAM. It was nearly identical to my original MBP but had a glossy but not glass display as my original was matte. The catch is had a big dent in top which seemed all the way to display but display looked perfect and no damage. Due to the damage, and fact that it had Tiger and iLife 08, the guy was willing to let it go for $650.
The deal was obvious to me, as I chose the MBP. I rolled out the damage to the lid after removing it and coming up with system to roll out dent on supposed to be flat portion that was severely dented. Amazing that it is almost NOT noticeable that was ever dented. My total investment was $650 plus $13 for tools to roll damage out, plus $125 inc shipping for a 5-user family Mac Box Set.
Mac Box Set bought on eBay. Which I really only used one license on MBP. Also able to install iLife 09 on unibody MB as well as iWork 09. Also able to install iWork 09 on MBA.
My recommendation is to do a similar thing and place ad in Craig's List. Will probably get a much better deal. Here was added bonus to placing WTB ad. All 26 sellers were eager to sell and were awarded quick cash and no hassle of ad and hundreds of calls.I got to choose from brand new models to damaged models where cosmetic saved me a fortune. Guy who sold his MBP to me for $650 had $3k invested. Had bought brand new MBP and didn't want to deal with hassle knowing was some cosmetic damage and figuring quick sale to someone who advertised cosmetic damage not a problem.
I say place an ad, and heck you never know the great offers you may get. Find out absolutely Everything before make decision on which to buy and when see it make sure all as informed. Ignore cosmetic damage as you can always fix later if beneficial and money becomes available. Cosmetic damage means big discount for something that doesn't affect using experience. Finally a Mac you never thought possible may end up yours for a price you never dreamed of. I think $800 can go a long way using this method.
Best wishes whichever route you go. Congrats on your new Mac whatever it may be.
First, what I am basing my advice on doesn't seem the same, but I think the outcome would be great.
Last year I sold FIVE computers and bought one aluminum unibody MacBook. It was the 2.4 GHz, for $1599, and I upgraded the RAM myself for $105 and I upgraded the HDD myself for another $115. With taxes and all, I have $2000 invested, which later was the basis for a decision to spend MORE money. Get back to this in a moment.
One of the computers I sold was an original MBA. I loved the form, and I loved the hype but after being an initial buyer, it proved completely NOT capable of performing. In addition, I was really not happy with Apple's handling of it. When I bought the unibody MB, I didn't believe that Apple had truly reinvented the MBA. Remember it was three weeks later that the new MBA started shipping. After reading a post from NC MacGuy here, I started to really want the MBA. Used many rev Bs over a few months and fell in love.
Bought the rev B MBA 1.86 GHz with SSD. It was a small fortune but the total of both MB and newer MBA was less than the cash I raised by selling off my old five computers. Selling two of my old Macs really made me frustrated though as I wished I had not sold my MBP and my BlackBook. So I decided I would keep unibody MB as a backup.
My kids kept wanting to take over my MB for games and videos. But they are young and really would mistreat it, so I decided it was too big of an investment to let my kids ruin even though I am not using the MB. So, I thought about buying a MBP just like the one I sold OR a MB for my kids to use as a entertainment device. I thought the prices were insane for all of the "old" stuff on Craig's List And eBay.
HERE IS WHAT APPLIES TO YOU - I then thought why not post a WTB advertisement in Craig's List and let people submit the specs of their machine and their lowest sale price. I got some amazing replies and fast. Over a Friday and Saturday I had 26 submissions. There were some great and cheap Macs. I also said I was NOT concerned by physical or cosmetic damage IF the Mac performed basic tasks well AND would consider a notebook with damaged display. I have read about many who found a MB with broken LCD for $500 range. The main point was to get something that would WORK without needing to be pretty.
It came down to three machines for me. A broken iMac WITH an external 20" ACD for $700. The iMac's native display was broken and was white iMac but came with aluminum ACD.
The second machine was a WhiteBook with upgraded RAM to 4 GB and a 320 GB HDD at 7200 rpms. The catch was had many hairline and one big crack for $450.
The third was a $2499 original 2.33 GHz V2,2 MBP with 256 MB ATI graphics. Also had 320 GB HDD at 7200 rpm and 4 GB RAM. It was nearly identical to my original MBP but had a glossy but not glass display as my original was matte. The catch is had a big dent in top which seemed all the way to display but display looked perfect and no damage. Due to the damage, and fact that it had Tiger and iLife 08, the guy was willing to let it go for $650.
The deal was obvious to me, as I chose the MBP. I rolled out the damage to the lid after removing it and coming up with system to roll out dent on supposed to be flat portion that was severely dented. Amazing that it is almost NOT noticeable that was ever dented. My total investment was $650 plus $13 for tools to roll damage out, plus $125 inc shipping for a 5-user family Mac Box Set.
Mac Box Set bought on eBay. Which I really only used one license on MBP. Also able to install iLife 09 on unibody MB as well as iWork 09. Also able to install iWork 09 on MBA.
My recommendation is to do a similar thing and place ad in Craig's List. Will probably get a much better deal. Here was added bonus to placing WTB ad. All 26 sellers were eager to sell and were awarded quick cash and no hassle of ad and hundreds of calls.I got to choose from brand new models to damaged models where cosmetic saved me a fortune. Guy who sold his MBP to me for $650 had $3k invested. Had bought brand new MBP and didn't want to deal with hassle knowing was some cosmetic damage and figuring quick sale to someone who advertised cosmetic damage not a problem.
I say place an ad, and heck you never know the great offers you may get. Find out absolutely Everything before make decision on which to buy and when see it make sure all as informed. Ignore cosmetic damage as you can always fix later if beneficial and money becomes available. Cosmetic damage means big discount for something that doesn't affect using experience. Finally a Mac you never thought possible may end up yours for a price you never dreamed of. I think $800 can go a long way using this method.
Best wishes whichever route you go. Congrats on your new Mac whatever it may be.
