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Apple Adds 2017 13-Inch MacBook Pro Models to Refurbished Store

Bought the 13-inch with touch bar in November, returned it in January due to battery life. Repurchased it in July ... much better performance. Pricey? Sure. Regrets? None. Great machine, battery life is very good (lower screen brightness...full brightness is really bright after a little while). To each, his own.
 
its only been 1 and a half months almost.. an the touch-bar Mac is already on the refurbish store ?

People not liking them must have done this.... No way Apple could just decide to place this Touchbar Mac on Refub store soo early *without a bit of help from customers*
 
TheShadowKnows! said:
My opinion: Not to rain-in on the 15% discount parade (and cheering), these Mac Pros were priced over-the-top to start with. After you add sales tax and (discretionary) AppleCare+, the 15% discount on these (used, but reconditioned) units, will appear to most people, inconsequential.

[To Remember: reconditioned hardware typically lose one year of life-cycle, as their hardware and software support is declared EOL at the end of five years.]

A better idea:
Wait for Black Friday sales (esp. B&H internet sales), and queue in early and you will find discounts sometimes of 30% to 35% off list, and no taxes. The best sales are, typically, for new-old-stock, models that have been updated recently, but never sold.

So you get the cake and eat it too, as these are brand new units are unencumbered from sale taxes (that translates to another 6% off in my case).
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The parts/components used the MBP sort of justify the pricing. If you compare the quality of components Apple is using in the entire MBP line- eg. MLC (Multilevel Cell) based SSD instead of the cheaper TLC (triple level) SSD used in other similarly priced laptops and hybrids like the Dell XPS or Microsoft Surface line, and proper implementation of standards like Thunderbolt 3, you begin the appreciate why the MBP is more expensive.

Better components usually equate to better reliability (MLC NAND is twice as durable as TLC) and performance which is what most people would want from a personal computer.
 
DeepIn2U said:
I'm just saying 2 wks ago those with an out of warranty Macbook unibody or even MacBookPro's dating back to 2014 had over the counter replacements with MacBook Pro TB models as parts where not in the channel nor in stock! I think Apple's done an INCREDIBLE client care job to their users for this alone, and it's not just a handful of reports.

Yes 256GB base storage across all models should be there - Pro machines, Pro users, use storage like a pro. Students using MacBook can have the base 128GB model as most of their storage needs are in the cloud as a common practice.
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Most true professionals I know are hooked up to many terabytes of nas storage. The semi professionals have TB3 external drives. Then there is everybody else.
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justperry said:
Still secondhand though, in The Netherlands they have to give you a new one for instance (by law) in certain cases and not a refurbished one.
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And how does that apply to first purchase, which is the topic?
 
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kingtj said:
I've always been an advocate for Apple's business model of charging premium prices for premium products, and not going down the rabbit hole of trying to sell cheap enough so everyone can afford to buy one. The PC market was terrible for a long time with everyone chasing the absolute lowest price, cutting corners all over the place as they went.

But in the last few years, it's really changed. Other companies like Microsoft copied the idea, selling more upscale gear that really competes with Apple's products (except for the fact it still runs Windows and not OS X!). But more importantly - I think Apple lost their way a bit. They've been selling some of the highest priced systems they've had in the last decade, but loaded with compromises and flashy things that are far from proven worthwhile features to pay extra for.

For starters? There's NO reason that all Macbook Airs sold today shouldn't come standard with 512GB of SSD storage. The prices on SSDs have dropped sharply, to the point where on the PC/Windows side, I can buy even top-tier 512GB SSDs for under $240 or so, any day of the week. Even people who say "I won't ever need that much storage." are foolish for thinking that way when buying a new laptop that's going to cost them upwards of $1,000. Our employer, for example, purchased the corporate version of DropBox - and people are always sharing folders of content related to various projects. If you use a Macbook Air in our office, you have to constantly deselect things with "selective sync" in the DropBox app to prevent it from filling your drive up if you have a 256GB SSD.

All of the dongles for the current lineup of Mac notebooks is ridiculous too. They should include a set with each machine for what they cost, period.
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Amen brother/sister!
 
I just bought a 2017 13" MacBook Pro a few days ago (still waiting for it to get here). I probably would have grabbed a refurbished one if they'd started this a few days earlier but with the education discount and the free pair of Beats it works out to almost the same price to buy new.
 
Bought a "new" 2017 13" MacBook Pro w/TB for $1483 after sale + discount at BestBuy. Post (CA) tax it rung up to $1605, still $200 cheaper than MSRP ($1799). Just know when to buy. Do I think it's still expensive? Yes. However, it's still cheaper than the 256GB nTB version, and I get all the bells and whistles of TB, TouchID, slightly faster processor and iGPU, so why not? Best thing is, it was new in box.

Keep an eye out on the weekly sales. A couple weeks ago, they had the 2016 MacBook Pro w/TB 512GB HDD for $400 off, making it $1599. You definitely can get the latest MB Pros w or w/out TBs at significant discounts if you know how to look. Good Luck!
 
BGarza said:
I'm always impressed by people's inability to remember the concept of "time value of money". Interest goes up, cost of living goes up, sometimes wages go up, meaning that most products also go up in price over the years. Computers are one of the only products that somehow has gotten more affordable over the years. For example, a Porsche 911 in 1965 was ~$6,500. Now, they go for ~$90,000. If computers followed the same pace of almost all other objects for sale, your MacBook Pro would cost you $10,000+. For example, the Powerbook 100 laptop in 1991 cost $2,500. My first 286 computer with a CGA monitor was around $2,000. I think there comes a point where we should all realize how entitled we've let ourselves become.
Truly, modern computers are a bargain!!
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Except for Macs!!
 
ILuvEggplant said:
new macs coming out will have the retina ID
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Facial, not retinal.
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TheShadowKnows! said:
My opinion: Not to rain-in on the 15% discount parade (and cheering), these Mac Pros were priced over-the-top to start with. After you add sales tax and (discretionary) AppleCare+, the 15% discount on these (used, but reconditioned) units, will appear to most people, inconsequential.

[To Remember: reconditioned hardware typically lose one year of life-cycle, as their hardware and software support is declared EOL at the end of five years.]

A better idea:
Wait for Black Friday sales (esp. B&H internet sales), and queue in early and you will find discounts sometimes of 30% to 35% off list, and no taxes. The best sales are, typically, for new-old-stock, models that have been updated recently, but never sold.

So you get the cake and eat it too, as these are brand new units are unencumbered from sale taxes (that translates to another 6% off in my case).
Click to expand...

Remember B&H is no return of opened boxes without a minimum 15% restocking fee.
 
BGarza said:
I'm always impressed by people's inability to remember the concept of "time value of money". Interest goes up, cost of living goes up, sometimes wages go up, meaning that most products also go up in price over the years. Computers are one of the only products that somehow has gotten more affordable over the years. For example, a Porsche 911 in 1965 was ~$6,500. Now, they go for ~$90,000. If computers followed the same pace of almost all other objects for sale, your MacBook Pro would cost you $10,000+. For example, the Powerbook 100 laptop in 1991 cost $2,500. My first 286 computer with a CGA monitor was around $2,000. I think there comes a point where we should all realize how entitled we've let ourselves become. Truly, modern computers are a bargain!!
Click to expand...

This post uses the term "time value of money" but then doesn't use the term correctly. Interest rate changes are caused by interest rate volatility, price increases are caused by inflation.

The fact that computers have come down in prices is mostly because widely adopted goods have the benefits of production scaling. Computer technology advances and you get more bang for the buck. Same is true for phones... and electric cars... and watches. Those advances also cause a different term - obsolescence.
[doublepost=1502415116][/doublepost]I find it funny that only the Touch Bar models are in refurb... Smells like excess inventory.
 
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My 2013 model died after I had used the heck out of it for 4 straight years. I always buy brand new, but with the prices being what they are, I opted to buy one off Amazon with a highly rated reseller. It was listed as used-like new and when I opened it, still wrapped in all the original boxing material and to my surprise only one 1 full charge cycle on it. So, if someone bought it they returned after one full charge. Not only did I save $200 off the retail price, but I didn't pay tax so that ended up saving me a little over $400 all total. Buying from Apple and saving a few dollars and then paying tax on top of it. No Thank You! This 2017 13" model with the touch pad is pretty darn sweet. I've already gotten use to the new keyboard and I type very well on it. Knowing what I saved on the front end sure made it just that much sweeter. It is eligible for Apple Care Plus, but I've not pulled the trigger on that and I don't know that I will.
 
Only Touchbar models? Says quite a bit I think. I'm sure some people love it, but it's not for me.

Needlessly expensive.
Worse than possible battery life.
Terrible from an ergonomic perspective.

We have one in the household.

Will probably jump on the 2017 13" nTB. Seems to be a fantastic jump from the 2016 model. Runs OVER 9000 in benchmarks, but remains silent and completely cool to the touch for normal use. Hoping for some Black Friday deals on the 256GB version.
 
Neepman said:
I can get a new one from B&H with no sales tax and save 10

Some deal. I can get a new one from B&H with no sales tax and effectively save 10%.
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Except in many states you are required to pay a sales and use tax when filing your state taxes and you also have to itemize any purchases over $999.


dgdosen said:
I find it funny that only the Touch Bar models are in refurb... Smells like excess inventory.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Intel's Coffee Lake CPUs have already been spotted in the wild (Acer Nitro at Thailand reveal), including a 15W 4-core 8-thread version clocked at 1.8GHz base with a 1.99GHz boost. Release date at least for desktop CPUs is August 21! Mobile too?

Not biting on these refurbished, especially not with that gimmicky touchbar--used it and hated it.
 
You can get 15% discount for most products. Not what I would call a discount for a refurbished product.
 
BGarza said:
I'm always impressed by people's inability to remember the concept of "time value of money". Interest goes up, cost of living goes up, sometimes wages go up, meaning that most products also go up in price over the years. Computers are one of the only products that somehow has gotten more affordable over the years. For example, a Porsche 911 in 1965 was ~$6,500. Now, they go for ~$90,000. If computers followed the same pace of almost all other objects for sale, your MacBook Pro would cost you $10,000+. For example, the Powerbook 100 laptop in 1991 cost $2,500. My first 286 computer with a CGA monitor was around $2,000. I think there comes a point where we should all realize how entitled we've let ourselves become. Truly, modern computers are a bargain!!
Click to expand...
Moore's Law has definitely worked FOR the consumer, as has price point made possible by mass production, cheap Asian labor, etc. It wasn't until the 90s, with the commercialization of the internet, that personal computers became ubiquitous both in the work place and at home. As with the Model T Ford of long ago, mass production brings prices down. Here's a sample PDP 11/20 computer from the early 70s - 20 thousand dollars, and those are 1970s dollars:

http://www.computerhistory.org/VirtualVisibleStorage/artifact_frame.php?tax_id=03.03.06.00

An addendum regarding Mac prices, though: my 2006 MBP, 32-bit wide, 80 GB HDD, 1 GB RAM was $2100 new. So even with Apple pricing you're getting more bang per buck 11 years later.
 
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justperry said:
Not a lot, I just think refurbished shouldn't be allowed to be used, as soon as someone used it it's not new and therefor secondhand.
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are you serious or being sarcastic? Should we crush used cars, houses, divorced people?
 
Was about to get one with the education discount and free Beats, but I don't need the Beats, so this is a better savings, lining up beautifully with a vacation plan in a tax free state. Savings from that confluence of timing: $400. Ordered.

Noticed the $90 price difference between the equivalent 2016 v. 2017 models on the refurb site. Is there a $90 difference in value? Should the cost-conscious be jumping on those 2016s?
 
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