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Bought a refurb macbook pro- few questions

M

MacDaddy11

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 18, 2010
39
0
Canada
Hey this is my first post in this forum

I have decided to buy a refurb macbook pro 2010-
(2.4 ghz intel core 2 duo, 4gb ram, nvidia 320m, 250 gb serial ata)

I just have a couple of questions
- if you bought a refurb, how did you like it? any problems (cosmetic especially)
- The new macbook 2010s have a serial ata, the old ones say they have an hdd, what is the difference?
- Also, i am very ocd about my electronics, like VERY ocd. The smallest cosmetic problems bother me.
Are the hinges loose? and does anyone with a mbp face any big cosmetic problems? i got the pro over the normal white macbook as i know the plastic scratches uncontrollably

Thanks:)
IM getting my macbook between july 22-29
i hope ill enjoy it...and this forum:)
 
MacDaddy11 said:
- The new macbook 2010s have a serial ata, the old ones say they have an hdd, what is the difference?
Click to expand...

Serial-ATA or S-ATA is the name of an interface for high capacity storage devices and optical drives. HDD is short for Hard Disk Drive and is a mass storage device. Modern HDDs use S-ATA as interface to communicate with the computer. Before S-ATA there was P-ATA (IDE) used for communicating.

So while S-ATA and HDD are not the same, they are intertwined.



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Mac OS X Basics
Switch 101 - guide with articles made by Apple on how to accustom yourself, after you switched to Mac OS X from Windows​

Mac 101 - How to get started with Mac OS X​

Find out how - tutorial videos made by Apple on how to do certain thing in Mac OS X​

Pro tips - tips made available by Apple for easier ways of doing certain tasks​

Mac OS X Keyboard Shortcuts - Learn about common Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts.​

Mac OS X Beginner's Guide by MacRumors - learn about software, media players, shortcuts and some useful tips, tricks and hints​

Mac Guides - tutorials, product guides and more​



MRoogle - a very effective tool to search these fora using Google and made available by edesignuk, introductory threads: 1, 2 and 3​

 
MacDaddy11 said:
Hey this is my first post in this forum

I have decided to buy a refurb macbook pro 2010-
(2.4 ghz intel core 2 duo, 4gb ram, nvidia 320m, 250 gb serial ata)

I just have a couple of questions
- if you bought a refurb, how did you like it? any problems (cosmetic especially)
- The new macbook 2010s have a serial ata, the old ones say they have an hdd, what is the difference?
- Also, i am very ocd about my electronics, like VERY ocd. The smallest cosmetic problems bother me.
Are the hinges loose? and does anyone with a mbp face any big cosmetic problems? i got the pro over the normal white macbook as i know the plastic scratches uncontrollably

Thanks:)
IM getting my macbook between july 22-29
i hope ill enjoy it...and this forum:)
Click to expand...

Enjoy. It's one speedy computer. I got mine new however, but you shouldn't see any differences from a new one - at all.
A serial ATA (or SATA) is a type of interface used to connect a device such as a hard drive. So there is no difference. I think the Macbook Pro's have been using SATA hard drives forever now, while the Macbook Air uses a PATA hard drive. Don't worry about that.

The cosmetics of the computer varies on each laptop. At least on mine, it's all good, and the screen isn't loose.

BTW, you'll love the backlight keyboard! :D
 
MacDaddy11 said:
Hey this is my first post in this forum

I have decided to buy a refurb macbook pro 2010-
(2.4 ghz intel core 2 duo, 4gb ram, nvidia 320m, 250 gb serial ata)

I just have a couple of questions
- if you bought a refurb, how did you like it? any problems (cosmetic especially)
- The new macbook 2010s have a serial ata, the old ones say they have an hdd, what is the difference?
- Also, i am very ocd about my electronics, like VERY ocd. The smallest cosmetic problems bother me.
Are the hinges loose? and does anyone with a mbp face any big cosmetic problems? i got the pro over the normal white macbook as i know the plastic scratches uncontrollably

Thanks
IM getting my macbook between july 22-29
i hope ill enjoy it...and this forum
Click to expand...

The Serial ATA (SATA) is just the interface for the hard drive (HD or HDD), so there is no difference. I have had no problems with my computer, although it is still possible to scratch the aluminum. Also, the hinge is not loose, and it is not so tight you have to hold the computer down to open it like some HP notebooks.
 
MacDaddy11 said:
Hey this is my first post in this forum

I have decided to buy a refurb macbook pro 2010-
(2.4 ghz intel core 2 duo, 4gb ram, nvidia 320m, 250 gb serial ata)

I just have a couple of questions
- if you bought a refurb, how did you like it? any problems (cosmetic especially)
- The new macbook 2010s have a serial ata, the old ones say they have an hdd, what is the difference?
- Also, i am very ocd about my electronics, like VERY ocd. The smallest cosmetic problems bother me.
Are the hinges loose? and does anyone with a mbp face any big cosmetic problems? i got the pro over the normal white macbook as i know the plastic scratches uncontrollably

Thanks
IM getting my macbook between july 22-29
i hope ill enjoy it...and this forum
Click to expand...

Bought a refurbed MacBook a few years ago. It was perfect. Ata is the interface used to connect the hard drive (HDD) to the logic board.

The hinges are tight, but will loosen a little with a couple of years frequent use, nothing major though.

You might want to invest in a decorative skin to keep scratches to a minimum over time. They self stick and easily peel off again if you want to change them. They leave no residue either. Check out Gelaskins.com.
 
thanks for the quick reply
on the side note i posted this thread also in the macbook pro desktop forum by accident
and have no clue how to delete it :S

did you say your hinge loosened over time
 
MacDaddy11 said:
thanks for the quick reply
on the side note i posted this thread also in the macbook pro desktop forum by accident
and have no clue how to delete it :S

did you say your hinge loosened over time
Click to expand...

Nope, hinge still works like the day I got it. If you use a case, it will feel a bit looser with the case on, but is back to normal if you take it off.
 
I bought a 17 inch MBP from craigslist!

Yeah I've got guts!

Anyway, mine has been working perfectly so far. Absolutely no cosmetic damage when I first bought it. the hinge was slightly misaligned, I took it in for repair when it was 14 months old, and the apple guys still fixed it for free!

Refurb is basically new, but cheaper. Don't worry over it. SATA is an interface for connecting to your HDD. If you MBP is from 2010, its using SATA for sure. The older interface, PATA is almost completely obsolete now.

The hinge looseness can be fixed very easily by apple. They will do it for free.
 
alust2013 said:
Nope, hinge still works like the day I got it. If you use a case, it will feel a bit looser with the case on, but is back to normal if you take it off.
Click to expand...


thanks guys
i was quite worried as i dont enoy most of my products cause of my damn ocd lol
so thanks
hope all goes well

also
gehrbox, a skin does seem to be a good idea
but most cover the apple logo which i wouldnt like
 
last year I ordered a 2.8 17" MBP from the refurb store and was suprised by a 3.06ghz 7200 HD instead.Perfect cosmetic condition just without the box candy.
Would have done it again this year but used a student discount instead
 
wordoflife said:
Enjoy. It's one speedy computer. I got mine new however, but you shouldn't see any differences from a new one - at all.
A serial ATA (or SATA) is a type of interface used to connect a device such as a hard drive. So there is no difference. I think the Macbook Pro's have been using SATA hard drives forever now, while the Macbook Air uses a PATA hard drive. Don't worry about that.

The cosmetics of the computer varies on each laptop. At least on mine, it's all good, and the screen isn't loose.

BTW, you'll love the backlight keyboard! :D
Click to expand...

Thanks guys but i posted this in the macbook pro laptop forum
i accidentaly posted it here as i am getting the macbook pro laptop not desktop
how can i delete it :S
 
SidBala said:
I bought a 17 inch MBP from craigslist!

Yeah I've got guts!

Anyway, mine has been working perfectly so far. Absolutely no cosmetic damage when I first bought it. the hinge was slightly misaligned, I took it in for repair when it was 14 months old, and the apple guys still fixed it for free!

Refurb is basically new, but cheaper. Don't worry over it. SATA is an interface for connecting to your HDD. If you MBP is from 2010, its using SATA for sure. The older interface, PATA is almost completely obsolete now.

The hinge looseness can be fixed very easily by apple. They will do it for free.
Click to expand...

Really? they fix the hinges for free
i thought to fix the hinges you would need to open the whole laptop
and it would be a long process
 
I assume from your specs your buying a 13.

I'd personally have no problem getting a refurb'd unit but you can get it brand new cheaper at MicroCenter for $999.

I believe those MB Pro's are 1049 from Apple refurbed, or 999 brand new in a box from MC.

Here is a link http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0334909

Says they are out of stock because its in store only. The store in Madison Heights MI has 93 in stock when I bought mine a few days ago.
 
Eric-PTEK said:
I assume from your specs your buying a 13.

I'd personally have no problem getting a refurb'd unit but you can get it brand new cheaper at MicroCenter for $999.

I believe those MB Pro's are 1049 from Apple refurbed, or 999 brand new in a box from MC.

Here is a link http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0334909

Says they are out of stock because its in store only. The store in Madison Heights MI has 93 in stock when I bought mine a few days ago.
Click to expand...

actually it was 1099..and with tax it came up to 1248
but i live in canada that is why
yeah lol there is no way i could have went to there store
and yes it is 13 inch
 
I got mine refurbed about a year ago - showed up in flawless condition and has worked like a champ every since. When I do decide to upgrade, I'll do it through the refurb store again
 
The 2010 MBP I got from the refurbished store is amazing. I'd never know it was a refurbished machine. I almost didnt do it since I got burnt on a bad HP laptop last year from ubid.com but I chaulked it up to just being a poor model and not the fact it was refurbished.
 
Mac-key said:
I got mine refurbed about a year ago - showed up in flawless condition and has worked like a champ every since. When I do decide to upgrade, I'll do it through the refurb store again
Click to expand...

Thats great! Sounds like everyone with a refurb has had a great experience
 
Apple refurbs, purchased from Apples refurb site are always in tip top shape and just awesome products, the only company I buy refurbed stuff from just because I've never had a refurb unit break down from Apple ever, and thats about 2 Macbooks and 2 iPod Classics and 1 iPod Touch
 
Mac refurbs are great, sometimes better than new as you can be surprised with more ram or a better HDD. And most important they came with the same 1-year warranty and you can buy applecare for them...
 
I would definitely buy refurb if not for the BTS or Microcenter deals-
 
I bought a refurbished Macbook Pro 13' about 2 weeks ago and it arrived in brand new mint condition. There is no way to distinguish between a refurb and a new one. I couldn't be happier with my purchase (saved me $300!)
 
iphone1105 said:
Apple refurbs, purchased from Apples refurb site are always in tip top shape and just awesome products, the only company I buy refurbed stuff from just because I've never had a refurb unit break down from Apple ever, and thats about 2 Macbooks and 2 iPod Classics and 1 iPod Touch
Click to expand...

Refurbed models from Apple are usually better than "new". The reason is that new models go through the normal manufacturing and quality control process. Not every single unit receives every single quality test to the fullest extent. It's just not feasible and cost-effective due to the volume or parts manufactured. Refurbed models have to pass the most rigorous quality inspections available. I just purchased my second refurbed MBP (the first is going with my son to college) and I have also purchased a refurbed Canon 50D DSLR for the same reasons above.
 
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