Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Decisions Decisions - New Macbook or keep old?

drake

drake

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 5, 2005
532
0
Could use some input. I have a nearly year old Macbook who's warranty is about to expire and I'm trying to decide if I should sell it or keep it and get Applecare or just just keep it and not bother with Applecare.

I could get about $800cdn for it if sold, then use educational discounts to bring the price down to about $1100cdn for the base model with all taxes. Makes about a $300 difference but would then have to deal with rebates and selling the "free" iPod.

The newer Macbooks don't seem like much of an upgrade, is it worth upgrading to it now? I think if they go with the better LED lit screens, that would be a real upgrade.

If I keep it should I really blow $250cdn on the warranty. Would I recover the expense when I sell it?

What would you do?
 
I am assuming midgrade machines here:

n wireless vs g
Max 3.3GB RAM vs 2GB
2.16MHz vs 2.0MHz
120GB HD vs 80GB
8X vs 6X superdrive
1 year of warranty vs 0
64bit CPU vs 32bit

If you buy AppleCare on eBay for $200-$250 you have to add that into your thinking.

Its a tough one for sure. Really though you are looking at spending $250-300. In the end what to you want for that money. A brand new machine with a 1 year warranty or a year old machine with a 2 year warranty?
 
Unless you're the type to always want the latest and greatest, I think it makes sense to stretch your money and keep the computer for at least 3 years. 4 if you can. I'm also the kind of person that likes insurance, so I would go with Applecare.

Doesn't sound like you really care too much about the upgrade. I would suspect that LED screens will be available within about a year or so. I could be wrong. But either way, waiting will allow you to get the most out of your computer and upgrade to something that's more than just a small step up in a few years.
 
flopticalcube said:
I am assuming midgrade machines here:

n wireless vs g
Max 3.3GB RAM vs 2GB
2.16MHz vs 2.0MHz
120GB HD vs 80GB
8X vs 6X superdrive
1 year of warranty vs 0
64bit CPU vs 32bit
Click to expand...

Right now, my current machine as 2gb/160gb, is 1.83 and a combo drive (if sold, I'd be putting back in the 1gb/80gb). I'd be buying the base model, with 1gb/80gb.

If you buy AppleCare on eBay for $200-$250 you have to add that into your thinking.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't save that much on ebay over educational pricing, and I'd have concerns with eBay.

Its a tough one for sure. Really though you are looking at spending $250-300. In the end what to you want for that money. A brand new machine with a 1 year warranty or a year old machine with a 2 year warranty?
Click to expand...

Actually, it would be a new machine with a two year warranty (this time, we'd put it on a Visa that offers extended warranty). Man, this is a tough decision, would be easier if they had the newer screens or something substantial to sway my decision. Wonder what the resale value would be on this Macbook in another year?
 
drake said:
Actually, it would be a new machine with a two year warranty (this time, we'd put it on a Visa that offers extended warranty). Man, this is a tough decision, would be easier if they had the newer screens or something substantial to sway my decision. Wonder what the resale value would be on this Macbook in another year?
Click to expand...

If you are going the Visa route and don't mind the pain of selling your old stuff, I would say go ahead and upgrade. Resale values should be comparable to the current ones.
 
Are you going to upgrade to Leopard later on?

Core Duo= 32 bit

Core 2 Duo= 64 bit capable so would run Leopard in 64 bit.

Or wait until release of Leopard then buy?
 
Kevin83165 said:
Are you going to upgrade to Leopard later on?

Core Duo= 32 bit

Core 2 Duo= 64 bit capable so would run Leopard in 64 bit.

Or wait until release of Leopard then buy?
Click to expand...

I don't see any compelling reason to upgrade to Leopard at this time. I'm starting to lean toward just waiting, but getting Applecare.
 
Keep it. The C2D wasn't that big a bump (just as SR wasn't for the other machines) and a CD will run Leopard without breaking a sweat. There are much more interesting upgrades coming down the road. Make the jump when there is a significant jump in technology, just as you did when the MacBook became the first smallish Apple notebook to run on a Core Duo.
 
If you are planning on keeping it I suggest getting applecare for the mac if you are planning on selling it. It will be a lot easier to sell and you'll get more if you still have applecare on it.
 
That's a tough one. Core 2 is a lot faster than Core 1, and the clock speed would even be higher...but it probably wouldn't be noticible in every day stuff.

Ordinarilly I'd say it wouldn't be worth it at all-but if you're only paying $250-300, for the faster CPU, extending the warranty, and removing a year of wear and tear?

I guess it depends on hassle, because if you could just wave a wand, hand over $300, and get all those things, I think it would be worth it.

But yeah, a year from now the upgrade would probably be more significant.

Apple Care would cost you $180ish since I guess you're buying from the Education store? So in that case, The $120 or so you're saying sounds well worth it for the upgrade and new hardware.
 
I would be tempted to upgrade now - the C2D is noticeably quicker (Intel claimed 20% quicker I think). There are plenty of reviews/tests that compared CD and C2D machines and claimed that in real-world operations you would notice the difference - especially when combined with the (modest) improvement in processor speed and the doubling of the cache to 4MB. Certainly, the general consensus was that the newer machines were noticeably snappier - but I doubt it's anything that you couldn't live without.

As other posters say, the next upgrade should be rather more major - with obvious implicaions for your resale value.
 
So, I sold it. Miss it already.

Anyway...the buyer was happy and I'm happy, that's what counts.
 
flopticalcube said:
Glad it all worked out. When are you getting a new MacBook?
Click to expand...

When they entice me with something better than I had. Not really sure why I sold it :confused: Wasn't really trilled with the backlighting, but most I've seen in the stores any better and looked great in actual use. Guess I thought I'd upgrade and get something with less wear but the new ones don't look much better than the old.

showtime said:
Glad it worked out. How much did you end up selling it for?
Click to expand...

$850cdn with a 15" Booq bag.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back