I'm planning on buying a refurbished MacBook sometime soon to replace my trusty, but aging, iBook. Any ideas on when 10.5 will be included with the refurbished models? It seems pointless to buy one now if I'm going to want to upgrade the OS before very long.
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How long until 10.5 is on refurbs?
- Thread starter biblicalfury
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Feel free to correct me if I am wrong, which I am sure someone would be ecstatic to do anyways, but Apple treats the refurbs pretty much like new computers. You get the full warranty and the latest revision of normally bundled software, ie iLife and Mac OS. So once 10.5 is released I believe it will be be installed on those units which are refurbished after release, and those refurbished before the release but sold to the customer after release or after grace period Apple specifies will either get the OS disc included or you get the upgrade shipped to you. Usually there is a grace period of purchases made within a few weeks of a new OS for free upgrades, probably so Apple is not inundated with refunds for returned computers.
Just like if you had gone to say CompUSA after 10.4 was released but had gotten a Mac that had been sitting on the shelves for a while and still had 10.3 installed. You could get the upgrade to 10.4 for free. Perhaps paying shipping.
Just like if you had gone to say CompUSA after 10.4 was released but had gotten a Mac that had been sitting on the shelves for a while and still had 10.3 installed. You could get the upgrade to 10.4 for free. Perhaps paying shipping.
You'll have to wait until a Macbook shipped with 10.5 gets sent back. So considering that it's not out yet....
I don't think so. i believe Apple will refurb the machine and install a fresh OS on it. So as long as Leopard is shipped, they should install Leopard on a refurb machine.
So my guess is after Leopard is shipped.
Why not call Apple and ask?
If I'm not mistaken, I got my iMac right after Tiger was released and it came with 10.3 pre-installed and a 10.4 upgrade disk.
Correct. When I worked for Apple - the night of the launch, we opened up all of the refreshed computers (refurb implies that there was a defect and it was sent back for repair - refresh is an open box return with nothing wrong) -- and toss in the OS upgrade disc, which was actually as good as a retail box.
You can always ask Apple when you are ready to buy. Get it emailed to you in writing so if it isn't right, you have a leg to stand on.
You can always ask Apple when you are ready to buy. Get it emailed to you in writing so if it isn't right, you have a leg to stand on.
You could be wrong 
I bought a refurb'd MBP after iLife 08 had come out. Yet, it still shipped with iLife '06 (as it said it would in the specs), while the SR refurbs shipped with '08. To me, this implies that you get whatever software originally came on the machine. Now, whether or not they "toss in" the upgrade to the latest and greatest -- that appears to be hit or miss. Some folks seem to have gotten iLife '08 discs with their refurbs, others not. I did try calling to ask for the upgrade but was essentially shoo'd away to go "ask the Apple Store." Not a big deal, as I did know up front it was only supposed to come with '06, but I had to try
I bought a refurb'd MBP after iLife 08 had come out. Yet, it still shipped with iLife '06 (as it said it would in the specs), while the SR refurbs shipped with '08. To me, this implies that you get whatever software originally came on the machine. Now, whether or not they "toss in" the upgrade to the latest and greatest -- that appears to be hit or miss. Some folks seem to have gotten iLife '08 discs with their refurbs, others not. I did try calling to ask for the upgrade but was essentially shoo'd away to go "ask the Apple Store." Not a big deal, as I did know up front it was only supposed to come with '06, but I had to try
The refurbs sometimes come with the software that was originally installed on them. However, sometimes they come with unexpected hardware and software upgrades. And some forum members who did not receive the current software have successfully gone through AppleCare to get the current software.
Apple is only required to include the software that is in the item description.
Apple is only required to include the software that is in the item description.