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I missed the boat, and all of the Late 2008 unibody Macs are sold out now. :(

MacMall had 76 of the ones I got yesterday morning, all gone last night.

They still have early 2009 2.66 ones, but the pricing on those aren't nearly as attractive.

So if I didn't see it over the weekend, I probably wouldn't have gotten one (ie. too late).
 
Crap. I'd love to find one of the 2.53 , $1449-ish ones. Better yet I'd love to find one used from a trusted source. The 2.4 one just isn't as attractive at the $1349-ish price point. Now, if I cound find one of those used, at a better price, I could live with the 2.4 for a year or so...
 
They do not use the same chipset. The original uMBPs use the NVIDIA rev B2 chipset. The March 2009 and on uMBP's use the chipset that was introduced with the 17", the rev B3 chipset.

Perhaps but I still don't think that's the reason. When Apple first released the unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro's, nVidia stated that the chipset did support 8GB of RAM (wish there was a source I can quote or link to) and it wasn't a limitation.
 
The newer computers have many people angry, as the idea that you will have to buy an entirely new computer after 5 years is kinda repugnant to most people. I have the older Unibody from 2008, and I bought it when in came out for a hefty $2,700. It has never had a problem, and I love it. The battery gets about 5 hours with the screen/keyboard on ambient light sensor during a flight, one core turned off, Bluetooth off, and Airport off. Plenty enough, and the computer seems to have a better display then all of the brand-new computers at the Apple Store... None of the funky issues with the screen, the build quality, or anything else. I just have the impression that Apple put a bit too much thermal paste on the GPU and CPU, because the computer heats up during ordinary Mac Rumors browsing... Left side only, the right side is never hot...
 
Just ordered one of the 2.53 refurbs... Glad I got my hands on one before they're gone again
 
Why does the refurb store keep saying the old unibodies support up to 4GB of RAM when supposedly that is not the case?
 
Why does the refurb store keep saying the old unibodies support up to 4GB of RAM when supposedly that is not the case?

4GB is officially what Apple says the 1st Gen Unibodies support. Unofficial word is 6GB. Apple doesn't update max ram specs once a product is released. Many times after release larger RAM modules are released and the product will support them but Apple doesn't change the official max.
 
OK thanks. So is it wise to trust the unofficial 6GB?

I believe that there have been tests done with various amounts and the 6GB was found to stable and usable while the 8GB was unstable and unusable. Off the top of my head I believe OWC and Barefeats did testing, probably some others.
 
i picked up one of the 15" 2.53 refubs before they were out of stock. i couldn't be happier. this is my second mac. my first was the first generation macbook.
 
Is that really the reason after all the revision before this current model i.e. the 2.66/2.93 rev can support 8GB (unofficially) and i think they use the B2 chipset (not sure)

I just thought the main reason was active crippling by Apple for marketing purposes

The 2.66 and 2.93 are March 2009 revisions and use the B3 chipset.
 
Is there any truth to the rumor that the 2.66 is a more stable machine than the 2:53? When the 2.66 came out last year, I recall reading a review where someone said something to the effect of "now Apple got it right" after having been unsatisfied with the recent 2.53. I ask because I too find the 2.53 refurbs to be mighty tempting, lol!
 
Say you get the Late-2008 refurb, will an Apple store work on it if something goes wrong, or will they make you ship it to Apple?
 
Just ordered one of these... Even though I could have gotten a brand new low-end 15' MBP for about the same price (with student discounts), I just felt this was the better machine.
 
Just ordered one of these... Even though I could have gotten a brand new low-end 15' MBP for about the same price (with student discounts), I just felt this was the better machine.

I'm in the same boat as you. The past gen 2.53 is a top of the line machine, and I don't need another ipod anyways
 
A lot of people are buying the prev gen because the new ones are a downgrade in functionality.

The new ones are NOT a downgrade in functionality unless I am missing something? I just sold my March 09 model for a new one and it blows the old one away in terms of speed. the ONLY think that the new one for sure doesnt come close is the graphics! Just viewing web pages the colors look more faded than the other one by about 25%.
 
i fear the day I have to bring my late '08 uMBP and apple wants to replace it with the inferior expressCard-less uMBP
 
The 15" 2.4 model for 1349 is VERY VERY tempting. But Im afraid it is too heavy to carrry around in college, forcing me to leave it in the dorm sometimes.
 
The new ones are NOT a downgrade in functionality unless I am missing something? I just sold my March 09 model for a new one and it blows the old one away in terms of speed. the ONLY think that the new one for sure doesnt come close is the graphics! Just viewing web pages the colors look more faded than the other one by about 25%.

Saying the new ones blow March 09 revs away just makes me think its all in your head, placebo to justify the money you've spent...there's just not that much of a difference. 15%...at most if that...no blowing. Unless maybe you got the 3GHz processor and even then...
 
Hi,
looking at buying a refurb as I want to be able to replace battery and HDD without pulling apart the whole system. I have done this on previous models but.... ya know !

can someone confirm something for me. the description on the page says:

Graphics : NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics processor; and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
Graphics Memory : 512MB GDDR3

this means it is the 512mb graphics option right ? the first part where "they say 9400 with 256 shared" is refering to the secondary 9400 chipset right ?

cheers,

t.
 
"How long will Apple keep making batteries for the replaceable-battery models?"

THAT is the defining question.

I agree with what everyone says about the iBook/PowerBook batteries being available still, but the unibodies with removable batteries were only in production for 8 months, so they might not be considered as important or something like that. Hopefully they stay.

But anyway I got myself a 2.4 refurb UMBP for A$2149 and I couldn't be happier (except it has a little ding on the top edge, and the front edges dont meet). My friend has exactly the same computer but payed $1050 more than me, so I'm happy with that :D

Considering taking it in to Apple Store Sydney to see if they can do anything about the ding/edges, but would definitely would buy refurb again.
 
There are aftermarket batteries available for the late 08 models already. It took an eternity for them to make an aftermarket for my previous MBP (mid 2006)

I don't think obsolescence of the battery is a valid concern unless you like to keep you laptops for a REALLY long time.
 
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