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I'd be more worried about usage on the SSD than the battery. The battery is easily checked with coconutbattery. But I don't think there's a way to check the total writes done to the SSD from Mac OS (and even under boot camp because it doesn't support AHCI then)

You could get one that was used by someone to run loads of benchmarks, using up the write cycles on the SSD. Chances are slim of course but there's no way to check.

By the way I'm also looking for the 4GB-equipped base model (but the 11") but it is indeed extremely rare, especially at my local Apple Store (Ireland). I'm constantly checking the refurb store, they seem to be adding and removing stuff during the day. Especially at night there seems to be nothing available ever, not a single Mac.
 
For what its worth, my 11" refurb ultimate came with three cycles on the battery.

Just received my Refurb Macbook Air 11" ultimate. Looks brand new and battery had only one cycle. I am glad I went the refurb way.
 
first post here so first of all Hi everybody!

I´ve just ordered a refurbished 13" with 4Gb and can´t wait! I hope the battery doesn´t have too many cycles :confused:
 
Received my Ultimate 13" last night, and it had only one cycle on the battery, and even better, CoconutBattery says my Mac is only two weeks old, so it's registered as pretty new still.
 
Ummm what's a battery cycle? And how can I know how many mine has when I receive it?
 
Ummm what's a battery cycle? And how can I know how many mine has when I receive it?

Each time you charge it to full and use up all the power it's a cycle. I think it actually counts as a cycle if it goes below 50%, but the general idea is that the number of cycles tells you how old your battery is (I think they generally last at least 300 cycles). You can download an app called coconut battery to see how many cycles your battery has.
 
Received my Ultimate 13" last night, and it had only one cycle on the battery, and even better, CoconutBattery says my Mac is only two weeks old, so it's registered as pretty new still.

It gets that age information from the serial number. And a new serial number is issued when it gets refurbished.

So that doesn't say anything about the original production date of the machine.
 
Ummm what's a battery cycle? And how can I know how many mine has when I receive it?

Each time you charge it to full and use up all the power it's a cycle. I think it actually counts as a cycle if it goes below 50%, but the general idea is that the number of cycles tells you how old your battery is (I think they generally last at least 300 cycles). You can download an app called coconut battery to see how many cycles your battery has.

Anytime the battery goes through the equivalent of a full charge is a cycle. Ex: If you run it down to 50% then charge it, that's half a cycle. Run it down to 50% twice = 1 cycle. Run it down to 75% 4 times=1 cycle and so on...

Install iStat Pro widget in your dock when you get it. You'll have most of the system info (including battery health and cycles) at your fingertips.
 
It gets that age information from the serial number. And a new serial number is issued when it gets refurbished.

So that doesn't say anything about the original production date of the machine.

I know that. I'm just saying that it was given that serial number only two weeks ago, so that means that this computer was put together (refurbed, obviously) around that time.
 
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