Refurbed Core Duo or Core 2 Macbook?

[jaycrew]

Hey all,

I was thinking about buying a refurbed Macbook as an upgrade from my iBook. My main purposes are the typical email, word processing, watching DVDs, storing some pics.

I see the low end Core Duo is 799 refurbed while the low end Core 2 Macbook is 949.

I was planning on buying a refurb, using it for a while and then passing it on to a family member before upgrading to a Macbook Pro or a more powerful Macbook in the future.

Worth going with the Core 2, or save money and go with Core duo?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Andrew D.]

I was also asking the same thing a while back when I started my research on my purchase. I believe the CD models had quite a few problems if I'm not mistaken, don't quote me on that though. The CD models are very capable of performing what your uses will be. For myself, I have decided to go for a C2D model because I am planning on using it for the rest of my college experience (1/3 done now). Hope this helps, just my two cents and a half for what its worth. Good luck!

 

[NewbieNerd]

If that's all you're using the laptop for, why do you need a Macbook Pro eventually? Macbooks fly on all non-GPU-intensive tasks and is sturdier.

I think the only difference that might make a difference for you between CD and C2D is that C2D Macbooks can do 802.11n wireless, which obviously only matters if you're going to invest in a n wireless router too. Otherwise, I say save the cash and get the CD. You'll never notice the speed difference as there isn't much of one.

 

[bsolomonny]

for your purposes get the core duo. The refurb will have all the problems fixed. I have a CD Blackbook and my brother has the C2D....there is no noticeable difference when doing the tasks you described.

 

[onebloodonelife]

I had a CD 2.0Ghz 1GB RAM model from my school, and just bought a C2D 2.0 Ghz 1GB RAM model for myself. I can definitely tell the difference between the two. The CD model would take up to 20 bounces to start up Firefox, and I would have spinning rainbows every few minutes. The C2D model takes 2 or 3 bounces to start programs, and I've only had a couple spinning rainbows since I got it.

 

[hvfsl]

I had a CD 2.0Ghz 1GB RAM model from my school, and just bought a C2D 2.0 Ghz 1GB RAM model for myself. I can definitely tell the difference between the two. The CD model would take up to 20 bounces to start up Firefox, and I would have spinning rainbows every few minutes. The C2D model takes 2 or 3 bounces to start programs, and I've only had a couple spinning rainbows since I got it.

Sounds like there is something wrong with the CD machine. It doesn't take that long on my 1.33Ghz PowerBook.

 

[onebloodonelife]

Sounds like there is something wrong with the CD machine. It doesn't take that long on my 1.33Ghz PowerBook.

There probably was, but I don't have it anymore. I had to return it to the school last week, which was why I bought a C2D model instead.