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221005-refurb_mba_849.jpg

As noted by MacNN, Apple has added the revamped MacBook Air to the section of its online store devoted to refurbished products, offering significant savings for those willing to go the slightly-used-but-thoroughly-tested route.

Prices start at $849 for the entry-level 11.6-inch model, a savings of $150 off of the price of a brand-new machine. Bumping up from 64 GB of storage to 128 GB yields a price of $1019, discounted from $1199. And finally among the 11.6-inch models, the 1.6 GHz model with 4 GB of RAM goes for $1189 refurbished, compared to $1399 when purchased new.

For the 13.3-inch models, the entry-level model comes in at $1099 compared to the brand-new price of $1299. Upgrading from 128 GB of storage to 256 GB bumps the price to $1349, a savings of $250 off of the $1599 regular price. Maxing out the 13.3-inch model to 2.13 GHz and 4 GB of RAM brings the price to $1529 refurbished, down from $1799 new.

Article Link: Refurbished MacBook Airs Hit Apple's Online Store
 
Last edited:

SidewaysTakumi

macrumors 6502a
Aug 5, 2010
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Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

Whoot! This will help me stay within budget for my new comp!
 

jayducharme

macrumors 601
Jun 22, 2006
4,517
5,935
The thick of it
I've had really good luck with the Apple refurb store. That's where I buy any computer I need. The only thing I don't get with a refurb is the original box, which doesn't bother me.
 

SidewaysTakumi

macrumors 6502a
Aug 5, 2010
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Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

Yea I don't care about the box and if I get the 13 ultimate, I'll save enough to pay for the apple care!
 

kas23

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Oct 28, 2007
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Sixtafoua said:
Nice savings, but my iPad is still cheaper. :)

Well, it's cheaper because you really can't do much on it besides play games and make silly drawings.

Gosh, Safari is unable to download files (I know other browsers can, but why?), can't transfer files via USB, no FaceTime, can't add/delete music without being tethered to a "real" computer, and the only apps you can put on it are via Jobs's Babysitting Service. But, yeah, it's cheaper.
 

rufwork

macrumors regular
Aug 5, 2003
143
68
Not sure why the negative comments, but I will add this...

Without 4 gigs of RAM, I wouldn't bite. Is the extra two gigs of RAM worth $250? Check your Activity Monitor and see how much you're floating now. I honestly can't get much done with 2 without noticing some aggravating slowdown, and that's just PHP and MySQL programming. (I've since upgraded my MacBook to 5 gigs).

It's a shame, but you can't take the 2 GB to 4 later. It's soldered on. Shell out for the 1.6 GHz model with 4GB if you're taking any of the refurbs available now. I think the extra $100 to go from a [new] 1.4 with 4 GB to a refurb 1.6 with 4 GB and twice the SSD is going to be worth it. 14% more processor for $100 isn't too bad.
 

nagromme

macrumors G5
May 2, 2002
12,546
1,196
That’s a great machine for $849. My primary production machine for Photoship, Flash, and all my daily computing, has equal/less power than that in every regard! It’s a first-gen Air with HD, not ideal after ~3 years, but it’s serving me very well... and I only have 58GB used on the hard disk! (Because I have another machine housing my iTunes library and my iOS app library.) Next time I’ll get the 11” Air.

If I can survive on less power than that, so can most users on the planet. Add a cheap external display and you’ve got awesome portability/durability with very little sacrifice—for 95% of users’ purposes.

Of course an iPad is better in many ways—but not in ALL ways, at least not for many years to come. For now, a conventional computer is still a good choice for some people, and I’d recommend an Air to just about anyone.
 

shyam09

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Oct 31, 2010
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the only apps you can put on it are via Jobs's Babysitting Service. .

jailbreak>?>?
 

zin

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May 5, 2010
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Well, it's cheaper because you really can't do much on it besides play games and make silly drawings.

Gosh, Safari is unable to download files (I know other browsers can, but why?), can't transfer files via USB, no FaceTime, can't add/delete music without being tethered to a "real" computer, and the only apps you can put on it are via Jobs's Babysitting Service. But, yeah, it's cheaper.

Your wit-and-sarcasm-detector is off.
 

kas23

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zin said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/8C148 Sleipnir/1.0m)



Well, it's cheaper because you really can't do much on it besides play games and make silly drawings.

Gosh, Safari is unable to download files (I know other browsers can, but why?), can't transfer files via USB, no FaceTime, can't add/delete music without being tethered to a "real" computer, and the only apps you can put on it are via Jobs's Babysitting Service. But, yeah, it's cheaper.

Your wit-and-sarcasm-detector is off.

Ooops. I guess I needed a wink or an eye-roll.
 

bella92108

macrumors 68000
Mar 1, 2006
1,610
0
Your discount doesn't affect refurbs.

he was sarcastically complaining about the prices still being too high (in his opinion).. he should migrate over to the $299 Acer forum.... ;-)

Tho in California where I live, the 10% sales tax still makes it cheaper to buy new from amazon rather than discounted (be it student or refurb) from apple :-(
 

Afflicted Max

macrumors member
Dec 30, 2008
43
0
he was sarcastically complaining about the prices still being too high (in his opinion).. he should migrate over to the $299 Acer forum.... ;-)

Tho in California where I live, the 10% sales tax still makes it cheaper to buy new from amazon rather than discounted (be it student or refurb) from apple :-(

How does a 10% tax make an item 15% cheaper more expensive?
 

Anonymous Freak

macrumors 603
Dec 12, 2002
5,559
1,245
Cascadia
The only problem I've ever had with Apple refurbs is faulty optical drives. (Twice.) Obviously, I won't have to worry about that with an Air, so I think I know what I'm getting myself for Christmas!
 

jmazzamj

macrumors regular
Jun 11, 2009
199
0
Too bad Apple does not offer the maxed out Air as stock config, I can get 20% (up to € 1000) or € 200 off of any Mac, but this applies to stock configs only...
 

MrXiro

macrumors 68040
Nov 2, 2007
3,850
599
Los Angeles
How does a 10% tax make an item 15% cheaper more expensive?

You're forgetting that amazon sells stuff at a discount usually. I got my iMac for $1158 tax free and shipped. Not sure if they do this online but when you buy a laptop or tv in Cali there is BS recycle fee tacked on as well.
 

Blondie :)

macrumors 6502a
May 12, 2010
698
3
Prescott, AZ
I think I might just go refurb for the next apple machine I get. I've heard mostly really good things about them. It's basically like buying a new computer with how much work they put into their refurbs. So yeah :) haha
 

Anonymous Freak

macrumors 603
Dec 12, 2002
5,559
1,245
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Dang, dang, dang, dang!!!

I came home from the holiday-with-family, and got enough cash from various relatives, that, combined with selling my current netbook, I can easily justify getting the refurb min-spec 11" Air. So as soon as I got home, I went to Apple's site to order one.

But now Apple is sold out... Dang... I don't need to pay an extra $200 to get "not enough extra to be more useful" storage; and I don't want the 13" model.
 

bdeitemeyer

macrumors member
Nov 10, 2009
81
0
Damn, I missed out as well. Oh well, I'll wait it out and see what shows up in early 2011. Thanks for relaying the scoop though.
 

xxBURT0Nxx

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bella92108 said:
How does a 10% tax make an item 15% cheaper more expensive?

Not sure where you get a 15% student discount. I was comparing new to new, not new to refurb, that's illogical.... but thanks for the argument for the sake of argument.

Umm you said buying new from amazon is cheaper than buying from apple with the student discount or buying a refurb unit so I don't see how you were comparing new to new but nice try
 

bella92108

macrumors 68000
Mar 1, 2006
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Umm you said buying new from amazon is cheaper than buying from apple with the student discount or buying a refurb unit so I don't see how you were comparing new to new but nice try

Re-Read please. Calculate a 10.25% california state sales tax plus $18 CA recycling fee + the apple store education price discount and you'll see what I mean, Amazon still comes out cheaper.

Don't argue unless you do the math first. Maybe in Iowa or wherever you're from the 5% sales tax doesn't hurt, but in CA the tax + environmental waste fee is a big hit.
 

MrXiro

macrumors 68040
Nov 2, 2007
3,850
599
Los Angeles
Re-Read please. Calculate a 10.25% california state sales tax plus $18 CA recycling fee + the apple store education price discount and you'll see what I mean, Amazon still comes out cheaper.

Don't argue unless you do the math first. Maybe in Iowa or wherever you're from the 5% sales tax doesn't hurt, but in CA the tax + environmental waste fee is a big hit.

Yeah... it sucks... I'm never buying any electronics in LA anymore. It's such a rip off here. What the hell is an $18 recycle fee? Who the F does that go to?
 
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