I'm still debating/researching as I look into our first mac (moving from windows). For those that have recently purchased, do think the $280 savings on a 27" basic model vs. refurb is worth it?
From what I can see the processors are basically the same (2.7ghz i5 with 6mb cache on the new vs. 2.8ghz i5 with 8bm cache on the refurb), so is the memory and the HDD. The main differences are the video card (HD6770 with 512mb on the new, HD5750 with 1gb on the refurb) and the 2 thunderbolt ports on the new vs. none on the refurb. By the way the discount narrows for me to $110 if I can't apply the education discount to the refurb like some other posters have done.
Thanks!
Just double checked the refurb store. Are you aware that you can purchase 1) either a new 2011 model 27", 2) a refurbished 2010 27" iMac (the specs you listed) OR 3) a refurbished 2011 27" model (you did not seem to list this as an option, although maybe I misunderstood your post). A brand new 27" base iMac (non- refurb) lists for $1699. A 2010 iMac refurb with the QC 2.8 and 1GB of VRAM goes for $1419 ($280 off). You can also get a 2011 27" refurb iMac for that same $1419 (same $280 savings) with only slightly slower processor (2.7 QC vs. 2.8 QC), half the VRAM (which you may never notice if not involved in *heavy* video production, etc.
You know best what you will use the computer for, but if I were in your shoes I would be going for the refurbed 2011 iMac instead of the 2010 model simply because it's more future proof with the addition of the thunderbolt ports and is largely the same in all other aspects with the exception of that VRAM that I mentioned. I didn't see you mention the 2011 iMac refurbished model in your post, I just saw you comparing a brand-new 27 inch 2011 iMac model to the refurbished 2010 iMac, that's why I threw into this discussion the 2011 refurbished iMac. Maybe you meant to mention that in your post, so I apologize if I misunderstood.
Anyway, best of luck in your decision, I'm sure you Will be thrilled with your decision either way you go, but I just wanted to give my two cents....
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Oooo, I hope I am that lucky. Guess I will find out not soon enough!
My Refurbished boxes didn't have anything on them in regard to specs. No picture of the iMac or words of any sort for that matter. Just a shipping box, with hard foam pieces in to support the iMac and the keyboard/mouse box. The computer is wrapped in "foam" paper.
Our old iMacs had nice white boxes with the picture of the computer on them along with the normal description. Those were placed inside of the shipping box.
That's interesting. My 21.5 inch iMac showed up in a plain white boxes well, but had a small product label on one of the sides with specs, UPC code, model number, serial number, etc. Looks like Apple plays around with their shipping boxes more than they do with the iMac itself.
I still haven't opened the box to see if the specs of the computer match what was listed on the webpage (so far the box and the web match) and on the shipping box itself, but does anyone else out there have any experience with even the listed specs on the box in addition to the website being different than the computer itself? I'm trying to solve the question as to whether Apple seems to be putting the "wrong"/"upgraded" computers into the "right" boxes, or if they are grabbing the "wrong" box to fill the "right" web order.
