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whats the best option for a used/refurbished mac?

L

Len.non

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 9, 2009
21
0
ok i posted a thread earlier about the macbook pros and now im finding out that i cant get them because of money issues and stuff from the apple online store...

so heres the questions i have now

if i were to buy a refurbished apple from a site like macmall or gainsaver.com would i be able to get applecare for it down the road?

what site is the best for older generation macbook pros and what model should i look for if im doing work in fFCP, Photoshop After effects and music DAWs(digital audio workstations)?

also whats the graphics card difference between these two and should it be a decidng factor in m decision?
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 128MB of GDDR3 SDRAM and dual-link DVI
and
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB of GDDR3 SDRAM and dual-link DVI
 
also im mainly looking for a laptop, macbook pro or powerbook, though im not too familiar with powerbooks so im not exactly sure whats the difference for the two
 
Do not get any Macbook Pro with the 8600M GT as they are known to be defective. Take a look at the Refurbished section on Apple.com at the bottom of the page. I recommend to get a refurbished Macbook Pro, Unibody, 2.4GHz with 9400M+9600M GT or the 2.53GHz with the 9400M+9600M GT. Keep checking daily for them to become available again.
 
MacMini2009 said:
Do not get any Macbook Pro with the 8600M GT as they are known to be defective. Take a look at the Refurbished section on Apple.com at the bottom of the page. I recommend to get a refurbished Macbook Pro, Unibody, 2.4GHz with 9400M+9600M GT or the 2.53GHz with the 9400M+9600M GT. Keep checking daily for them to become available again.
Click to expand...

yeah its about the same price as the 13 inch macbook pro though

i was also looking at the ati x1600 version and im not sure whats the dirrerence betweeen the 125 and 256 mb versions, does that affect anything if im doing some film editing/photoshop/music production?
 
Len.non said:
yeah its about the same price as the 13 inch macbook pro though

i was also looking at the ati x1600 version and im not sure whats the dirrerence betweeen the 125 and 256 mb versions, does that affect anything if im doing some film editing/photoshop/music production?
Click to expand...

The ATI x1600 Macbook Pro's, I would get the 256MB version as it is better for todays standards. But I highly recommend getting those 15in refurbished Macbook Pros with the 9600MGT. But its your choice.
 
MacMini2009 said:
The ATI x1600 Macbook Pro's, I would get the 256MB version as it is better for todays standards. But I highly recommend getting those 15in refurbished Macbook Pros with the 9600MGT. But its your choice.
Click to expand...

if i had the money i would but thats just not a possibility financially... with the x1600 versions i know they are earlier, do you know if i can upgrade the ram up to 4 or 6 gb like the other macbook pros?
 
Len.non said:
if i had the money i would but thats just not a possibility financially... with the x1600 versions i know they are earlier, do you know if i can upgrade the ram up to 4 or 6 gb like the other macbook pros?
Click to expand...

Whats your budget? I think the max RAM is 3GB.
 
MacMini2009 said:
Whats your budget? I think the max RAM is 3GB.
Click to expand...

well 1200 is pushing it very far, and i know i can get parts after market later on and stuff... if i didnt but refurbished from apple though would i still be able to get applecare?
 
Len.non said:
well 1200 is pushing it very far, and i know i can get parts after market later on and stuff... if i didnt but refurbished from apple though would i still be able to get applecare?
Click to expand...

You can only get Applecare if it is still under its free 1 year warranty from the time you buy it. Maybe you can get the White Macbook or the Base 13in Macbook Pro.
 
MacMini2009 said:
You can only get Applecare if it is still under its free 1 year warranty from the time you buy it. Maybe you can get the White Macbook or the Base 13in Macbook Pro.
Click to expand...

ive looked around on other websites on gainsaver.com has older generation macbooks completely stock for 7-900 dollars

also i think the macbook would be the best option due to my music, because i dont think that the macbook has enough usb and firewire ports for my hardware, though im not 100% sure if you can add more ports some type of way, is that possible at all?
 
Len.non said:
ive looked around on other websites on gainsaver.com has older generation macbooks completely stock for 7-900 dollars

also i think the macbook would be the best option due to my music, because i dont think that the macbook has enough usb and firewire ports for my hardware, though im not 100% sure if you can add more ports some type of way, is that possible at all?
Click to expand...

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FB881LL/A
Get this refurbished Macbook. This is the newer one with the Nvidia 9400M.
It has 2 USB ports but you can add a USB hub where you can get an extra 3-5 USb Ports. http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-4-Port...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1247213895&sr=8-1 <---Usb Hub
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
MacMini2009 said:
What do you mean replacement? If you mean more USB ports yes.
Click to expand...
in all honesty im not sure because this is the most ive actually went into looking for a computer of my own and also my first mac purchase from windows

but i also would need firewire ports for video editing, for connecting my dv camera to the computer which i dont see on any macbooks, im not exactly sure if theres a way to solve that
 
Len.non said:
in all honesty im not sure because this is the most ive actually went into looking for a computer of my own and also my first mac purchase from windows

but i also would need firewire ports for video editing, for connecting my dv camera to the computer which i dont see on any macbooks, im not exactly sure if theres a way to solve that
Click to expand...

That Macbook I showed you has a firewire 400 port.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FB881LL/A
 
MacMini2009 said:
Just keep checking daily, and once it's in stock, buy it.
Click to expand...

yeah i guess im just a bit impatient cause ive been trying fora mac for almost 3 years now lol
do all the white macbooks have firewire ports? because im sure i might be able to find one at the retail store
 
hopefully by some grace of god and thourhg some birthday money coming today ill have enough to get the macbook pro but if push comes to shove ill try for the white macbook...
do you know if mac has any open-box items that may be cheaper?
 
Len.non said:
hopefully by some grace of god and thourhg some birthday money coming today ill have enough to get the macbook pro but if push comes to shove ill try for the white macbook...
do you know if mac has any open-box items that may be cheaper?
Click to expand...

I don't know if the Apple Store does but Best Buy might have open-box Macs.
 
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