Anyone tried refurbished MacBooks? Opinions?

I'm looking around on Apple's official site, and I notice that they offer refurbished macbooks (and other stuff) for *very* good prices. They are covered by Apple's 1 year "limited warranty" as well. Have any of you tried any of these refurbished items? Are they too good to be true, or is this a sweet deal that I should consider?

 

I haven't tried any notebooks, but the one year warranty is good. I did buy a refurbished iPod. It looked brand new.

 

Refirb's can be an excellent way to save money. A refirb may have been returned just because it did not work out for someone or because it had an actual problem. In either case the unit is restored to "as new" condition and undergoes all the testing and diagnostics a new unit would before shipping (in addition to resolving any reported issue).

I've had very good luck with refirbs You can usually return a refirb same as a new machine if you like. I've never had any issues with the few refirbs I've purchased but worry that there may be a higher percentage of cosmetic or dead pixel issues. Often a manufacturer does not consider these issues so they will pass testing and go out as refirbs (same as they did new) and I know I'd return any machine with these issues (new or refirb).

Often refirbs come with a full standard or sometimes even an extended waranty and this bodes well. Stay clear of any that offer a reduced warranty though because if the manufacturer has less confidence in the refirb, so should you ;-)

 

I just got a refurb MBP, 2.0 GHz, 512 RAM (bumped to 1.5 GB thanks to New Egg), 80 GB HD (also swapped for 160 GB, New Egg), X1600, SuperDrive, BT, etc. etc. for a VERY good price. (With the upgrades, I still came out far ahead.) As for performance and reliability, so far so good. Very good. It's been a couple of weeks now, but I've done the Boot Camp/XP thing, and it's all working great.

I think the whole idea is pretty trustworthy...I don't know why would Mac would put out junk with a rep to uphold. These machines are just one generation removed. And to give you the option of adding 3-yr. AppleCare to a refurb says something.

As I say, mine is sailing along, games and all. Yes, it runs HOT, but that comes with the core duo. I sort of knew it was coming.

I recommend you not worry -- go for it.

 

I would recommend refurbed MBP's if you can't get a student discount or another large discount. If it weren't for the student discount I would have gone refurb no questions asked.
Lots of people heavily believe in Mac refurbs.

either way, get the 3 year warranty before your 1 year deadline.

 

how much is the student discount exactly on MBs?

I can't figure it out...i think it's only like 200...maybe my college doesn't count...

 

On the MB it's not very much. I think the discount is 10% though. I know I saved a little over $200 when I bought my MBP, which was $2200 before the discount. Or something like that.
I think the discount on the MB are $50-$100.

 

Yep. Education discounts on the MB are $50 for the lowest model and $100 for the middle white MB and Blackbook.

 

In some cases, refurbished models can actually be better. At least you know they have tested it more than they would have tested it out of the factory. Most of the time, I believe they are just returns anyway, and if it is under the applecare warranty, you have nothing to worry about.

 

Do refurbs have cosmetic blemishes/defaults in exterior?

 

According to Apple they can, but I think most people get cosmetically good units.