Going to buy an iBook: should I get new or refurb?

[MGMorden]

I'm getting ready to buy an iBook (that versus any other notebook isn't up for debate). I have pretty much decided on the 700mhz, 256mb, DVD/CDRW setup with the 14.1" screen. My only problem is whether or not to get a new unit or a refurbished one. From Apple the refurb unit is $1299. The same one new is $1549 ($50 discount for educational customer on new units). Do you guys think that the new unit is worth the extra $250 or would you go with the refurb?

 

[JackOfHearts]

That would depend on the warranty that apple is offering on the refurbished unit if it has a 1 year+ warranty on the refurbished unit. In the event the refurbished unit doesn't have a warranty get the new iBook because warranty=good🙂

 

[smp]

Ick! You're getting the 14"???
As you will.
I would go for the new, not only that, but I'de go for one of the newer ones with 32meg vram. OSX isn't going to need less graphics power as it matures.
The model you're talking about has 16 megs of vram right?
FYI the 14" has the same res as the 12"... you're not getting any more real estate with it at all.
I'de go new.

For the price you're talking about you can get a 800mhz/combo/32meg radeon 7500 but with the smaller, nicer, more appealing 12" screen 🙂

edit: I'm sorry I can't help myself... the 14" ibook is like the big, fat, clumsy and deformed older sibling of the cute youngster. Igor-ibook

 

[MGMorden]

I'm know about both of them being 1024x768. It's just that I want the larger screen . . . just to be bigger 😀. I'm going to be taking it around but not alot. Mostly just to the library and to my parent's house (I'm more interested in the portability aspect so I can easily take it home from college on the weekends. my car will be doing most of the toting). The last laptop I had (a lowly P133 with 24mb ram 🙂) had a 12" screen and it was just too small (800x600 resolution, but regardless of the res the screen was just small).

As to the video ram, it looks like the new one has 32mb, and the refurb has 16 (I'm guessing there. they don't list it but I think all the 700mhz models have 16mb). I did notice though that the new one is 800mhz, not 700. Hmm. I could get a brand new slightly better model with a 12 screen for the price of the refurb 14" . . . but I really want that 14" screen. Decisions decisions. I've got $1500 saved right now. I'll have about $2300 saved by the end of the year. I'd like to have some of that left over, but I also don't want to end up buying the model I didn't want and regretting it.

 

[EdipisReks]

i know you said that the iBook is not negotiable, but for $2300 you can get an awfully nice tiBook.

 

[ViRGE]

I would get the refurb if you're really worried about money. Apple's refurb laptops, from what I've heard, are just as good as their new ones. I believe they come with the same warrenty, so if you can live with 16MB, it would seem to be the better deal.

 

[MGMorden]

Actually because I'm a student I could get that $2300 iBook for $2150. Always check into educational discounts if you're buying computer stuff. $2150 is still a bit more than I'd like to pay right now though (and I'm not too fond of the non-standard aspect ratio on the tiBooks) . I'm pretty set on the iBook for right now (I might move up to a tiBook in another year or two). As it is right now, I'm thinking I'll get a new one. I would rather a refurbished unit, but the specs on the new ones are the ones I want. Maybe they'll start selling the 800mhz refurbs soon?

However, after thinking about it some more, smp's comments have got me unsure about the 14.1" display. I would like a slimmer, smaller unit, but I just don't know if I can deal with the loss of space (though once upon a time I did use a 14" monitor with a 13.1" viewable area for close to 5 years without problems). I do have a 17" LCD connected to my desktop that I guess I could connect if I wanted to see a bigger picture (I was wanting to leave everything but the ibook home when I went back for the Fall '03 semester though. i'll only be up at school for the one semester then I graduate so I'm planning on packing light. I guess the LCD isn't that big of an item to take).

Basically I think I'm leaning towards the 12.1" screen now, but the 800mhz model (I might get it now or I might wait for the refurbs to show up).

 

[sk560]

i don't have prob deciding btw the 12' and the 14's models... coz i like the size of the 12' model and of course the saving.

i've no prob w/ the 12' xga.. i got a 21' trinitron at work for 2 yrs... and having no prob adjusting to the smaller screen at home.

as for going refurb or new... depends on whether u wanna wait... or wanna start having fun w/ ur ibook asap 🙂