Macintosh Refurbs?? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

powerclown · 07-26-2004, 04:52 PM

So yesterday a new co-worker is telling me how much he loves his brand new g5, and how fast photoshop runs on it and how cool it looks and how much faster osx runs on it, and how faster the internet is, etc etc, I could have strangled the asshole...

It seems like just yesterday that I got my g4/400mhz!!

I checked the apple website and the g5's START @ $2000!!!! Well, thats ridiculous fuck them and fuck this asshole. What are you supposed to do when you wanna upgrade your mac? Bend over and grab your ankles?

My brother mentioned refurbs. Mac refurbs. The problem is I haven't a clue as to where to look, who se4lls them, can you get them locally, are they warrantied, are they busted? Google has not been helpful.

Anyone know where I can look for a refurb g4??

Thanks alot.

maleficent · 07-26-2004, 05:20 PM

http://www.powermax.com/cpus/refurb.html

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...ewpmkD%2FaH33g

jaypc2 · 07-26-2004, 06:18 PM

try going to a mac store and asking if they have any refurbs... thats what i did.. i have a refurb ibook and it works perferct.. it may have some cosmetic flaws (mine didn't ) but other than that the pro's at apple basically reforma tthe whole system to how it would be if you bought it for brand new....no catches... refurbs are great...

pixelbend · 07-27-2004, 05:18 AM

join a MUG (mac users group) and you can get a lot of deals on refurb products. There is one in virtually every major city and quite a few that are internet based. I am a member of the <URL:http://schwarztech.us/imug/>iMUG.

Oh yeah, and I have a refurb iMac DV that is five years old and going strong.

Redlemon · 07-27-2004, 05:43 AM

Small Dog Electronics - New and Refurbished Apple / Mac Computers

Cynthetiq · 07-27-2004, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by powerclown
I checked the apple website and the g5's START @ $2000!!!! Well, thats ridiculous fuck them and fuck this asshole. What are you supposed to do when you wanna upgrade your mac? Bend over and grab your ankles?

back in the day when Macs first came out, I was an Apple person. I was 14 and loving my Apple][+, when I saw the price of the Macintosh, I about fell over. I have never purchased a Mac ever since, and I have a few of them given to me by friends. But the price structure is just crazy as the PC market was always considerably less than the Macs.

shame too because I still do like them and about every 1-2 years I think about converting and then I look at the price lists and that notion ends.

good luck, I know lots of the mac techs that buy the refurbs and love them. I still find the refurbs still too expensive for what you get.

brandon11983 · 07-27-2004, 10:23 AM

Granted they are much more expensive, but it is well worth it. Refurbs make them a bit less pricey, and you still get full warranty. I am 100% certain I'll never go back to PC after the experiences I've had with my Mac.

THGL · 07-27-2004, 11:01 AM

You can also upgrade what you've got.

One of my computers here at work is a G4 450 (Digital Audio) that I upgraded with a 1 Ghz G4 chip (not a card upgrade but replaces the original processor). Your bus speed is going to remain the same but it'll definately help.

powerclown · 07-27-2004, 03:41 PM

Thanks alot folks.

I too started on an Mac IIci waaay back in the day and stayed on the platform predominantly, until about 2 years ago.

I'd like to get back to only using Macs at home (use them at work soley) for some simple networking, but I can't do it with these ridiculous prices.

Some great ideas and links; Ive got a few weeks til I make a decision which way Im gonna go at home, mac or pc. Thanks again; anyone have any further ideas im all ears

.

rubicon · 07-28-2004, 07:06 AM

I bought a 15" PowerBook that was refurbished (800 MHz, $1700). Runs great and has a full warranty through AppleCare. Highly recommended.

I'm not sure that $2000 for a G5 is enough to make you run for the hills. You'll spend at least $1500 for a good PC system and then you'll ruin it with a copy of Windows.

I am considering the switch to Mac full-time - I'm tired of the security issues and Microsoft's direction with Windows.

Would I pay $2700 for a new PowerBook? Now that I've seen the light, absolutely. Everything works flawlessly with mine and that peace of mind is worth it to me.

junglistic · 07-28-2004, 08:49 AM

ive just recently purchased a brand new seal 14" g4 1ghz ibook off ebay for 1000 USD. After shipping and whatnot it was around 1050USD. Which is roughly 400 less then what apple charges.

So, the deals are out there to be had. You just have to look and wait for them.

exizldelfuego · 07-28-2004, 01:37 PM

Also, try checking out DealMac. They update just about daily on deals around the internet.

One of the tricks to buying computers today is to realize that, for 90% of the time you will spend on the machine, a new machine is way overpowered for the tasks you're going to throw at it. I mean, it doesn't take much power to skim through TFP or write email or listen to music. I'm a graphic design student and, for less than the price of a killer PowerMac setup, I can get a 17" iMac and 12' iBook which is ample power for nearly everything I do. iMac for working at home, and iBook for working elsewhere (I love working at coffee shops). Sure, the iBook bogs down occasionally when I'm running Adobe CS and Studio MX together, but other than that, I'm more of a bottleneck than my computers are. And I say this while typing on my Dual 2GHz PowerMac G5 at work. For most things, my iMac at home feels just as fast as the G5.

Especially if you're coming off a 400MHz PowerMac G4 (which, coincidentally, was my previous computer).

evilbeefchan · 01-25-2005, 11:39 PM

hey exizdelfuego, did you get one of the higher end 12" ibooks, and the 17" imacs with super drives? I'm in graphic design as well, and am finding it very unconvinient to have to do all my work at school or at home on an old pc. At the same time, I'm torn between getting a desktop or notebook. Notebook would be nice to carry around and work outside of home, but a desktop may be a better investment? Any truth to this?

For refurbished computers, should I look for computers with higher processing speeds, or does it really matter? Like would there be a difference between a g4 power mac with 800mhz with 256 mb ram, and a g4 power mac with 733mhz with 512mb of ram? Is there a minimum of attributes that I would need for my particular situation?

AngelicVampire · 01-26-2005, 04:19 AM

A high end PC will run you ~£1000, a really high end PC will run ~£1500. Remember that PCs have the option to build it yourself so you can actually save money by buying components rather than systems. My main problem with Macs is the terrible styling, white cases and such imo suck... the titanium laptops look kindof nice however PC laptops have many more styling options.

07-26-2004, 04:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
powerclown Junkie Location: Detroit, MI	Macintosh Refurbs?? So yesterday a new co-worker is telling me how much he loves his brand new g5, and how fast photoshop runs on it and how cool it looks and how much faster osx runs on it, and how faster the internet is, etc etc, I could have strangled the asshole... It seems like just yesterday that I got my g4/400mhz!! I checked the apple website and the g5's START @ $2000!!!! Well, thats ridiculous fuck them and fuck this asshole. What are you supposed to do when you wanna upgrade your mac? Bend over and grab your ankles? My brother mentioned refurbs. Mac refurbs. The problem is I haven't a clue as to where to look, who se4lls them, can you get them locally, are they warrantied, are they busted? Google has not been helpful. Anyone know where I can look for a refurb g4?? Thanks alot.

07-26-2004, 05:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	http://www.powermax.com/cpus/refurb.html http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...ewpmkD%2FaH33g __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

07-26-2004, 06:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
jaypc2 Tilted Location: south east	try going to a mac store and asking if they have any refurbs... thats what i did.. i have a refurb ibook and it works perferct.. it may have some cosmetic flaws (mine didn't ) but other than that the pro's at apple basically reforma tthe whole system to how it would be if you bought it for brand new....no catches... refurbs are great... __________________ Zero Cool stay sexy

07-27-2004, 05:18 AM	#4 (permalink)
pixelbend Too hot in the hot tub!	join a MUG (mac users group) and you can get a lot of deals on refurb products. There is one in virtually every major city and quite a few that are internet based. I am a member of the <URL:http://schwarztech.us/imug/>iMUG. Oh yeah, and I have a refurb iMac DV that is five years old and going strong. __________________ But I don't want ANY Spam!

07-27-2004, 05:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	Small Dog Electronics - New and Refurbished Apple / Mac Computers __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

07-27-2004, 10:23 AM	#7 (permalink)
brandon11983 Stereophonic Location: Chitown!!	Granted they are much more expensive, but it is well worth it. Refurbs make them a bit less pricey, and you still get full warranty. I am 100% certain I'll never go back to PC after the experiences I've had with my Mac. __________________ Well behaved women rarely make history.

07-27-2004, 11:01 AM	#8 (permalink)
THGL Psycho Location: Louisville, KY	You can also upgrade what you've got. One of my computers here at work is a G4 450 (Digital Audio) that I upgraded with a 1 Ghz G4 chip (not a card upgrade but replaces the original processor). Your bus speed is going to remain the same but it'll definately help. __________________ "The truth is merely an excuse for lack of imagination." - Garak

07-27-2004, 03:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
powerclown Junkie Location: Detroit, MI	Thanks alot folks. I too started on an Mac IIci waaay back in the day and stayed on the platform predominantly, until about 2 years ago. I'd like to get back to only using Macs at home (use them at work soley) for some simple networking, but I can't do it with these ridiculous prices. Some great ideas and links; Ive got a few weeks til I make a decision which way Im gonna go at home, mac or pc. Thanks again; anyone have any further ideas im all ears .

07-28-2004, 07:06 AM	#10 (permalink)
rubicon Stop. Think. Question. Location: Redondo Beach, CA	I bought a 15" PowerBook that was refurbished (800 MHz, $1700). Runs great and has a full warranty through AppleCare. Highly recommended. I'm not sure that $2000 for a G5 is enough to make you run for the hills. You'll spend at least $1500 for a good PC system and then you'll ruin it with a copy of Windows. I am considering the switch to Mac full-time - I'm tired of the security issues and Microsoft's direction with Windows. Would I pay $2700 for a new PowerBook? Now that I've seen the light, absolutely. Everything works flawlessly with mine and that peace of mind is worth it to me. __________________ How you do anything is how you do everything.

07-28-2004, 08:49 AM	#11 (permalink)
junglistic Insane	ive just recently purchased a brand new seal 14" g4 1ghz ibook off ebay for 1000 USD. After shipping and whatnot it was around 1050USD. Which is roughly 400 less then what apple charges. So, the deals are out there to be had. You just have to look and wait for them.

07-28-2004, 01:37 PM	#12 (permalink)
exizldelfuego Crazy Location: Seattle, WA	Also, try checking out DealMac. They update just about daily on deals around the internet. One of the tricks to buying computers today is to realize that, for 90% of the time you will spend on the machine, a new machine is way overpowered for the tasks you're going to throw at it. I mean, it doesn't take much power to skim through TFP or write email or listen to music. I'm a graphic design student and, for less than the price of a killer PowerMac setup, I can get a 17" iMac and 12' iBook which is ample power for nearly everything I do. iMac for working at home, and iBook for working elsewhere (I love working at coffee shops). Sure, the iBook bogs down occasionally when I'm running Adobe CS and Studio MX together, but other than that, I'm more of a bottleneck than my computers are. And I say this while typing on my Dual 2GHz PowerMac G5 at work. For most things, my iMac at home feels just as fast as the G5. Especially if you're coming off a 400MHz PowerMac G4 (which, coincidentally, was my previous computer).

01-25-2005, 11:39 PM	#13 (permalink)
evilbeefchan Addict Location: Alhambra, CA	hey exizdelfuego, did you get one of the higher end 12" ibooks, and the 17" imacs with super drives? I'm in graphic design as well, and am finding it very unconvinient to have to do all my work at school or at home on an old pc. At the same time, I'm torn between getting a desktop or notebook. Notebook would be nice to carry around and work outside of home, but a desktop may be a better investment? Any truth to this? For refurbished computers, should I look for computers with higher processing speeds, or does it really matter? Like would there be a difference between a g4 power mac with 800mhz with 256 mb ram, and a g4 power mac with 733mhz with 512mb of ram? Is there a minimum of attributes that I would need for my particular situation?

01-26-2005, 04:19 AM	#14 (permalink)
AngelicVampire Insane	A high end PC will run you ~£1000, a really high end PC will run ~£1500. Remember that PCs have the option to build it yourself so you can actually save money by buying components rather than systems. My main problem with Macs is the terrible styling, white cases and such imo suck... the titanium laptops look kindof nice however PC laptops have many more styling options.