Getting ready to buy a Macbook

Jay662

Jay662

Jay662

Associate
Joined
29 Aug 2004
Posts
174
Location
Glasgow
Alright so after a lot of thinking I have decided to buy a Macbook. I have been thinking about this for a good few months and this week I got to play about with a Mac and configure it.

My question is - I will be buying a first generation Intel as I can't justify the £900 price tag when it's my first one. So what are some of the common problems with the first generation? I have seen a few listings with cracked palmrest plastics and issues with graphics cards.

I am looking at a 450-550 budget second hand.
 
Personally I'd wait to see what macworld sees coming out as you might see some of the newer gens come down in price with people selling their current ones to upgrade.

The macworld was yesterday today and tomorrow.

Of course this is presuming they upgrade the macbook/macbook pro.
 
I have been watching quite a few on the bay, seem to be falling in price quite a bit now as the new models are due a refresh anytime soon, and the current range are becoming thin on the ground.
 
I just got my first macbook, running Bootcamp with Snow and W7. Loving it.
Forgive the question but are you a student or do you know anyone that is a student, if so you can get a Macbook for £743 as I did, you only have to show student id, higher education gets the biggest discount. (If your gonna stump up £550 for a second hand, first gen save a bit more and do this way);)

Also according to the net the only line due for an upgrade is the pro, not the regular.
 
In addition to the cracking palm rest, the backlight became faulty on mine and it's gone through two batteries. Out of all the computers and laptops I've owned, the plastic MacBook has been the worst and personally I wouldn't go near another one even with someone elses money.

My aluminium MacBook Pro on the other hand has been brilliant, so if you can stretch to one of them I would definitely consider it. Even if you end up hating OSX you'll still have a very nice laptop you can stick Windows on.
 
Still using my Late 2006 Macbook 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo. I wouldn't get the Core Duo one that preceded it, but would still happily recommend this one. It remains plenty fast. Upgrading to 3 gb from 2 tomorrow. Looking at an optibay to replace the Optical with a SSD just to eke out a but more time from it. Ensure you get at least 2GB and a 7200 disk or SSD. Snow Leopard is only 29 quid.

I have had no problems - bu it is now one year out of Apple Care. 4 year old laptops should not be my primary freelance machine!

Really I should sell it on and get a new one with Academic Apple Care. A few have gone at under the price you mention in the For Sale part of this forum... I would try to get access to that. They are much cheaper than the 'Bay here. Also no paypal fees often.

I would strenuously recommend getting a new one if you can through the magic of Academic Discount, this also includes 3 years academic Apple Care (for about 48 extra for the uplift) - a major saving.
 
Well I caved in and got one from eBay for £440 which is around a year old with a Nvidia 9300 and core 2 duo, so very happy with the spec!

Should be delivered in the next hour or so
 
The cracking plastic is covered outside of warranty as long as it isn't user damage. Other than that my wife's MacBook has done four years solid with zero faults. Battery is even still healthy...
 
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