Thinking about going back to Macs

jp_bl_68 · 13 Mar 2009 at 17:48

I'm currently looking for a new laptop. So far I've only been looking at Windows machines but I've spent so long searching that I've managed to save up enough for an Apple.

I'm looking at a refurb MacBook for £800:

Precision aluminum unibody enclosure
2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo ,L2 Cache 3MB shared, 1066MHz
2GB (two 1GB SO-DIMMs) of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500); supports up to 4GB
160GB Serial ATA; 5400 rpm
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory2
Built-in iSight camera; Mini DisplayPort output port with support for DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI (requires adapters, sold separately)
13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display, 1280-by-800 resolution

Does that sound like a reasonable price to pay for this laptop? I'd like to spend no more than £800 but I want a decent machine that'll last me a while (at least 3 years) so I'd be prepared to spend a little more if it was worth it.

One of my main concerns with buying a Mac is compatibility (software and hardware). This used to be a major issue, from what I remember. Is this still the case?

jp_bl_68 · 13 Mar 2009 at 17:51

Sorry, I just realised I posted in the software forum. I meant to post this in the Apple Hardware Forum. If a mod spots this maybe they could move it?

JAMAL · 13 Mar 2009 at 17:56

You can get a non refurb for that money with HE discount and 3 years warranty.

jp_bl_68 · 13 Mar 2009 at 18:04

What's HE and is the spec the same?

JAMAL · 13 Mar 2009 at 18:56

I think its about £816 matey, its the base unibody spec same as you listed

jp_bl_68 · 13 Mar 2009 at 19:02

I looked on the Apple site and couldn't see this model. I saw a MacBook of a lower spec for £720 and a couple for over £900. Am I looking in the right place?

syke · 13 Mar 2009 at 19:08

Are you in Higher Education (Uni)?

jp_bl_68 · 13 Mar 2009 at 19:11

Unfortunately not. Is there a discount for students?

JAMAL · 13 Mar 2009 at 19:50

Yes there is mate, and its very easy to blag

I'd email you the link but i've lost it

Deleted member 651465 · 13 Mar 2009 at 19:55

Ring up and play the student down the phone

jp_bl_68 · 13 Mar 2009 at 20:12

OK, thanks. Think I'll do that.

likwid · 13 Mar 2009 at 20:21

Don't they ask for your student id number on the phone and if you can just make one up, can't they check its validity? When I bought an imac in one of the stores (Glasgow) they copied the number from my student id card and demanded I show them my beer stomach! :confused:

SimonR · 13 Mar 2009 at 20:49

You dont need to be a student, I got studen discount on my MBP. I just phoned up, said I wanted a student discount price and that I wasnt a student but if they wanted a student ID I could get one. They said no probs, and sold it to me at the discounted price.

If you know someone who is in HE, FE or a teacher / lecturer just use their ID, Apple wont know and tbh dont really care. Plus if you know someone in the NHS you can get a genuine copy of Microsoft Office for Mac for £16 on the NHS discount site. Enjoy

LordSplodge · 14 Mar 2009 at 10:46

jp_bl_68 said:
One of my main concerns with buying a Mac is compatibility (software and hardware). This used to be a major issue, from what I remember. Is this still the case?

That hasn't been an issue for a while now unless you buy some cheap crap noname hardware (but even some of that works like the card reader I got for 3 quid!)

Software is the same and you can even run Windows on the laptop if needs be.

Oh and I'm with everybody else here: Blag yourself a new one on HE discount.

Once you have had a Mac there's no going back. /obviousmacfanboicomment

Thinking about going back to Macs

Deleted member 651465

Deleted member 651465