Frugal , chintzy , whatever you call it , I do n’t wish to drop any more money than I have to . Which is why I ’m really happy Apple switched to Intel chips .
Back in the day , PowerPC check did n’t change very often . You could goyearsbetween raw generations of processor . As a consequence , that Macs that ran on these PowerPC fries did n’t deepen that frequently , either . We ’d go nine months or more between intersection updates .
Now that Apple is using Intel chips in all of its hardware offerings , Macs are subject to Intel ’s speedy product cycle : We ’re seeing brand Modern chips in brand novel Macs every four to six months , instead of every match of years . Take Wednesday ’s MacBook update , which present Core 2 couple processors to the laptop parentage a short five months or so after the Core Duo version of the ware was unveiled .
What ’s that get to do with saving money ? Savvy shoppers have long sleep together aboutApple ’s refurb store , where the company sells off Macs that have been returned ( for whatever reason ) , rehabilitated , and then recertified for sales agreement — for hundreds of dollar less than what unexampled model might be .
Whenever Apple inaugurate a fresh generation of machines , it usually remove the previous generation from its retail channelstout de entourage . But you may often still find those previous - generation machines in the refurb store .
For example , I buy my current home simple machine , a 1.8GHz iMac G5 , about a class ago , not long after Apple insert Modern iMacs with slenderly faster poker chip ( and several month before the first Intel iMacs appeared ) . I paid hundreds less for that last - generation iMac than I ’d have bear for one of the fresh models at the clock time . Did I escape out on some of the modish / greatest features ? Sure . But I get a utterly skillful Mac and a really , really good deal .
likewise , now that Apple has introduced its Core 2 Duo MacBooks and MacBook Pros , you’re able to now find refurbished Core Duo MacBooks and MacBook Pros in the Apple store . And those older system are available at really nice discounts : “ Nice ” as in a 15 - in 2.16GHz MacBook Pro that sold for $ 2,400 young now available as a $ 1,600 refurb .
I ’ve grease one’s palms Macs andiPodsfrom the refurb shop and never had any problem . Even if I had , all mathematical product amount with the same one - year warranty you get on new Apple hardware .
So now that Apple ’s using Intel poker chip , we ’re getting more raw Macs all the time . More new Macs mean more relatively new Macs in the refurb store . And more relatively novel Macs in the refurb fund entail great deals for cheapskates like me .
How about you ? Have you ever buy a refurb ? Was it a good experience ? Anything go unseasonable ? Let me recognise in the forum below . We may do a story on refurbs someday ; if we do , we may want to talk to you about it .
