Refurbished versus brand-new
KellyR (520 points) | Thu, 2008-02-28 00:58So I've been slowly narrowing my choices down for what model of Mac I want based on the work I expect to be doing on it.
I'm seriously looking into getting one of the new 24" iMacs.
Now, I'm looking at prices between refurbished ones and brand new ones.
Can you tell me your opinion on which one you feel is the best way to go?
I almost think a refurb is better all around, both in price, and because it was subjected to a lot of testing - where I don't know how much testing the brand new machines go through.
What do you think? Given a choice and if you had unlimited funds so price wasn't really a huge obstacle to you, would you rather go with a refurb or a brand new machine?
Commenting on this Forum topic is closed.
Both types of machines can have their issues. Even new machines ship with bad motherboards and other hardware from time to time. The benefit of a refurb machine is it's been tested, that's true, but there's nothing like getting a new machine fresh and without anything extra installed. It's like seeing how fast the computer can really be; they always seem to slow down over time.
It all comes down to your budget and if you have another machine around if the first one breaks down. Regardless, I'd be hesitant to go to Leopard until all CS3 issues are resolved, but some folks aren't having a problem with it (search cb for more on this).
You have to remember, too, that iMacs are harder to upgrade. Do you want to be able to make your machine keep up with increases in RAM and video memory? Do you want to be able to add another internal hard drive? Then go with a G5 tower; I like having the extra flexibility and the resale value tends to be a little higher.
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Powerpoint is not a design application
My latest web design work
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Dirt and Rust
I'm not familiar with refurbs, but bought an iMac 24 in December and haven't looked back. I'm running Leopard and have had no issues with CS3, but am with Quark 7. I think that's a font thing though. Damn Futura.
ttfn!
3dogmama
"Art -- the one achievement of Man which has made the long trip up from all fours seem well advised." - James Thurber
Ugh, I can't wait till futura dies. :)
Do you use Font Explorer? It rocks and will probably solve your font problems. It can even clean your system/fonts folder of all but required fonts, thereby speeding up your system.
Get it here:
http://www.linotype.com/fontexplorer
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Powerpoint is not a design application
My latest web design work
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Dirt and Rust
Futura's been around for 80 years so unfortunately, I don't think it's going to be pushing up daisies any time soon. However, in all fairness to the font, the near circular 0s lend themselves nicely to encase round objects (using 2008 here). My only saving grace with this current project is that it's only used on the cover. Needless to say, I've tucked the cover away in its own area while I concentrate on laying out the rest of the piece.
Thanks for the font explorer link. I'll definitely look into it.
ttfn!
3dogmama
"Art -- the one achievement of Man which has made the long trip up from all fours seem well advised." - James Thurber
I was just pulling your leg about Futura, though I see way too much Futura Condensed on brochures. :) Time to go back to Helvetica. :)
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Powerpoint is not a design application
My latest web design work
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Dirt and Rust
I'm neither here nor there with Futura. It has its uses.
The font that I can't stand, though, is Eras. Probably stems back to this old typographer I used to work with. Every time I'd pose a question to the man, he'd answer me,"You bet eras."
ttfn!
3dogmama
"Art -- the one achievement of Man which has made the long trip up from all fours seem well advised." - James Thurber
Oh my, that's bad! :)
Ranks up there with Papyrus.
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Powerpoint is not a design application
My latest web design work
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Dirt and Rust
I know an iMac is going to be a lot less flexible when it comes to upgrading and that sort of thing - but I've been working at home from a laptop which is just as difficult to upgrade as an iMac would be (probably more!).
For the type of work I'm planning to do, I just don't think I want to invest the whole shebang in a tower, although I do agree towers are the most flexible when it comes to increasing memory and storage space. If fortune shines upon me and my freelancing work rakes in the dough, I might eventually consider upgrading to a tower unit, but I'm comfortable with the idea of working with an iMac. It's going to be loads faster than my G4 laptop, and a lot easier to work on in regards to having a REAL monitor instead of my darn laptop screen.
And dangit! Futura is a great font. It's got its uses. :b
So there ARE problems with CS3 on Leopard, eh? Can you run earlier CS programs on it without problems?
Ever thought about just getting a nice cinema monitor to plug into your laptop? What sort of work are you going to be doing? Might help narrow down your final decision.
Yes, CS2 and below run great; I've just heard CS3 has weird conflicts with previous versions coexisting. Adobe is getting very strange with their updating software; kind of draconian really.
More here:
http://creativebits.org/search/node/cs3
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Powerpoint is not a design application
My latest web design work
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Dirt and Rust
you could consider upgrading your laptop and getting an external monitor. that would allow you to use a larger monitor (or even go dual screen w/your laptop monitor). then, if you decide to get a nice tower unit down the road, you'll have an upgraded laptop to use alongside it instead of an old imac you need to find a new home for. and if you get a good monitor now, that can be transferred to the new tower.
A laptop vid card probably won't support dual monitors though, will it?
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Powerpoint is not a design application
My latest web design work
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Dirt and Rust
i don't have a mac laptop, so i can't specifically talk to that, but i have a dell laptop that does.
you may be misunderstanding me, though. i mean that the laptop screen would be your second monitor. so your primary work screen would be the external monitor and your laptop screen would be your secondary work screen (for palettes and the like). i do this with my dell laptop sometimes and it works really well. i'm so used to two 20" monitors that working purely on one 15.4" screen is painful.
Gotcha. Sorry bout that.
I have a Dell Inspiron B130. It's a good match to my 15" Powerbook G4. :)
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Powerpoint is not a design application
My latest web design work
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Dirt and Rust
I have a MacBook Pro with the 15.4" and a Sony 21" LCD hooked up to it via DVI. It works as a clone or a dual display setup. I have my setup as Dual display. Works excellent to have my email open on the laptop display while I do my design work on the 21". I find it extremely useful.
Hope this helps.
studio7creative
I use a refurbished MacBook Pro for my renters insurance business and I have had no problems with it. You get the same guarantee as you do with a new machine, so if you can't afford a brand new one a used one should work just as well.