[LaEsperanza]

For all of you waiting, the refurb shop now has refurb MacBooks. Just thought I'd shout that out for you.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...m=SpecialDeals

[Brad]

$200 off. Not bad.

[bassplayinMacFiend]

The BlackBooks showed up a day or two ago, but the white offerings are new. At least the estimated shipping times (7-10 days) have come down. When I looked yesterday the estimated ship time was 30 days.

I picked up a customer return at the Apple store last night. They gave me 10% off the regular price which worked out to 109.05 off the base model. For higher models you'd get a better break (200) from ordering online with Apple.

[Partial]

think you still get the rebate on the nano if you're a student, buy a nano, and buy a refurb macbook?

[chinesebear]

no. checked this myself...rebates are only for NEW models

[neiltc13]

I still find the US store's prices ridiculously cheap - why would you guys even need a refurb when you can get a MacBook for $1099?

I always think that refurbs are a bit icky too.

[duyvan82]

hehe they're just trying to save as much cash as they possibly can

[bassplayinMacFiend]

Originally Posted by neiltc13 I still find the US store's prices ridiculously cheap - why would you guys even need a refurb when you can get a MacBook for $1099? I always think that refurbs are a bit icky too.

Why pay $1099 when you can pay $989? I receive the same warranty and I couldn't tell my MacBook had been previously touched by human hands when I first opened it up. Not to mention a person has to inspect the return to make sure it is functioning within specs, something that doesn't happen to all the new MacBooks rolling off the assembly line.

[neiltc13]

Originally Posted by bassplayinMacFiend Why pay $1099 when you can pay $989? I receive the same warranty and I couldn't tell my MacBook had been previously touched by human hands when I first opened it up. Not to mention a person has to inspect the return to make sure it is functioning within specs, something that doesn't happen to all the new MacBooks rolling off the assembly line.

Can you back that up with hard facts or is it just a guess?

[bassplayinMacFiend]

Originally Posted by neiltc13 Can you back that up with hard facts or is it just a guess?

The store manager told me the laptop was looked over when it was returned, then refreshed to as new condition. I was given the 1 year warranty and can buy AppleCare to extend the warranty to 3 years if I wish.

As far as not all new laptops not being inspected before packaging, it is common in industry to only select a statistical sample of product from each manufacturing run and test for defects. If the factory had to completely test each and every item rolling off the line, costs would skyrocket.

Think of it this way, if every single MacBook was tested and inspected, do you think there would ever be a DOA computer shipped (excepting shipping accidents of course)?

[LaEsperanza]

And they've all been bought out...that was fast

[Brave Ulysses]

Originally Posted by neiltc13 I still find the US store's prices ridiculously cheap - why would you guys even need a refurb when you can get a MacBook for $1099? I always think that refurbs are a bit icky too.

How are refurbs icky? If anything they are better since they go through quality assurance twice.