Suggestions as to where to get a Macbook Pro?

[photon]

Alright, search for a laptop for the wife is in full swing, and I've narrowed it down to either a 15" Macbook Pro or a Dell 1530.

I can get a fully spec'ed out 1530 (better specced than the Macbook actually) for less than $1500, so I'm trying to stay around that point with the Macbook, a bit of a challenge obviously.

Apple Refub actually has a good one for $1650 (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...nplm=FA867LL/A), so that's my high point.

eBay is filled with ones that are far more expensive. One guy is selling one on craigslist in town but he hasn't got back to me, and it doesn't have any warranty (I don't like that idea). Anyone have any ideas for other places to go look for a good deal for macs?

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by photon

Alright, search for a laptop for the wife is in full swing, and I've narrowed it down to either a 15" Macbook Pro or a Dell 1530.

I can get a fully spec'ed out 1530 (better specced than the Macbook actually) for less than $1500, so I'm trying to stay around that point with the Macbook, a bit of a challenge obviously.

Apple Refub actually has a good one for $1650 (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...nplm=FA867LL/A), so that's my high point.

eBay is filled with ones that are far more expensive. One guy is selling one on craigslist in town but he hasn't got back to me, and it doesn't have any warranty (I don't like that idea). Anyone have any ideas for other places to go look for a good deal for macs?

Apple refurbs are fantastic. The products are like-new, and you get a warranty with it as well. I bought an AppleTV as a refurb, and I honestly couldn't tell if it was new or used.

-Scott

[underGRADFlame]

Another vote for the refurb store.

[Table 5]

You realize a macbook pro update is due within a week or two? I'd suggest waiting...you can either get a new one or a cheaper old one.

[photon]

Yeah that's the rumour.. I won't want to afford a new one so I'll be stuck with old ones, and that's a good point. My wife needs one pretty quick though.

I found an auction with a brand new one, if I can get it for $1300-1400 I think I'll be happy with it.

[metal_geek]

What about this one?

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=53998
________
Zx14 Vs Hayabusa

[llama64]

As has been mentioned, Apple refurbs are great. Basically a new product minus the cost of the operating system.

At the Macbook Pro level I found that they were still over priced versus their Window's based counter parts. The sweet spot for laptops is 1100-1400$ which the Macbook currently occupies while the pro's hit upwards of 2000$. Currently, the specs don't justify the cost as they havn't been updated in a while.

If you can get a Macbook Pro for 1500$ and would prefer OS X, go for it. If the OS isn't a big deal, grab the Dell product. The Apple is probably "prettier" though

[photon]

That one on buy/sell is a Macbook, not a Pro

I ended up finding one on eBay for a good price, supposedly brand new, with applecare, for just over $1400. That was my line, if I could find it for the same price I'd get the Dell for I'd go with the Macbook, I just like the design better

[HotHotHeat]

Congrats on your purchase. Does it have Leopard? (or are you running windows on it?)

[photon]

It doesn't, I'll have to get an upgrade. I do need to run some Windows apps (Quickbooks) on it but I'll have to look into Parallels or something first. Assuming my wife can deal with OS X.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by photon

Assuming my wife can deal with OS X.

We got a Macbook Pro last August. My wife took to OS X with few issues. She was able to figure out how to do all the basic stuff she needed to do. It's pretty user-friendly and intuitive.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by photon

It doesn't, I'll have to get an upgrade. I do need to run some Windows apps (Quickbooks) on it but I'll have to look into Parallels or something first. Assuming my wife can deal with OS X.

Some heads up over the conversion of a Windows user to a Mac user:

- The mouse acceleration algorithm in OS X is terrible for external mice. If your wife has trouble with it, send me a PM and I'll tell you how to make it more wrist friendly (still pissed at Apple for that one).

- There is no "Backspace" key in Apple world. It's the "Delete" key, and right deletes rather then left deletes. You can do standard left deletes if you hold down the Function key before pressing "Delete". At least that's how it works on a Macbook.

- Command + W closes a window, Command + Q exits a program. Pressing the "Close" button on a window (say Firefox) will execute the Command + W function. This means the program is still running but no windows are currently open (verified by looking at the top menu bar). This really confused me for a week.

- Spotlight is a necessity (Command + Spacebar). Learn to use it because otherwise navigation to applications is a pain in the rear end. I'm not a fan of the dock, so that might be influencing my opinion here