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Mac laptops : Have iMac. Want suggestion for used Apple laptop
Have iMac. Want suggestion for used Apple laptop
by mom of five - 6/21/08 1:29 PMMy husband bought two years ago a 24" iMac 5.1 with Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.16 GHz, 1MB Cache, 1GB Memory, bus speed 667 which has Mac OS X 10.5.2 to replace a 10yr old Dell. Reason he went w/Mac is because kids use Mac at school. I would like to buy a laptop so that I could sit outside or be at one of my many kids' sports practices/games and get my Quicken or class reunion stuff done. I don't need brand new but want something that is a good "fit" to the iMac. I don't really know what I should be looking for besides that it's WIFI capable with the iMac. Specs for a used laptop and what a reasonable price for purchasing one would be greatly appreciated. I'd ask my husband but he just uses his Dell Latitude and doesn't deal with the iMac (plus it'd take weeks for him to get back to me on it). Thanks for your responses.
Probably a Macbook
by mrmacfixit
- 6/21/08 3:41 PM
In reply to: Have iMac. Want suggestion for used Apple laptop by mom of five
would be the suitable laptop for you.
With a starting price of around $1100, it will do everything that you are asking, and more. Check out the Apple store for details
Possibly a good place to look for a used Macbook would be eBay. Having said that, I took a look there just now and the used Macbooks are going for close to the price of a new one.
Check out the specs at the Apple store, you will find that used ones are very close to those specs.
Hope this helps.
P
Agreed
by BeatleMegaFan - 6/21/08 4:06 PM In reply to: Have iMac. Want suggestion for used Apple laptop by mom of fiveA MacBook would be your first choice. Macs tend to have very high re-sell values, regardless of their age, so you might as well buy a brand new model.
That said, you could find an old iBook or PowerBook on eBay, but those come in varying conditions and do no use Intel processors. You would get a better experience using an Intel Mac with Leopard, and a new one at that. The MacBook would work very nicely with the iMac, and with the upcoming .Mac (Dot Mac) upgrade to MobileMe, you could sync both machines together. You could do that with an existing subscription too. Anyway, you could look at MobileMe on Apple's site. That would be a good add-on for a MacBook + iMac setup.
Apple sells refurbished Macs, but last I checked, there isn't too much of a price difference. Also, with a used Mac, you may not have warranty, where you get the minimum 1-year package with a brand new one. AppleCare is available should you want the extended 3-year program, and it is worth it all right. Check it out. And if you can, visit the nearest Apple Store and look at them if you want to.
-BMF
Used 17" PowerBook G4 good if don't need to run windows
by minmand - 6/21/08 9:32 PM In reply to: Have iMac. Want suggestion for used Apple laptop by mom of fiveThough I somewhat agree with the prior posts it really depends on your needs and budget. I am not a Mac expert, albeit a PC one. Non the less I Just bought a new 24" IMac today because of the design and it is based on the Intel CPU so I can and must be able to run Windows. I am typing this on a PowerBook G4 17" laptop that I was going to post on ebay or something. Since it is a PowerPC it can't run Windows. But it is an excellent laptop running leopard. This is the 17" 1.7GHz with 100GB HD and wireless etc. plus same look as the new ones. Anyway the 17" G4 sells for about 800-1k on ebay. I don't have an account so was going to take to a ebay seller I don't want the hassle. I would take 600-700 obo, and this would be great for someone who wants to spend less and only wants to run Mac software and you want a larger laptop/screen.
Good Point
by mrmacfixit - 6/22/08 6:41 AM
In reply to: Used 17" PowerBook G4 good if don't need to run windows by minmand
if you were to activate the "Email this user" option in your profile, the OP could email you directly.
CNET tends to frown on using the forums as a point of sale.
P
Suggestion for used Apple Laptop Update
by mom of five - 6/22/08 12:10 PM In reply to: Used 17" PowerBook G4 good if don't need to run windows by minmandThanks for the replies. I don't want to spend a lot of money and don't need to run Windows on the laptop. I just want 12-13" laptop for portability and the capacity to "upload" to my iMac. Hopes this clarifies what I'm looking for.
I think you should define "a lot of money"
by mrmacfixit - 6/22/08 12:31 PM
In reply to: Suggestion for used Apple Laptop Update by mom of five
You may want to define "Upload" as well.
There is no problem moving files from one Mac to another or even from a Windows machine to a Mac and vice versa.
What is it that you want to "upload" to the iMac?
P
Have iMac. Want suggestion for laptop.
by mom of five - 6/23/08 6:04 AM In reply to: I think you should define "a lot of money" by mrmacfixit
Please excuse me. I'm not really a computer person and this is the first time I've done a "forum". I'm looking to spend around $500. I want to be able to use my Quicken program and time more efficiently. I'd like to use the laptop for "data entry". I'd use the iMac as the "workhorse". I guess "upload" was the incorrect word to use. It sounds like there's no problem moving a small/temporary file from the laptop to the main file on the iMac (thanks for the clarification). I could spend more money and buy a brand new laptop but I hate the idea of spending extra money on stuff I wouldn't really need/use since I have the iMac. But I'm open to your thoughts and reasoning. Thanks
More Details
by BeatleMegaFan - 6/24/08 12:05 AM In reply to: Have iMac. Want suggestion for laptop. by mom of five1. There is a version of Quicken for Macs that you could install onto the notebook. Should you buy a second-hand Mac, you'll need to make sure it is running Mac OS 10.3.9 or later. Simply click on the Apple on the top-left corner of the screen, select "About This Mac", and the operating system version will appear on the window.
2. "Data Entry". I'm not following here. Perhaps, to put it simply, you want a portable MAc that will allow you to work on the go. That's what all notebooks do to a certain degree.
3. With services like .Mac or its replacement, MobileMe, cloud computing allows you to have a sort of "base" or "cloud" that is like a hub for all of your data. Look on Apple's site for MobileMe to see more. Things like that will (supposedly) allow seamless integration of your Macs.
Now, the price point. $500 may land you a used Mac indeed, but from what I've seen, you'd be very lucky to find one in good condition with relatively current hardware with this in mind. As I may have said earlier, Macs have very high resell values. You would simply get a better deal by getting a brand new machine. Warranty, you know it'll work, etc.
Quote: "but I hate the idea of spending extra money on stuff I wouldn't really need/use since I have the iMac". Here is where you may be wrong. Say you buy the lower-end, MacBook, for the base price of $1099 (Add AppleCare and it'll be more, but AppleCare is worth it). You get a new machine, some of the latest hardware coupled with the latest software, and you know this thing will work because it's new. It may not be the same with a used model. Reading the info on your iMac suggests that the low-end MacBook, with a 2.1Ghz processor, would be a perfect fit for it. Same amount of memory, near-identical CPU clock speeds, and both are running Leopard. The only difference is that the iMac may have a SuperDrive (it can burn DVDs) and the MacBook that we are talking about has a Combo drive (it can only read DVDs, meaning that you could watch a movie, but not burn one to a disc). Now the hard drive in the iMac is probably larger, but other than that, the MacBook would be every bit as capable as the iMac for many tasks. It's your "iMac-to-go".
I don't know what you couldn't use in the MacBook, as it should have just about everything the iMac may have originally had. You would have two machines, which could be a good thing. If one has a problem, you use the other, vice versa. Anyway, with a new machine, you are getting your money's worth and possibly, longer warranty than any other thing on eBay. Go for the MacBook, because it is going to work for you more than an old iBook or PowerBook could.
-BMF
MacBook is your best bet.
by pjschmitt1 - 6/23/08 5:10 PM In reply to: Have iMac. Want suggestion for used Apple laptop by mom of fiveConsidering the requirements you mentioned as far as a good fit to the iMac, the MacBook is the best way to go economically and funtionally. There is a website called Craigslist.org which has many cities local boards on it. Go to your closest city and click on the for sale section. type in apple or mac book or mac or something like that and look for a nice used MacBook for around $700. The mac site has a refurbished section in its store. I have purchased many computers through this way and they come with the exact apple warranty as the ones on the showroom floor.
I bought my iMac for $250 less than the showroom floor model. Identical specs and flawless. One catch though. Mine came with a 500Gb hard drive instead of the 250Gb one it was supposed to have had. Bonus for me! You can take a chance at other Macs that are available. They are not as cost effective as the refurbs. You could spend $500 on a superior Mac laptop with a G4 chip and large screen or you spend like $750 on a refurbed state of the art model.
Since you have students, I think you may be eligible for some other special educational deals too. Check it out.
P.S. I do not work for Mac.
Mac
by BeatleMegaFan - 6/24/08 12:22 AM In reply to: MacBook is your best bet. by pjschmitt1Mac is not a company. Apple produces the Macintosh line.
Yes, refurbished Macs come with the standard warranty as new models, but that is because they have been repaired to be "like-new". They could be used, repaired, or simply old stock models. New computers would not be as problem-prone as some refurbs could be.
"superior Mac laptop with a G4 chip and large screen" ... I hope you are not implying that PowerPC Macs are "superior" to their Intel descendants. Probably a turn of phrase, no? Cost effective as the refurbs may be, the thing is, if you can snag a refurbished Mac for a few hundred dollars less than the MSRP, might as well get a new one so that you'll know that the machine will work. Plus, you are already paying a lot for a Mac anyway. But, other vendors' machines will either match or surpass Apple's prices when configured to meet Apple's specifications. Apple has some of the better deals in the market coupled with OS X. Can't lose. 
-BMF
Macbook is best bet.
by mom of five - 6/24/08 8:01 PM In reply to: MacBook is your best bet. by pjschmitt1Thanks for everyone's suggestions. I have a difficult decision to make right now. I've been offered a 13" Black Macbook (2GHz, model #MA472LL/A) for $380. It's under warranty till August 2009. Do I take it or spend triple the money for brand new. Anyone's last thoughts? Thank you so very much for the time you all have spent educating me. It's nice to know that owning a Mac gives one friends they never knew they had.
Sounds odd
by BeatleMegaFan - 6/24/08 9:11 PM In reply to: Macbook is best bet. by mom of five$380 for a somewhat recent Intel MacBook. Sounds odd from prices that I've seen, which tend to go much higher. 2Ghz, black MacBook... sounds like one of the much older Intel MacBooks, possibly with a regular Core Duo processor, not Core 2 Duo, which is better. Unless you know that you are getting a quality machine with the necessary equipment/accessories (charger, battery, etc.), I personally wouldn't go for it. A brand new machine may serve you better, but it's really up to you to make a call.
I stand by my original statement that a new machine will offer you more value and better technology. You could get AppleCare for the 3-year warranty, have all of the accessories, etc. And, it will last you longer than a used device. But that's my opinion, and if you want to get something like this, go ahead. I'm only offering advice. And, if it works perfectly for you, even better. I'm just pointing out that you might have a better experience in the long run with a newer, more capable MacBook, that's all.
-BMF
Thanks to all for your input!
by mom of five - 6/27/08 9:15 PM In reply to: Sounds odd by BeatleMegaFanI am going to wait to see what applications will be available on the new iPhone coming mid-July. I believe between it and the new upgrade going to take place with mac.com that I'll be able to get what I want. If not, then I'll just go buy a new Macbook and not worry about any past or future problems..........
Come July 11th
by BeatleMegaFan - 6/27/08 9:57 PM In reply to: Thanks to all for your input! by mom of fiveand the MobileMe release will only make a new MacBook even better for you. MobileMe will allow you to share several files and information between the iMac and a MacBook. I doubt that any new hardware upgrades will be announced with it, as that could steal thunder from the iPhone, so you should have a safe bet with getting a MacBook; it shouldn't grow outdated soon. Of course there have been several rumors hinting at a new MacBook to be announced from now until later this year, but no one really knows yet.
If you already have a regular Windows notebook, technically, you could use MobileMe with it instead of a new Mac, but a new Mac would only enhance the experience even more. Your call. I say you could go for the MacBook and get MobileMe along with it when it is announced. Set it up with the iMac and you should be good to go, right out of the box, as that older Mac ad used to say.
-BMF
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