[theclapp]

Hello,

I am planning on buying my first macbook, as my PC Notebook has found a new home. I have always been intrigued and interested in Macs, but have never owned one. After seeing the release of the new macbooks and using a friends I have decided now is the time to buy a mac instead of a new PC Notebook.

I use a laptop for watching movies, surfing the internet, listening to music, syncing my iphone and ipod, and casual gaming. I play games like Call of Duty 4, World in Conflict, and Fifa 09 on my laptop when I am away from home. I would like the capability to be able to run new games at low settings, such as Command and Conquer Red alert 3 and Far Cry 2 if possible. I am on the road often, but either would work for portability. I use my iphone on planes when I fly, the laptop is more for a media centre and gaming platform when I am in a home away from home for extended periods of time.

I am wondering what my best purchase would be. I have looked at 2 options.

New MacBook 13.3', 2.4Ghz CPU, 2Gb RAM, 250Gb HD, GeForce 9400M chipset. $1750 Canadian.

Refurbished last Gen 15" MacBook Pro, 2.5Ghz with 250Gb HD, 2Gb RAM, GeForce 8600M GT 512Mb video card. $1600 Canadian.

I have done research on the CPUs and video chipsets for both of these, and found varied results. I have searched for benchmark tests comparing these 2 computers or at least the video chipsets, but haven't come across the information I am looking for.

I am hoping some experienced Mac users will be able to help me make my decision. Which laptop would better suit my needs performance wise?

I don't use firewire, that isn't an issue. I will be running OSX Leopard as well as Windows XP using Boot Camp.

Thank you for your replies. I have a couple more weeks to make a decision and will continue to do my research. I know I can get a Windows based Laptop for a better price that would be a better gaming/desktop replacement solution, but I am biased towards going Mac this time.

Shaun

[theclapp]

Before I consider buying refurbished, how is Apple's program for refurbished MacBooks? Should I consider this route (I will be buying the extended warranty no doubt) Or should I stay away from refurbished?

[Jon Seff]

I think refurbs are a great deal—in fact, I just bought one for my wife recently. Apple replaces any defective parts and tests all systems before putting them on the refurb store, and they come with the same one-year warranty.

[chrislaf]

I am using a refurbished late 2006 black MacBook 2GHz C2D to write this. My wife also has a refurbished 1st generation black macbook and we have a refurbished white 17 inch iMac C2D that is used as a backup server. All have been problem free. The only problem I had with my macbook was that the HD failed and it was imediately replaced under the warranty. HD failures can happen to new laptops too.

All 3 computers looked brand new when we got them aside from the plain brown box that refurb's come in. Highly recommend purchasing a refurb, you won't be disappointed and it can save you a few hundred bucks as well.



Oh Ya! My wife and I each have a refurb 5th generation iPod as well. Again no problems and looked brand new.



Chris

MacBook 2GHz C2D/2GB RAM/OS 10.5.5/Windows XP pro/160GB HD