Refurbished Apple Products

[dancingchickenproductions]

I'm planning on getting a Macbook Pro soon, and I've been considering this (http://store.apple.com/us/product/G0G55LL/A?mco=MjE0NjE5MA#overview) $2000, 17-inch antiglare option with a 2.66GHz processor, 4gb of RAM, and a 4500RPM 320gb hard drive. It's $500 cheaper than the new version, but has a smaller processor and hard drive, so here's my question: Is this a good value? My budget is fairly limited and a matte display is a must. Also, for those of you who have purchased a refurbished Apple product: Are they any different than the new versions? (i.e. Does it look new?)

[Hunterr]

I'm planning on getting a Macbook Pro soon, and I've been considering this (http://store.apple.com/us/product/G0G55LL/A?mco=MjE0NjE5MA#overview) $2000, 17-inch antiglare option with a 2.66GHz processor, 4gb of RAM, and a 4500RPM 320gb hard drive. It's $500 cheaper than the new version, but has a smaller processor and hard drive, so here's my question: Is this a good value? My budget is fairly limited and a matte display is a must. Also, for those of you who have purchased a refurbished Apple product: Are they any different than the new versions? (i.e. Does it look new?)

I buy almost all of my gear used/refurbished. My HV20 and my 20" iMac were refurbished, and my Rode VM and 35mm adapter were used.

My iMac was in mint condition when it arrived from Apple. This was my first mac, but I've read that the only difference is the box it came in. Mine came in a big brown box with a darker brown apple logo on it. The keyboard, mouse, etc. came in the skinny white box with all of the installation CD's, manuals, etc. It came so prestine, it even came with apple stickers.

So saving $500 and buying refurbed is definately a smart choice. Well, buying a mac in the first place is a smart choice. :D I bought the 20" 2.66 iMac which was i think $1,599 or $1,699, and I got it for $1,199.

-Hunter