Never a worry. The infrastructure is bullet-proof, the assembly is almost always solidly executed. I bought an iMac in…hmm…2004?.. and a PowerBook G4 the year before that.
Both refurbs. I trusted them like I have my newer machines. Never a worry. Of course, I always buy AppleCare.
Never needed it for any issue related to the refurb status of a Macintosh, though.
GO forth and purchase !! 
My friend just got his first Mac laptop (forget which model) as a refurbished one. As far as we can tell, it might as well be new. He loves it. I would do it.
I pulled the trigger yesterday. Supposed to be here on Friday.
For the record, I bought one of the original Mac[intoshes] back in 1984. 128K (yes, “K”) of RAM; no hard drive. It was a great machine, for the time.. I pretty much had to switch to Windows in the early 90s because of work, but look forward to being out of the clutches of the Evil Empire.
Congrats! I hope you’re happy with your new Mac.
I didn’t even consider a Mac for a long time because the critical piece of software I need for my job is Windows-only. Then a friend pointed out that you can run Windows perfectly well on OS X, so when my old Dell laptop died, I replaced it with a MacBook Pro. I have not regretted it for a second, and there’s no noticeable lag or delay in switching back and forth from Windows to OS X when I’m running Windows in a virtual machine. It’s pretty awesome.
I cannot imagine that they wouldn’t wipe the drive and install a plain, out of the box, OSX config. Doing anything else would leave them open to all sorts of Bad Things happening.
My current Mac is the only one that I’ve not bought refurbished since 1999 (time pressure). Every machine has always been wiped and had the current, released OS on it.
Can I ask why are most of the questions about running Windows or Microsoft software (Office) on a Mac. Why not just buy a PC? If John Mace is looking to get out of the lutches of the “Evil Empire” he might do well to look at Apple. If you are looking to run Office anyway (Evil Microsoft) how do you justify the rediculously high price of a Mac? Especially if it can’t run all of the software out there (without an emulator anyway).
I just don’t get the lemming mindset. Sure the interface is slick, but 10x $ slick? Not if its my money.
Because I’d rather have a Mac that runs the one piece of Windows software that I need, than a Windows PC? The lack of having to hassle with antivirus software alone made the purchase more than worth it, IMO. And why do you care so much about someone else’s choice of computer, anyway?
Although people are probably right about the can of worms if Apple didn’t remove other than Apple software, installing a new OS does not mean you have to wipe the disc first. If it did I’d have had problems with my Macs. My Intel iMac has gone from OS 10.4 to 10.6 and an earlier G4 Mac I had went from 9.2 to 10.4 in the time I had it.
Also, it’s possible they mean things that are Apple free software that may be loaded after purchase or other free downloads via the Apple site. Office Mac, I think not.
I buy nothing but refurbs. I have never regretted it.
Whoa! Sorry about touching the nerve. I commented because the op asked about refrbs but the majority of the posts were Microsoft related. I find Apple justification threads interesting. I only care to know the thought process behind MAC purchasers. Just here to learn.
OK, sorry for getting all prickly. I guess it’s from having participated in too many other forums where any mention of Apple or Macs brings out the “OMG APPLE IS TEH EVIL” brigade.
Anyway, I don’t really need to “justify” my purchase of a Mac. I just like Macs. I don’t have to worry about viruses, I love Time Machine for backups, I like iPhoto, I like the hardware, etc. The only sticking point for me was the single piece of software that I require that is Windows-only, and since I can now seamlessly switch between Windows and OS X on my Mac, that’s not a problem either. Buying an entire PC just to run a single piece of software would have been throwing the baby out with the bathwater from my perspective.
But yeah, it is a common question – “can I run Office on my Mac” – because Office is a very popular software suite, people tend to be familiar with it, and they want to know if they’ll still be able to use it if they switch platforms. (yes.)
Really? You would normally sit down in a class and start the learning process by asking the teacher what nonsense they’re going to parrot to you now?
Just FYI, I’ve been using both Mac and DOS/Windows on my desk at home and at work since 1984. I have both Apple and MS certifications. Both platforms have advantages. PCs have lower cost of entry and Macs have a lower TCO. In my experience over the years, a Mac will run the apps I need at the same time more seemlessly than a more capably configured PC.
And to return to the topic, I was an Apple certified tech for 2 dealers for about 16 years. I never saw issues beyond the normal with refurb boxes and I recommended them often, along with AppleCare. (And I was an Applecare customer myself.)
So, I checked on delivery at FedEx. I live less than 10 miles from Apple Headquarters, and I just discovered that my new (well, refurbished) Mac just shipped… from Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania? I just laughed. Yeah, I know I can’t expect this type of stuff to be done in Cupertino, but I would never have guessed Pennsylvania in a million years! Are they refurbished by Amish people or something? 
Yeah, this. Someone could easily install some sort of spyware and then return it, otherwise.
I’ve bought two refurb macs in the past, and both came with a fresh OS install, and were otherwise indistinguishable from the new ones I’ve bought.
:eek: I nominate this for the most ironic post in SDMB history. Lemmings are the people that buy Windows machines!
Rather than start a new thread, I think I’ll just bump this one.
OK, got it on Saturday, and it’s great. I do need to get MSFT Office for Mac, though, and thought I’d ask you guys what you recommend. I need the professional version, and I notice that I can download it from Amazon for $181. Does that seem like a decent deal? If anyone has a suggestion for downloading it from somewhere else, let me know.
Thanks!
Do you work for a company that can arrange a home-use license? I got (Windows) Office 2010 for $20, and Mac Office 2008 for $20. I paid out of pocket for Office 2011, because it still wasn’t available for home use, but it might be now.
You’re unlikely to find Office:Mac for less than whatever Amazon is selling it for.
Two legitimate ways to find it for less are the educational edition, if you qualify, or if you work for a company that participates in the Microsoft Home Use Program. Via HUP, you can buy Office for $20, but if you leave the company, you’re obligated to uninstall the application.
Yeah, that reminds me, I still work for my company, but now in a region that doesn’t qualify for HUP. I should dig out that license.