Mac laptop under $350?

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Gabe3

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I'm curious if I could get a used mac laptop like a 13" or something for under $350? I have no idea which models to look for. would something in that price range be able to handle 720p or DVD quality playback?
 
Craigslist is your best chance. You might be able to find an Intel macbook for that price and it shouldn't have a problem with dvd/720p.
 
Be hard to find one for that. At best probably the first gen Intel notebooks.
 
do you guys know what models I should be doing searches for?
 
In that price range you're not going to have a pick of models. You find one that's $350 and go with it. It would likely be the 2006 Macbook with 1.86 or 2ghz Core Duo (not Core 2 Duo)
 
could try ebay, or usedmac.com BUT $350 is pushing it, thats pretty low.
 
Seeing as i bought my Powerbook G4 aluminum (15inch, 1.67ghz, ati 9700mobility 128mb) for around 400 $ used (what they generally go for), youll be hard pressed to find something cheaper thats got the guts to play 720p, but mine does dvd just fine
 
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at $350, your only hope is to repair one, or buy a grimy one. I bought the mbp over the plastic macbook for the same reason.
 
Verge said:
That's why i bought a black one... then i can't see the nasty grime that has stained the case.


When i first got my nintendo ds i had ever intention of selling it, so i wanted to keep it in like new condition. I seriously, washed my hands each and every time before i played it. Damn corner buttons still turned brown... i don't know how, but it's just bad design.
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is that grime on the palm rest area able to be cleaned off with like a scruby sponge or is it actually stained on?
 
ryken said:
at $350, your only hope is to repair one, or buy a grimy one. I bought the mbp over the plastic macbook for the same reason.
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Yeah. One with a busted LCD could be under $300 and a replacement LCD starts around $90.
 
Gabe3 said:
is that grime on the palm rest area able to be cleaned off with like a scruby sponge or is it actually stained on?
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it's actually stained on. at the $350 pricepoint, don't expect much more.
 
i ended buying one today on ebay, $475 shipped. core 2 duo 2.16ghz, 2gb ram, superdrive, 200gb 7200rpm, just wish it didn't have a crappy intel gma950, oh well. I'm stoked for what I'm getting, hoping that 7200rpm doesn't cause heat issues though. I watched ebay heavily the past 6 days, knew eventually the right one would come along. seller took pictures of different areas I asked, even took a video of it playing 720p youtube smoothly. I haven't come across a better seller. so happy!
 
Gabe3 said:
i ended buying one today on ebay, $475 shipped. core 2 duo 2.16ghz, 2gb ram, superdrive, 200gb 7200rpm, just wish it didn't have a crappy intel gma950, oh well. I'm stoked for what I'm getting, hoping that 7200rpm doesn't cause heat issues though. I watched ebay heavily the past 6 days, knew eventually the right one would come along. seller took pictures of different areas I asked, even took a video of it playing 720p youtube smoothly. I haven't come across a better seller. so happy!
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7200 will make heat thats for sure, and the battery life will go down, If you want less heat and more battery life install a 500gig 5400rpm drive :)

J'
 
The difference in battery life with a current 7200 rpm drive compared to a 5400 rpm of the same make/model series is negligible anymore, it's not even a consideration in the long run. Seconds, maybe a minute or two difference. The more responsive performance of the 7200 is well worth it...
 
Gabe3 said:
damn, I upped my price range to $450. I didn't think that plastic could actually be stained.
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It's hard to explain, it's like a textured plastic. Best i can compare it to with a non apple product is the buttons on a white nintendo ds lite.

It stains, and frankly, i don't think there is anything you can do about it. If you are the cleanest person in the world, eventually it will become brown...
 
Verge said:
It's hard to explain, it's like a textured plastic. Best i can compare it to with a non apple product is the buttons on a white nintendo ds lite.

It stains, and frankly, i don't think there is anything you can do about it. If you are the cleanest person in the world, eventually it will become brown...
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hmm, I guess the textured coating they put on the plastic is what gets stained. I heard that if you take it into apple they will replace the keyboard and surrounding palm rest area for free, you just have a 45 minute wait or so depending how busy they are. the one on the macbook I bought was replaced 8 months ago the seller said, and from the pictures it looks nearly new. they did mention that the corner of the trackpad has a slight yellow color to it, hoping thats cleanable.
 
Gabe3 said:
hmm, I guess the textured coating they put on the plastic is what gets stained. I heard that if you take it into apple they will replace the keyboard and surrounding palm rest area for free, you just have a 45 minute wait or so depending how busy they are. the one on the macbook I bought was replaced 8 months ago the seller said, and from the pictures it looks nearly new. they did mention that the corner of the trackpad has a slight yellow color to it, hoping thats cleanable.
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I used to use a bit of rubbing alcohol on my white macbook, 13" kept it pretty clean, but i do agree the white macbook's get dirty so easy :(
 
Bahamut said:
The difference in battery life with a current 7200 rpm drive compared to a 5400 rpm of the same make/model series is negligible anymore, it's not even a consideration in the long run. Seconds, maybe a minute or two difference. The more responsive performance of the 7200 is well worth it...
Click to expand...

That's right !
 
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