I bought the dual 3Ghz Mac Pro "refurb" and saved $583 over a "brand new" one. It also shipped the same day I ordered it, as it was already "customized" by the previous owner, who ordered everything that I would, with the exception of no wireless or bluetooth. I phoned the local Apple store and they said that I can bring the machine to them and they will add both of them for $99. Hard to beat that deal :)

The refurb page at Apple.com describes the refurb process, and to me it sounds like I'll be getting a better machine than I could get with "new", mostly because the refurb process has a "real person" looking at the machine, fixing it up and making sure that it is "perfect", rather than just coming out of the assembly line with a hundred thousand others that are just like it. I don't know if the previous owner simply returned it or if there was a problem with the machine, but Apple claims that the machine should be "good as new", and I will absolutely hold them to their word.

A friend of mine bought a refurb Mac mini, and he was very happy with it... hopefully I have the same experience.

I've only ever had excellent experiences with Apple's refurb units. Congrats on your new machine. Great price!

There was also an $1899 2GHz model listed Wednesday evening but that was gone by the next morning.

it sounds like I'll be getting a better machine than I could get with "new", mostly because the refurb process has a "real person" looking at the machine

Exactly. They get much more personal care and in some respects, it is easier to count on having a reliable experience right out of the box due to the refitting and testing it has just undergone (so long as the delivery doesn't mess things up).

Love it. Just wish Apple would update the case.

- http://www.apple-project.com

i have always loved the refurb route because a.) anything that had the high-potential to be broken probably has been replaced outright b.) you still get the one-year "new" warranty, just in case and c.) they allow you to still purchase the applecare extended warranty anytime within the first year of ownership (which the refurb discount easily makes up for).

i highly recommend refurbs to anyone looking to get new hardware.

I've managed to get some great deals by going the refurb route, never been bitten with a lemon.

But I just don't get the pricing here... 2700 bucks for a quad G5, 2200 for a quad core duo? It's like they re really sticking it to those who need the max speed for Photoshop as the quad G5 blows out the quad core duo at this point.

I had a bad experience with an apple refurb. Bought a PowerMac G5 dual 1.8 Ghz a while back.

Kernnal panics all over the place. Apple Hardware test reported that it was the RAM.

Took it in to the soho genius bar. Apple couldn't find a problem.

Swapped the RAM about 5x. Put the ram vendor through h*** (18004memory.com highly recommend them).

Took it back to genius bar and showed them my own tests that RAM that tested good in other machines failed in mine. Turns out there was a bad processor in the machine. Apple of course swapped it under warentee. But what a pain!!! Two trips to the apple store and dozens and dozens of kps.

I can't prove it but I suspect that the machine was returned by the previous owner and refurbed by apple without catching this problem...

Just my 2¢.

I love a bargain but I would have to consider very carefully before buying an apple refurb again.