Have a friend looking for a laptop. A used MacBook would

[alfredo]

be perfect for him. Any ideas? He's retired, caring for an ill wife. He can't afford a new MacBook.

Any help would be appreciated.

[struggle4progress]

1. Even used macbooks are pricey. If money is really an issue, why not look at netbooks?

I bought an Acer Aspire One about a year ago for $250 -- prices seem to be around $300 today. It only has an 1.6ghz Atom processor, but it's not bad: small onboard camera, wifi, internet and VGA ports, something like 3 usb ports. It's relatively easy on mine to increase the memory somewhat (from 1gb to 1.5gb IIRC) or change the 160gb hard drive, and I think there's an easily accessible slot for a wireless card. Only a 10" screen and the keyboard is a bit small, but I just tried connecting a better monitor and keyboard and it all worked. No CD drive but mine will boot off a USB key which often solves that problem. I found a better battery somewhere, which set me back another $100 or so

When I bought my Macbook, I thought I'd carry it around a lot -- but it's large, relatively heavy, a popular theft target, and expensive to lose or drop. The netbook is small, light, not prestigious, and rather inexpensive -- so much I'm less worried about it

[alfredo]

2. The keyboard might be a tad small for him. He's going to be writing and doing

Some photo editing. He might need the power lacking in a net book.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. It is not the writing that the nettie is not good for

After all I got one...

It is the photo editing. But if money is really tight... the step right above a nettie will do the job fine thank you unless he needs to do a LOT of fancy work. In that case, prices are comparable.

[alfredo]

12. If you have paws instead of hands, the smaller keyboard

might take a bit of getting used to.

[supernova]

3. Refurbished Macs?

Refurbed are still pricey but still worthwhile to check.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac?mco=MTM3NTA4Mzc

Also, he can check craigslist in his town. Someone might be looking to sell an earlier model and trade up.

[alfredo]

4. I passed the info on to him. Thanks

[TommyO]

6. You might want to check out Mac of all Trades

www.macofalltrades.com - they specialize in used Macs, and have intel-based MacBooks for as low as $499 for a 2007 white MacBook.

I haven't dealt with them, but was looking at them before I got a deal from Amazon on my early 2008 Mac Pro

[alfredo]

7. I'd like to have a new Mini, and put this one upstairs

with the TV. I will bookmark the site.

[Elwood P Dowd]

8. The only problem is

they don't include the original OS DVDs. When you add those into the cost, then you're over $600.00. For $759.00 you could buy a MacBook refurb with DVDs from Apple that is a 2010 model with full one year warranty and 90-day free phone support.

[alfredo]

9. That's good to know.

[Lost-in-FL]

10. I know this might sound like a bad idea but...

I sold three mac computers (at different times) on e-bay, all in great condition and at a very reasonable price. I sold a mac mini, an imac and a macbook . This leads me to believe that perhaps you can check e-bay and maybe you can get a deal. :shrug:

[alfredo]

11. He seems to be looking at local beige box stores for deals.