Demo Models Are They Worth Buying

I'd stay away from the unit given the possibilities noted above. The "discount" is not significant in my opinion for the potential problems. You'd be better getting a new unit with all of the new features.

Regards,

I think a bit of perspective might be helpful. Firstly, saying not to buy this because it may have been used hard sounds like a compelling argument, but maybe it really isn't. The most 'use' a computer can get is to be run 24 hours a day 7 days a week doing something processor and drive intensive. It doesn't matter much whether it's doing that itself, or being run by one user, or being run by dozens of different people. A Mac mini is capable of that sort of use - indeed, mine's been doing it for 9 months straight now. What demo use in a store tends to do (aside from get the system dirty) is to suffer a badly pounded keyboard and mouse (which you don't get with the mini anyway) and to mess up the OS and installed apps - though of course the first thing you'd do is an erase and install to get it back to as-new.

The only clear reason not to buy this particular unit is that it's simply not cheap enough. The 256Mb RAM is going to prove relatively insufficient for anything but light use, which means at least an additional 512Mb RAM stick would need to be bought, and that pushes the price up to close to a new unit. In my mind, ex-demo, in need of reformat and resinstall and additional memory, this mini would only be worth it if being sold for maybe $325.

Sure, there are tales we all have of systems or equipment bought 'open box', or demo, or refurb and which can be used to strongly urge others to stick to buying new, but the fact is that new systems also fail. The important thing is to ensure that you buy from a source that will honor the principles of good customer care, and that you get the appropriate warranty.

Hi Macman,

If I were in your position I would stay away from this demo mini and go for a nice brand new one! Part of using a mac is the pleasing aesthetics, and considering that it is yellow, mehh, just doesn't seem mac like. Also consider that hundreds of people have had their greasy dabs all over it and God knows what might have been shoved inside the little vent holes or what might have been tapered with. Also consider that for an extra couple of hundred bucks, you can get a nice, fresh, brand new faster mac with 512MB of RAM, Bluetooth and airport wireless internet built in as standard. It doesn't realy compare.

It's all down to you!
Hope I've helped to make your decission

-Pos

Don't do it!

Buy a refurb from Apple instead.

I once bought a projection TV that was a floor model (great discount) and I saved so much that I bought the service contract.

Good thing I did because it failed within a few months, but getting the company to follow the service contract has been painful.

Did I mention don't do it?

When I went to the Apple Store yesterday to buy my mini, they kept trying to talk me into buying a referd model. I didn't becasue on the boards, people were reccomending agenst it. So, I did not, I just got a brand new one, and told them that people reccomended agenst it on the Apple Discussions Boards.

Hey Paul (and Other distinguished members)-

I have been through my share of Apple computers in my life. Up until recently I could not bring myself to purchase any refurbished system. I had purchased components such as Airport base stations as refurbs, and never had a problem.

In addition, I always had the ability to take advantage of the education discount so the price difference was not that great.

I did take the plunge last week and got my 1.42 mini as a refurb. The deal was good and so far so good. I am using the bejeezus out of it just "to make sure", but ya know, even if it does fail Apple warranties it for a year so hey.

My thinking is that they kinda know what the general issues are with a particular system and what the user feedback has been. It may turn out to be the only way to be sure that you get a system that has been both thoroughly tested (not that "spot check" thing they do on an assembly line where they yank so many per thousand and test them and do some funky math and determine whatever it is that they do) and "updated" if you will to reflect whatever known bugs or issues have been worked out of a system up until that point.

But for me, it is one of several of my Macs, so if it does turn out to be a bad deal or no good then it isn't taking down my whole life. With that said, I can see where someone that would rely on the refurb unit as an only unit might be skeptical.

What do I know? I think I have a Mac addiction anyway. I guess as any true "junky" might, I need to get my fix as cheaply as possible, and the refurbed mini seemed like something to try. Believe me, if it does fail, you'll know;>)

Peace-

I will accept that point.

However, how many "used" computers have you purchased that carried a one year warranty?

Me thinks it is to Apple's benefit to make sure the refurbs meet or exceed their standards.

I can tell you that the one that I have had running now for a week seems, as far as I can tell following these discussions, to certainly meet or exceed Apple's standards.

The only issue I have with a "Best Buy" store demo is the abuse the machine gets. Are all components present with the machine (disks, etc...) ? I'd trust an Apple Store demo more than other stores.

Regards,

Hello Macman2020,

No, no and, (did I mention) "No!"...

1.) Store demo has been abused. (dropped how many times?)
2.)*If you have to buy a used Mac, get the refirb from the Apple website.
3.) Don't buy a refurb. Here's why...

I bought a iMac G5 this July, figuring that with the legendary trouble/failure record that this Mac has, any refurb coming from Apple would of course, be completely overhauled and thoroughly re-tested. WRONG!

Total failure 2 weeks ago, put up with the noise from the fans for the past several months, until the "freeze" ratio was up to up about 1-1/2 minutes of run-time after requiring 3-11 re-starts because the freeze would happen duing start-up.

I bought the extended AppleCare, after calling the iMac hot line (in India, reading from a script) but that still doesn't "repair" the time and trouble transferring all data to the old PC and now being w/out the computer for an unknown length of time. The iMac (and MacMini)are both beautiful, well designed machines. Just don't diminish your experience w/the totally unnecessary aggravition of a used computer.

IMHO, buy the refirb or (shudder) demo at your own risk.

It makes more sense to me, in hind site, that while my Apple experience is fine, you sometimes do get what you don't pay for.

Respectfully,
Bill Gallagher

I agree with them... I wouldn't touch a demo Mac... especially from BestBuy. One thing I noticed in BestBuy is that their techs know nothing about Macs. Or at least they didn't here. That Mini has most likely gone through some huge amounts of abuse. Luckily there is a CompUSA just across the street here... (not to say they're much better).

I have had refurbished or display item appliances, televisions, cd players, monitors, but no computers yet. A third of the items I bought, the remainder others did as gifts. In all cases I think every device had something wrong with it and has never been a satisfactory purchase for those items I actually did buy. I have not made a purchase knowingly of any store displays or refurbished items for a few years now. I simply buy new.

The new trick with manufacturers is to feed refurbs back into the product chain as replacements for any warranty repairs. This has lead to quite a few multiple shipments back of items because what I received often was in worse shape than what I sent in originally. Most times, never have I received a unit back with less problems than the new unit I sent in. I have not to date been able to get back from warranty repair many items I feel lived up to the new item even with its problem(s).

YMMV

Jan J.

Its already been said but here is my opinion, demo units are ridden hard and put up wet (thats for a horse but you get the drift) i.e. high risk, if you like to roll the dice get a demo, I'd bet the sales person will say it was just taken out of the box & you are one of the 1 st to use it and it came with that faded top ...

Macman202...

Electronic goods sold as demos may be stripped of any warranty. Our standard rule, in our State, is that they are; "SOLD AS IS".

I would say be careful and do not let the store talk you into a purchase claiming factory warranty is still good. Some companies have ways to trace open products and demos. Usually it is some floor inventory record that will brand the unit void of the warranty.

...Ron

There are also places (the UK being an example) where unless the product is described as being sold 'as is' and a list of faults disclosed, warranty cover would be set by law. In the UK example, a retailler cannot abbrogate responsibility for any item sold unless the buyer has been given good reason to understand the product is not of the same merchantable quality as a new one and had an opportunity to discover in what ways the prouct might be faulty before purchase.

Seems like my post got cut short, so cont'...

...pay just as much for repairs or be limited to who does the work. They get you no matter if the engine falls out from under the car.

Back to more on demos. Has anyone went to Walmart lately? I have seen some really fancy demos there that is just the empty case or the shell. Now you do not want to a gutless Microwave, Cell Phone, or what have you and have the guts to demand their repair. 😉

...Ron