iMac: What is a refurbished computer?

Apple often finds it easier and faster to replace an under warranty computer with problems than to trouble shoot and solve the problems. Sometimes, the owner might insist on a replacement instead of a full scale repair. Thus Apple could end up with a computer that can be fixed. Since is is not brand new, Apple is required to sell such computers as "refurbished".

Since these computers have the same warranty as new ones, probably have been tested extensively, and cost less, one could argue these are a "better buy" than a brand new one.

As for safety, there is a full warranty, just like a brand new computer.

For what its worth, when I was buying a new computer, I have never been lucky enough to find a refurbished model that met my needs (with respect to specs), so these comments are not based on experience.

Refurbishment is the process of maintenance or minor repair of an item, either aesthetically or mechanically.

Computers and laptops that are refurbished usually means that it did not initially pass quality standards of the manufacturer. They then fix or recertify the unit and sell it at a discount price (Up to 30% off). Most of them carry a 30 day store warranty and 90 days with manufacturer.[citation needed]

Refurbished products cannot be sold as new products, that's why they are relabeled as refurbished units. Not even if the item looks new or is resealed by the factory, it still classifies as a refurbished product. Refurbished items may have scratches, dents or other forms of cosmetic damage which do not affect the performance of the unit.

Open-box, returned and/or repaired electronics of all kinds are frequently sold as refurbished, almost always with a guarantee of functionality and at a small discount. Refurbishment is especially common with more expensive types of electronics such as video game consoles and computer monitors, likely because these items have relatively high return rates (attributed to a combination of buyer's remorse and the fact that categories of electronics have a direct cost-to-complexity relationship; complex gadgets are more likely than simpler ones to have one or two defective components) and benefit more, sales-wise, from price-proportional discounts than cheaper items.

(Above quoted from Wikipedia.)

Apple's refurbished items come with full warranty, and you can purchase extended AppleCare warranties for them. In general they should be as safe as any new item.

Depends on who you are buying from...

If it's Apple's online store, it's as "safe" as getting a new product. They may even be more reliable because whatever problem it had was fixed, and it has been fully tested. I doubt if new Macs go through a thorough test run at the factory before being boxed up and shipped. The refurbs have the same one-year warranty (that can be extended to three years with AppleCare). I have purchased several refurb Macs and iPods from Apple's refurb page. Except for the packaging being +plain brown+ with a "Certified Reconditioned Product" label, they looked new.

Apple's refurb Macs ship with an upgrade disk for Leopard if the original shipped OS was Tiger. To me, that's an advantage because you can choose to use Tiger or Leopard. However, the other disks in the package are from the original product, when it was being sold as new. For example, they may ship with an older version of iLife, if that's the version the refurb Mac model originally shipped with when it was sold as new. The description should give such details. If the refurb Mac is a current (or very recent) Mac model, it should include the current software.

If the "reburbished" Mac is from a reseller, it could means anything from a factory refurbished Mac with full warranty (basically the same as what Apple sells as refurbished ) to a broken Mac that's been taken apart and fixed by the vendor's technicians. Read the fine print or ask the seller if it's not clear.

I bought a refurbished iPod Touch. Beautiful, no problems and the $20 upgrade was included for free. So my refurbish tale is great. I may buy Apple care before the 1 year is up though.