DV WareHouse?

Question

Level 1

8 points

DV WareHouse?

Is DV Warehouse a legitimate source of used Macs?
http://www.dvwarehouse.com

Their prices for Mac Pro are reasonable, but they don't come with Mac OS X which is the whole reason to own a Mac. Assuming such a PC were purchased from DV Warehouse would it then be okay to simply buy Snow Leapord from the Mac Store and be good to go?

Posted on Aug 28, 2009 9:58 PM

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Answer 1

Samsara

Level 4

1,327 points

Aug 29, 2009 11:25 PM in response to Shawn Eary

Well, I already blew an answer for you once already (I'm sorry), and I'm not quite sure that this will help you, but you do know that for any Mac you get you can call Apple and for less than 20 dollars they will send you the original install CD/DVDs for that particular Mac. I've had to do that a couple times.

Edit:

illegal for sellers of Mac Refurbs to preload Mac OSX onto their PCs without providing their users with a license.

In the form of the original OS Disk of the system installed on the Mac you get from them?

Also, I've found these people very good to buy from. Nice competent folks.
http://www.powermax.com/preowned_macs

Message was edited by: Samsara

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Answer 2

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Aug 29, 2009 6:38 AM in response to Shawn Eary

Yes, they are. Small Dog up in Vermont use to see parts but I think they ended that part of their operation for some reason. Maybe part of their license to sell new and refurbished Macs.

People use them to replace parts, not to buy a Mac. During the phase with Tiger there were only OEM copies of Mac OS, there was no retail copy to buy.

Only Intel Macs run SL. SL will install on Tiger or Leopard or you can buy the full box set. Amazon is cheaper, $25 and no shipping or tax.

If I was looking to buy a Mac Pro I would of course first look at Apple Store Specials. Not much variety, and none are low end.
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/mac_pro

But the $2199 - 2399, Mac Pro 2008 8-core, or 4-core 2009 2.66GHz is a nice system.

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Answer 3

Samsara

Level 4

1,327 points

Aug 29, 2009 5:32 AM in response to Shawn Eary

Hi,

I used them some years ago to buy an iMac for my mom. Screen was pink blue, optical drive didn't work. They sent me an optical drive that malfunctioned after a few days. Then I returned the machine and they replaced it with another, much better one that is working fine till this day.

Take from that what you may. I think they are ok, you just have to be on your toes. There's a company called Macpro that also does a similar business to them, but they ripped me off blind on a Powerbook.

If it really came without an OS (not in my case with them) you'd have to buy Leopard and then update to SL from there.

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Answer 4

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Aug 29, 2009 11:49 AM in response to Samsara

ComputerWorld and now others found, and it would be next to impossible and not worth the trouble as well as risks, to totally block installing SL ON ANY INTEL MAC. And Intel Macs all ran Tiger or later; Tiger only came as OEM so direct from Apple, there never ever was a retail copy.

They don't need anything but an Intel-based Mac.

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Answer 5

Shawn Eary Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 29, 2009 9:24 PM in response to Samsara

The problem I am running into with locating a Refurbed Mac is that almost all sellers of refurbished Macs preload the software onto the computer and don't provide the OS DVD.

Forgive me for being old school but back in the day (C64 and Amiga), the software license was tied to the original media that the software came on. When hard drives became popular, this concept got really sqewed since certain unscrupelous people starting selling PCs with unlicensed software installed on the HD.

Now that Snow Leapord is a Retail product, it sounds like I can purchase a copy to legally run it on any Intel Mac regardless of where I bought the Intel Mac from. Despite this, however, I think that it is probably illegal for sellers of Mac Refurbs to preload Mac OSX onto their PCs without providing their users with a license. It looks like the only way I am going to get good platform for OSX is if I am willing to cough out the $2500.

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Answer 6

Shawn Eary Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 30, 2009 5:32 PM in response to Samsara

Excellent!

I did not know that Apple was so friendly 🙂 All I have to do is give Apple the serial number and $20 bucks and whamo, I am fully licenced user of whatever OS came with the Mac? I think this is an excellent position on Apple's part.

So I suppose the license for the software is tied to the Mac itself. I think this is a good way for Mac to manage thier licenses and it protects potential purchasers of used merchandise from getting stiffed.

I want to thank Apple for:
1) Creating OSX
2) Extending such an excellent support benefit.

With Appreciation,

Shawn Eary

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Answer 7

Samsara

Level 4

1,327 points

Aug 30, 2009 5:49 PM in response to Shawn Eary

Yep, just give them a call. People lose their install disks all the time.

Don't go too crazy about Apple yet... sooner or later they are bound to disappoint you. Just ask several thousands of G5 owners... 😉

Edit: Thank you for the rating, Shawn,
Steve

Message was edited by: Samsara

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