MacBook Pro 15 (MD318LL/A)

Hey SD'ers,

My early 2008 MacBook Pro 15 finally died last night and I'm sick of helping it limp along.

I need to replace it with the new model in short order and need to find the best deal possible. So far, I seem to have two options:

1. Buy from MacMall.com or a similar site offering the machine for ~$1700 and just find the best cashback deal (~3-5%)
2. Give this eCrater.com seller [ecrater.com] a try, understanding of course I might need to do a chargeback on the Amex. He's offering the machine for $1470 shipped.

Anything I'm missing? Thoughts on a better deal? Thanks in advance!

COWBOOM.COM has macs for sale for various prices some are refurb and return but u can pick from an assortment and they have warranties available...

I just rec'd an email from them...
http://www.cowboom.com/product/81...-2012-text

Quote from sdcurtisRN : COWBOOM.COM has macs for sale for various prices some are refurb and return but u can pick from an assortment and they have warranties available... I just rec'd an email from them... http://www.cowboom.com/product/81...-2012-text

Yeah, Cowboom is selling the machine I want as "almost new" for $1300. After I'm done paying sales tax, I'm within $70 of a new machine being sold on eCrater.

Both of those sound shady. MacMall and Microcenter are your best bets. How did your current computer "die?" Did a specific piece of hardware give out, or did you just clutter up your hard drive with pirated programs and suspect videos? I would never buy used laptops, but hey, what do I know?

Quote from shnitz : Both of those sound shady. MacMall and Microcenter are your best bets. How did your current computer "die?" Did a specific piece of hardware give out, or did you just clutter up your hard drive with pirated programs and suspect videos? I would never buy used laptops, but hey, what do I know?

The early '08 MacBooks were among those which had the ongoing logic board problems. In fact, I had the logic board replaced about a year and a half ago through my Amex. When I pushed the power button yesterday nothing happened except for the hard drive spinning up. This leads me to suspect the logic board has gone out again.

Could I get the logic board replaced again? Yeah, probably. But at this point, at four years with this thing, I think I'm ready for a new computer.

Well, if it's still the faulty logic board, I'd push a local Apple store to fix the computer for free. You can still probably get $600 or more for the laptop on Craigslist, and you can put that money towards a new computer. This way you can buy from a reputable place, don't have to deal with the hassle of getting screwed, getting a computer that's messed up in any way, etc. Although, if the Apple warranty will cover that ecrater or Cowboom computer, I suppose the risk is fairly reduced. I imagine your next laptop has to be a Macbook Pro 15"? You wouldn't consider stepping down to the 13", or getting a PC?

Quote from shnitz : Well, if it's still the faulty logic board, I'd push a local Apple store to fix the computer for free. You can still probably get $600 or more for the laptop on Craigslist, and you can put that money towards a new computer. This way you can buy from a reputable place, don't have to deal with the hassle of getting screwed, getting a computer that's messed up in any way, etc. Although, if the Apple warranty will cover that ecrater or Cowboom computer, I suppose the risk is fairly reduced. I imagine your next laptop has to be a Macbook Pro 15"? You wouldn't consider stepping down to the 13", or getting a PC?

I'm going to run it by my local AASP and get the lay of the land, but I'm not holding out much hope.

And yes, I want a 15" MBP. I've been a Mac guy since before it was cool and I want the 15 incher because I don't like to squint. I have the money, I guess I just started this thread because I wondered if anyone had seen any good MBP deals and were afraid to post them because the thread would've been hijacked by Mac vs. PC debate teams.

hmm i know that you want a mac and all, but is it necessary 100%. Could you settle for maybe a cheapo PC and then buy the new MBP (2012) when it comes out?
My best guess for this would be May/Juneish right after Ivy Bridge is released, but it could come out later or earlier.

Also there are huge rumors of a 15" MBA too if you would want to wait for that.

More info over at macrumors.com [macrumors.com]

But http://www.macprices.net/macbookpro.shtml and http://www.appleinsider.com/mac_price_guide/
should help you out.

btw for future posters here are the specs the OP might be looking fo-
2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 Processor
4 GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
500GB 5400rpm Hard Drive; 8x DVD/CD SuperDrive