Small Dog Electronics has been providing alternatives to purchasing the latest-and-greatest, most expensive Macs since we started back in the late 1990s. We did this by working with Apple to move their refurbished and end-of-life computers. Don, Hapy and Art would travel the US and buy huge lots of computers which we would then ship back to Vermont and post on our text-based website.
Once the computers arrived, Don and I write to our customer base and expound on the strengths of these “off the bleeding edge” computers. Purchasing a computer that is not the “latest and greatest” does two things right off the bat:
- Decreases the amount of money that you have to outlay to get a good computer.
- Reduces the amount that you lose when this good computer becomes really old.
So the first question is: Why buy a factory refurb? This answer is easy. The only reason you might not want to purchase a factory refurb is that you may need to upgrade the OS. The warranty is the same and the computers are eligible for AppleCare. So by all means, consider a factory refurbished computer.
So why a 17-inch MacBook Pro? Don’t forget, only a few months ago, this was the ultra performance MBP. Until the MacBook Pro with Retina Display, this was also the highest resolution display that you could get on a laptop — meaning, that if you had the desire and need to have a large display on a computer you could put into a bag, this would be your choice.
The 17-inch MacBook Pro is ideal for the person who needs a fairly large screen for design or large spreadsheets and who still needs to travel. It is the perfect choice for someone who can’t be desk-bound. Think of it as an easy way to carry a 21-inch iMac!
The biggest reason to purchase one of these computers is the money that you save right out of the gate — comparing the lowest end of 17-inch vs. 15-inch Retina, you’ll save $850. That will leave you enough to purchase an iPhone 5, the new iPad and a new iPod nano.
I’ve put the 17-inch MBP on special below with FREE shipping!