How old is too old? Used Mac?

[Sienna86]

Several laptops I saw on eBay were 4+ years old. I've been a Dell customer for years but would like to switch to Apple. Would prefer to stay in the $300 - 400 range.

[ChromeFoundry]

1. This all depends on what you use it for...

If you only read emails and browse the Internet, I've seen 12+ year old Win & Linux workstations perform these tasks just fine, and I'm certain that a 5 year old MacBook would have no problem. The problem with Apple is they stop supporting their hardware after the hardware is a couple generations old. Most Win/Linux machines have a terriffic upgrade path to extend the life of the hardware, and the hardware support is independent from the OS platform support. If you rely on many Windows applications, you will also need to purchase a license for Windows running on your new MacBook. More peripherals are supported on Windows and Linux than on Mac OS. A decade ago people used to complain that Windows was too proprietary and closed...In this day in age, the Mac OS is far more locked down and proprietary than any other commercial operating system. When you have problems with a Windows or Linux system, you can most likely ask a relative or a friend of a friend to assist you.. not so much with a Mac.

With Apple you are paying much more for much less. If you are dead set on Apple, for whatever reason, I'm not going to try and change your mind, just offering up a warning. Yes, they are pretty machines that have excellent graphics capabilities if you are running at resolutions that are over 2000 pixels wide on a 17" or less screen.

If you are going to rely on the system for your job or your business applications, you may want to read the following article:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/quickerbettertech/2012/12/03/should-i-buy-a-mac-for-my-business-in-2013/

If it will only be used to connect to the Internet while you are at Starbucks, it will be fine and will look impressive.

[AgingAmerican]

5. Couldn't say it better

All of the above AND their arcane interface.

[hobbit709]

2. will it do what you want it to do?

That's the only real criterion.

I know someone who has an ancient Compaq laptop with Win 95 on it. It does what she wants it to do and she'll use it until it dies for that.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Our oldest Mac still in service is a 2007 iMac.

It runs Snow Leopard, but can't run Lion.

We also have a 2008 aluminum MacBook (before the MacBook Pro!) that is current and running well for one of my (business) partner's kids.

My MacPro (my primary work computer) is from 2008 and will probably last at least another 5 years. I feel absolutely no need to get a new one, a feeling I *always* had with PCs.

We have one other MacPro, two other iMacs (one very new), three more MacBook Pros, and a MacBook Air.

Out of all that hardware the only problem we ever has was after a water spill onto one of the MacBookPros. It had to get a new HD and still has the screen just go blank every now and again. But even that one always recovers and keeps running.

Do you have a link to the eBay ads you're considering?

[AgingAmerican]

4. Why do you want to switch to Apple?

They have an antiquated interface that is very poorly designed. Everything is buried in an arcane menuing system. Pisspoor 90's software design.

[durbin]

6. I was wondering why someone would want to switch to

a unit 4 or more years old, and a different operating system, with not much of any advantage at all, for about $300.

For about the same money, there are Windows 7 and Windows 8 brand new computers for sale out on the market.

[RoccoR5955]

8. The reason why people don't want Windows 7 or 8 computers

Is because Windows 7 and 8 SUCK.
If you open a command prompt, you will find that they are version 6.1 and 6.2 respectively. This means to me that they are version 6, warmed over. Vista was version 6, and had more bugs than a Lower East Side tenement, so I will pass on any warmed-over versions.

Also, I have had the current Mac for almost 4 years now, and haven't had nearly as many issues with it than I had with my PCs. And every peripheral I ever attached to it, from thumb drive, to scanner, to printer, to whatever worked. Yes, I may have had to get drivers, but they work. Unlike Windows, where unless you have an authentic signed driver, the peripheral may not work.

The interface may be different, but it takes little getting used to. As a matter of fact, I am truly amazed, after owning PCs for more than 25 years, why I didn't get a Mac sooner. They are so easy to use, because stuff either works or it doesn't. And after a hard day of supporting all those damn PCs, it's nice to come home to a different interface.
Yes, Windows pays my bills, but at home, no more Windows for me.
Make a good choice, and get the newest MacBook Pro you can afford, goose up the RAM, not from Apple, but from Crucial, or Macsales.com or someone. If you can, get a bigger hard drive, and you should be set.
Don't let the Windows fan boys steer you wrong.

[eppur_se_muova]

7. You can buy older iBooks that run OS X 10.4 for around $100-200.

http://lowendmac.com/deals/best-ibook-g3-prices.html but read the warnings about iBook reliability!

You might want to start at http://lowendmac.com/profiles.htm or http://lowendmac.com/powerbooks.html to get some idea of the capabilities/limitations of various models. One of the G4 iBooks might be a good way for you to get your feet wet re. Macs -- although if you really want to save money, look for an old desktop, like an iMac. Lots of these are around for <$100. Of course they're really slow, but if you're hesitant about spending $$$, this might be an alternative. (A local dealer is selling G5's for $100, so if you don't like the "sealed" design of the iMac, you might consider that.) And if you like Macs enough to splurge on a newer machine, you can give the old one to the kids.