[Closed] Buying a 2nd hand MacBook ?

Check it has a new battery.

Don't bother with 2nd hand.
Look here [url= http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/specialdeals/mac?mco=OTY2ODY3Nw ]Refurb[/url] every day. Stock changes very quickly.
Got myself a new MacBook for £570 at Christmas - full Apple warranty etc

Thanks but £570 is still a bit too much for me

As pointed out: check the battery. They expand when left plugged in and split the casings. They were recalled and fixed under warranty. So its worth making sure its been done

If you are after the white MacBook as well as checking the battery, check the case along the edge beneath the trackpad, as it often splits there. Also check the hinge on the screen as they sometimes lose their resistance and go squeaky. Finally the optical drive sometimes warps if it gets too hot so just check the seams around the CD bay on the right.

Apart from that keep an eye out for the usual things like dead pixels/fade marks on the screen, the sound of the internal fans, boot-up time etc.

Gumtree tends to be pretty good for finding that sort of thing in your area.

Best of luck.

Justa in "lifestyle purchase" shocker111

Ditto battery, if you can try it first install coconut battery monitor to see how much of its original capacity it has left. Or get the seller to check, it's in system profiler.

Also check the power connector for wear round where the cable goes in, older ones can fray.

Look for at least a core 2, not the original core cpus. At least 2gb ram is good.

On macbooks (rather than pros) check the net cable socket works.

A "shiny" trackpad indicates it's had a lot of use.

HD is the most likely part to fail, personally I'd be budgeting the £40 or so to put a new one in. But I'd be happy DIYing it myself.

"rather than an ipad".. interesting comparison of apples and oranges, do you already have a desktop?

I recently sold a MBP to fund an iPad...

Thanks folks - IA wots this coconut battery thing you mention ? Oh and yes I already have an IMac 🙂

Google it...

But you can get the same info from the power section of system profiler these days. Check the smart status on the disc whilst you're in there.

Personally I find the desktop mac + iPad a better fit for me, work and play wise. Depends what you need to do for work on the move tho.

I have a Macbook Pro for sale if you are interested.15 inch matte screen [none of that looking in a mirror malarkey] Snow Leopard,320gb,boxed.iWork installed.Lovely bit of kit.
Cost £1420 selling for £450.

Email in profile if you fancy it.Can supply pics.