Refurbished Powerbook or not? Can one tell?

[Whytoi]

In article <9819f295.0307132303.10e24096@posting.google.com >, Lexx
<lexxvw@msn.com> wrote:

> I've been looking to purchase a powerbook for the past month or so
> now. Just recently, I ran across a local seller (not an authorized
> Apple dealer, just a mom-and-pop type store) with a 12" Powerbook for
> $1300. He said it was brand new and still in the box. I find it hard
> to believe that he can sell it for so much less than the retail price
> and I'm beginning to suspect that its a refurbished model. I was just
> wondering if anyone knew of a sure-fire way to tell if a powerbook is
> refurbished either by a serial number or any other technique. Thanks
> for the help!

It probably ain't a 12" Powerbook from a legitimate source.

Refurbished? Probably more like it fell off the back of a truck...

[Tez]

Whytoi <whytoi@hotmail.com> wrote:

> In article <9819f295.0307132303.10e24096@posting.google.com >, Lexx
> <lexxvw@msn.com> wrote:
>

> > I've been looking to purchase a powerbook for the past month or so
> > now. Just recently, I ran across a local seller (not an authorized
> > Apple dealer, just a mom-and-pop type store) with a 12" Powerbook for
> > $1300. He said it was brand new and still in the box. I find it hard
> > to believe that he can sell it for so much less than the retail price
> > and I'm beginning to suspect that its a refurbished model. I was just
> > wondering if anyone knew of a sure-fire way to tell if a powerbook is
> > refurbished either by a serial number or any other technique. Thanks
> > for the help!

>
> It probably ain't a 12" Powerbook from a legitimate source.
>
> Refurbished? Probably more like it fell off the back of a truck...

Some people call the ibooks powerbooks so maybe its one of those. Also I
am sure I read that an Apple refurbished laptop will have something
saying so under the keyboard.

Tez

[Whytoi]

In article <1fy34vc.1r7442a1g5o1m8N%nospam@thiscomputer.thank s>, Tez
<nospam@thiscomputer.thanks> wrote:

> Whytoi <whytoi@hotmail.com> wrote:
>

> > In article <9819f295.0307132303.10e24096@posting.google.com >, Lexx
> > <lexxvw@msn.com> wrote:
> >

> > > I've been looking to purchase a powerbook for the past month or so
> > > now. Just recently, I ran across a local seller (not an authorized
> > > Apple dealer, just a mom-and-pop type store) with a 12" Powerbook for
> > > $1300. He said it was brand new and still in the box. I find it hard
> > > to believe that he can sell it for so much less than the retail price
> > > and I'm beginning to suspect that its a refurbished model. I was just
> > > wondering if anyone knew of a sure-fire way to tell if a powerbook is
> > > refurbished either by a serial number or any other technique. Thanks
> > > for the help!

> >
> > It probably ain't a 12" Powerbook from a legitimate source.
> >
> > Refurbished? Probably more like it fell off the back of a truck...

>
> Some people call the ibooks powerbooks so maybe its one of those. Also I
> am sure I read that an Apple refurbished laptop will have something
> saying so under the keyboard.

I gave him the benefit of the doubt on that one. $1300 for an older
iBook is quite realistic.

[matt neuburg]

In <9819f295.0307132303.10e24096@posting.google.com > Lexx wrote:

> I've been looking to purchase a powerbook for the past month or so
> now. Just recently, I ran across a local seller (not an authorized
> Apple dealer, just a mom-and-pop type store) with a 12" Powerbook for
> $1300. He said it was brand new and still in the box. I find it hard
> to believe that he can sell it for so much less than the retail price
> and I'm beginning to suspect that its a refurbished model

The only thing of interest is the warranty. I have bought several
refurbished portables from smalldog.com and have been very happy because,
besides being instantly returnable if I didn't like them, (1) they came
with Apple's full 1-year warranty and (2) they were eligible for
AppleCare extended warranty. As long as a machine has those warranties
it doesn't matter what its history is. m.

--
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[Lexx]

Thanks for the help guys! I'm going to go look at the notebook this
weekend. I will definitely keep all your tips in mind. The store is
in Oakland, CA. so you never know what kind of shady characters may
pop up there! :-) Thanks again everyone!