14 DAY TRIAL // After introducing a new range of MacBook Airs with upgraded internals and lower prices, Apple yesterday updated its Special Deals listings to feature the all-time-low cost of $599 (€433) for a refurbished MacBook Air.
The listing in question is unavailable at the time of this writing, but the precedent has been set. You can expect to see more such MBA configurations to emerge on the Apple Special Deals site any day now. Just be sure to act quickly. People are snagging these babies like there’s no tomorrow.
The configuration in question is the 11-inch model with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal Flash storage, and Intel HD Graphics 4000. Apple says you save $400 (€290), but that’s not entirely accurate considering the all-new pricing for the latest and greatest MacBook Airs, which basically renders the 2012 model somewhat obsolete.
The Cupertino giant is essentially subtracting the refurb cost from the original $999 (€724) asking price for an off-the-shelf unit in 2012. For comparison, a substantially upgraded, factory-sealed version of the same 11-inch MBA is now available for $899 (€650).
“With MacBook Air starting at $899, there’s no reason to settle for anything less than a Mac,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, on April 29. “Macs have never been more popular, and today we’ve boosted the performance and lowered the price of MacBook Air so even more people can experience the perfect everyday notebook.”
So while the $599 (€433) is certainly tantalizing, you’re not getting much bang for your buck. Also keep in mind that software tends to leave old hardware behind with every new generation, so don’t be surprised if Apple’s 2015 Mac OS no longer supports these little guys.
Warnings aside, the $599 (€433) MacBook Air is still a great deal when you look at what the competition is offering. With Apple you have an jaw-dropping design, good battery life, an intuitive OS that works out of the box, and stellar support from the company’s help desk.
“We want you to be satisfied with your purchase,” says the Mac maker. “When you need assistance that is not provided by your manuals, through onscreen or online help, or by fax, please call: 1-800-APL-CARE. Your telephone support includes 90 days of assistance for Apple-branded products. Our trained staff is ready to help you with the installation and basic use of your Apple product.”