What's your opinion on Apple Refurbished Macs?

As with anything refurbished, you are taking a slight risk. When I bought my first Playstation 2, it was refurbished. After constantly freezing, I took it back and bought a new one. It's not necessarily Apple's fault if you were to come across a bad refurbished model, but I'm sure they'd try very hard to accommodate you if you needed help. Apple doesn't have the highest brand loyalty for nothing. On another note, if you don't have enough money to spring for a MacBook Pro, the MacBook is not a bad choice either. If you're really strapped for cash, the Mac Mini is another great choice. I have a new Intel Mac Mini, and it's wonderful. I'm absolutely in love with it. I've amazed friends and family alike with the ability to create beautiful DVDs full of memories. I was like you, fed up with Microsoft Windows. After numerous viruses and crashes, I decided to try a Mac. I read an article in the paper about the new Mac Mini. An affordable Macintosh? I figured, what the hell, I'll try it. I'm now on my second Mac Mini, my girlfriend has my old one. I have yet to experience a virus or crash with the Macintosh. These people leaving comments about Mac's crashing when they were in college were probably using OS 9. OS X is an entirely new system, built on UNIX. It's truly the most advanced operating system in the world. After two years of using OS X, I still find myself amazed from time to time with things I never knew a computer could do. Owning a Macintosh is about much more than owning a computer... It's being a part of the belief that computers should do wonderful things, without requiring a degree in computer science. I know you'll love the Mac. Welcome to my world. :-)

About 6 months ago, I purchased a refurbished 17" Powerbook G4 from the Apple Store. If the box had not said "Refurbished" I would not have been able to tell the difference.

Honestly, I can't think of anything that made the computer seem any less than brand new. It ran like brand new, the cosmetics were perfect, the screen is spotless, and brand new cables and accessories were included with it.

Actually, I'd be kicking myself if I had bought it new. I feel great about the decision I made there.

I see that youve reinstalled it 3 times. Try a clean install if you didnt. If that dosent work you have a boot sector virus. Ive never had a mac, but my cousins refurbished ibook works fine.

They're even crappier than new ones. I get sick of seeing those commercials that seem to indicate that Macs never crash or get viruses. Bullshit! I used Macs in college and they crashed ALL THE TIME. I believe they were iMacs. The fact that they had no freeaking buttons also annoyed me. The computer crashed, then I wouldn't be able to get my disk out.