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4 days ago · The iMac is a compact desktop computer with virtually everything you need in one cohesive package. Here's what you need to know before buying a used one.
- The Basics of Buying A Second Hand Mac
- Does The Mac Boot?
- Is The Mac Still Linked to The Old Owner?
- Testing A Mac That's Been Factory Reset
- Is The Mac Enrolled in A Device Management Program?
- How Does It Run?
- Are The Keyboard and Trackpad in Good Order?
- Do The Ports All Work?
- Does The Display Have Dead Pixels Or Other Problems?
- What Condition Is The Battery in?
Buying any high-value item second-hand can be a nerve-wracking experience. This is true whether you're purchasing from a private seller you found on Facebook Marketplaceor a second-hand retailer on the high street. At the very least, you should request some time with the computer in person to check things out for yourself. Related: Beware These 7 F...
It seems like an obvious point, but the Mac should at the very least boot. You should see a startup screen followed by macOS. You might see a log-on screen or the "Hello" splash that appears when macOS is freshly installed. Walk away if the seller insists that "the battery is dead" and won't show the machine booting. If the machine powers on but sh...
If the Mac boots you're either going to see "Hello" to indicate that macOS has been reinstalled, or you'll see a login window with the account holder's name. If you see a login window, be aware that the Mac is still likely linked to the old owner. This means that macOS Activation Lock is likely still enabled. Activation Lock is designed to stop som...
If you see the "Hello" screen rather than a login window, the Mac has been reset to an "as-new" state by the owner. On the one hand, this is good since it means Activation Lock has been disabled, while on the other it presents some problems for testing the machine. Since you will need to run a few tests on the machine to ensure everything is workin...
Businesses and educational establishments often buy Macs wholesale from Apple, and use a device management program called Automated Device Enrollment (ADE)---previously known as Device Enrollment Program (DEP)---to manage devices. This can present all sorts of problems, since the program is linked to the Mac's serial number. On setup of macOS, the ...
You should spend some time with the Mac to see how it runs. Test out a few common workflows like opening Safari and visiting some websites, browsing the Mac App Store, checking processes in Activity Monitor, and searching for items in Spotlight. You can also take this opportunity to make sure video and audio plays back smoothly, which will also con...
If you're buying a MacBook or desktop Mac that includes peripherals, test the keyboard fully and make sure everything feels and behaves as it should. Make sure all of the keys work, including the power button and fingerprint sensor if present. If you're buying a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar, ensure that it registers touch inputs and shows contextua...
Obvious damage to ports should ring alarm bells, and if you can you should test these ports. Desktop models like the Mac mini may need to be hooked up via HDMI so make sure that the display output works as expected. Most MacBooks released in the last five or so years will only have USB-C(Thunderbolt) ports, so keep this in mind if you want to bring...
Nobody likes dead pixels, but many displays suffer from them in time. The older the display, the more likely you'll have stuck or dead pixels. Sometimes these pixels are located in areas that you'll barely notice, and other times they're in the middle of the screen where you're looking 90% of the time. The only way to tell is to get up close and pe...
If you're buying a MacBook that you're planning to use on battery power, knowing the condition of the battery may be important. Learn how to check the battery condition of a MacBookbefore you arrive. The older the machine the more cycles the battery is likely to have on it, and the worse the performance. Like dead pixels, this may not make or break...
Jan 8, 2022 · Check the Used Mac's Hard Drive. A used Mac's hard drive stores all the files found on the Mac and its operating system. Look for a used Mac with at least a 128GB hard drive if you rely heavily on cloud storage. If not, you'll want at least 250GB. Also, check the type of hard drive installed. It will be a hard disk drive or a solid-state drive.
- Matthew S. Smith
Feb 15, 2022 · If you are set on buying a used iMac, look for a 2017-2019 model. They should be a bit lower in price than a brand-new iMac, but they come with many of the same specs. The 2017 iMac has a superb 27-inch 5K display, which to this day remains one of the most accurate monitors in terms of color.
- Henry Blodget
- Refurbished is usually better than used. There's an enormous market for previously owned Macs out there, and you can buy a used Mac directly from a private owner — or you can get a refurbished model which has the advantage of being inspected, have bad components replaced, certified in good condition and even features warranty coverage.
- Beware of the Mac's impending obsolescence. Every Mac, regardless of model or age, will eventually become obsolete. That means it will no longer be supported by Apple, and you won't be able to install OS updates and security patches.
- Get the details on the used Mac. If you're buying a Mac from a private seller, you might need that person's help to get a detailed look at the computer before you make the purchase.
- Make sure there isn't a firmware password. The previous owner might have set up a firmware password, which can prevent you from booting your Mac from a USB port, which might be important during troubleshooting or disaster recovery.
Here are six reasons why it’s a bad idea to buy a second hand Mac: 1. Old Macs aren’t secure. Apple only maintains software support for the current and previous two versions of macOS (at the ...
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Jul 7, 2021 · There just aren't that many people selling Apple laptops that are less than a year old. 3. Refurbished Macs Are Cheaper. If you want to save money on buying a Mac, refurbished devices are the way to go. You can typically expect savings between 10 and 30 percent, depending on the age of the laptop and the condition it's in.
