Refurb macbook pro - USA keyboard

BMTH

I'm after a macbook pro and somebody suggested looking for a refurb one on ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Apple-MacBook-Pro-13-3-2-5GHz-i5-8GB-500-GB-2012-A-Grade-12-1-Month-Warranty-/131455013933?epid=1539788874&hash=item1e9b54542d:g:7-kAAOSwz2lXC414

I saw this one which seems to have sold a lot. Only issue I have is it's a United States region one. Will this cause much of a problem?

Anybody else ever bought a refurb?

Johnmcl7

The US keyboard is physically different to a UK keyboard (whereas most of the EU variants are physically the same, just different characters) - the US keyboard layout has a wider shift key and the enter key is a different shape. You can't change it to a UK layout (to get the pound sign, swap the " and @ keys around etc.) without confusing it further since the physical layouts are different. It sounds minor but when you're used to a certain keyboard layout it's difficult to change. You can see the differences here:

https://www.goodtyping.com/difteclats-us-uk2.png

As for refurb experience the problem is that term has a wide array of very different uses ranging from manufacturer refurbs which in some cases are as new machines that are unwanted returns while at the other end of the scale you have companies selling old second hand machines as refurbished because they've reinstalled the operating system. I haven't used the company in that ebay link nor any that sell second hand Apple devices so I've no specific experience of them.

John

Krapello

Buy from the official Apple UK Refurb Store and save yourself some grief.

Can't post links as a n00b but go to apple dot com slash uk and scroll right to the bottom of the page. Click on Refurbished and Clearance under Apple Store.

TadleyBaggie

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbook_pro

[Deleted User]

Nearly £1500 for a used laptop? I don’t think so!

BMTH

Yeh I looked at the official apple store first but starting at £1400 for a used pro is very steep!

There doesn't actually look much different between the 2 keyboards but no £ sign! How will I cope! :eek:

Johnmcl7

BMTH wrote: »

Yeh I looked at the official apple store first but starting at £1400 for a used pro is very steep!

There doesn't actually look much different between the 2 keyboards but no £ sign! How will I cope! :eek:

I guess it will depend on how much you're going to use this PC vs other PC's, I occasionally have to use US keyboards and find it irritating however I'm in IT so I need to use the keys that are shifted areound.

John

System

On all UK Macbook Pros I've had the @ and " sign is where it is on the US keyboard and this is the way it has been forever unlike PC keyboards where they're the other way around with the " on Shift-2 and the @ symbol being where the " is on the Mac. The only difference between the US and UK keyboard layout is the addition of the £ symbol on the 3 key and the € symbol on the 2 key.

All you need to do to change it to the same as the UK keyboard on a Mac is buy a replacement 2 and 3 key, will cost you no more than a fiver, and change them for the ones on the keyboard it comes with.

datostar

To be fair to Apple, their refurbs are to all intents and purposes brand-new with substantial replacement of parts, same warranty as a new one and eligible for Apple Care (at the usual cost).
Over the years, I've had refurb iPhone 3GS, 1st Gen. iPad Mini and 9.7" iPad Pro. No problems whatsoever with any and I'll happily buy from them again.

SouthUKMan

Tarambor wrote: »

All you need to do to change it to the same as the UK keyboard on a Mac is buy a replacement 2 and 3 key, will cost you no more than a fiver, and change them for the ones on the keyboard it comes with.

Just to add that - if you have experience - this is indeed a cheap, easy and very quick way to get around the problem. However I would urge anyone thinking about swapping over keys on a DIY / first time basis to take extreme care. There is a very real risk of breaking the tiny delicate clips that actually hold the keys in place. If you break one, then the key will be loose / not stay in place - and you will potentially have to replace the entire keyboard. Very costly.

macman

Presumably it comes with a US 120V power supply, unless they are dual voltage?