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Low End Mac's Best Deals
Best 13" MacBook & MacBook Pro Deals
2009.10.29
Tweet these deals. Short link: http://bit.ly/yGyan
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Apple redesigned the white MacBook in mid-October. The new model runs a bit faster, uses unibody construction, has a slightly larger footprint, loses a little weight, gains LED backlighting, loses FireWire, gets a 7 hour battery, and doesn't get an SD Card slot. All for the same $999 retail price.
For a more detailed perspective on the latest consumer MacBook, see The Late 2009 MacBook Value Equation.
Now that Mac OS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" is shipping, prices are adjusting based on capabilities. None of the first generation MacBooks (the ones with Intel Core Duo CPUs) support 64-bit operation, and only the models with nVidia 9400M graphics support OpenGL. See individual model profiles to learn which Snow Tiger technologies are supported.
Apple introduced the 13" MacBook Pro (MBP) on June 8, 2009. The 13" MBP replaced the Unibody MacBook, adding FireWire 800 and an SD Card slot, increasing speed, and reducing price. The 13" MacBook Pro is available at 2.26 GHz and 2.53 GHz speeds with 160 GB and 250 GB hard drives respectively. The entry-level model retails for US$1,199 - just $200 more than the polycarbonate MacBook White.
All MacBooks have a 1280 x 800 glossy display, and all current models include a dual-layer SuperDrive. The current 2.26 GHz MacBook has a 250 GB hard drive and 2 GB of RAM (expandable to 8 GB).
Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" is supported on all MacBooks. If you want to upgrade an older MacBook to 10.5, be sure to check our Best Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Deals. Mac OS X 10.6 requires 1 GB of RAM (we recommend at least 2 GB) and will run on all Intel-based Macs.
The Core 2 CPU runs quite a bit cooler and has power at the same clock speed than the Core Duo. Because the Core Duo MacBooks tend to run hot, we recommend the Core 2 models. Additionally, only Core 2 models support 64-bit operation.
We strongly recommend running the MacBook with at least 1 GB of memory. If you can swing it, max out to 3 GB - or 8 GB, the recently discovered maximum for the Late 2009 MacBook. (See Is More RAM More Important than Matched RAM in the MacBook? for more on unmatched memory.)
The best deals are marked in bold type in the full listings below. Canadian dealers are listed separately. Listings note RAM/hard drive size.
Best Used MacBook Prices (shipping additional except as noted)
- 1.83 GHz Core Duo Combo, $500 + shipping, Mac of All Trades
- HOT 1.83 GHz Core 2 Combo, $589 shipped, Power Max
- 2.0 GHz Core Duo SD, white, $549 + shipping, ExperCom
- 2.0 GHz Core Duo SD, black, $660 + shipping, MacResource
- 2.0 GHz Core 2 SD, black, $699 + shipping, Mac in the Box
- 2.16 GHz Core 2 SD, white, $749 shipped, Apple Palace
- 2.16 GHz Core 2 SD, black, $795 shipped, Apple Palace
- 2.2 GHz Core 2 SD, white, $889 shipped, Power Max
- 2.4 GHz Core 2 SD, white, $939 shipped, Power Max
- 2.4 GHz Core 2 SD, black, $989 shipped, Power Max
Best Refurbished MacBook Prices, ground shipping
included
- HOT refurb 2.0 GHz Unibody, $899, Apple
- refurb 2.4 GHz Unibody, $1,299, Apple
- refurb 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, $999, Apple
- refurb 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, $1,299, Apple
Best New MacBook Prices, no rebate, ground shipping included
- 2.13 GHz White, $899 shipped, B&H, J&R, Small Dog
- 2.0 GHz Unibody, $1,000 shipped, B&H
- 2.4 GHz Unibody, $1,099 shipped, B&H
- 2.26 GHz Late 2009, $990 shipped, Mac Connection
- 2.26 GHz MBP, $1,169 shipped, Amazon, B&H, Mac Connection
- 2.53 GHz MBP, $1,410 shipped, Amazon, B&H
Best New MacBook Prices, after rebate, ground shipping included
- 2.13 GHz White, $899 shipped, B&H, J&R, Small Dog
- 2.0 GHz Unibody, $1,000 shipped, B&H
- 2.4 GHz Unibody, $1,099 shipped, B&H
- 2.26 GHz Late 2009, $925 shipped, Mac Connection
- 2.26 GHz MBP, app. $1,119 shipped, MacConnection
- 2.53 GHz MBP, $1,399 shipped, Mac Connection
Recent Memory Prices (per module)
- PC5300 (pre-Unibody): 512 MB, $4.99; 1 GB, $15.79; 2 GB (Core 2 only), $33.99
- OWC offers a PC5300 4 GB module for $144.99 and a 6 GB kit for $189.99. These only work in Santa Rosa and later MacBooks.
- 1066 DDR3 (nVidia graphics): 1 GB, $17.96; 2 GB, $38.99; 4 GB, $235.99
- OWC offers a PC6400 2 GB module for the nVidia MacBook White for $46.99, a 4 GB module for $145.99, and a 6 GB kit for $189.99.
- OWC offers a 1066 DDR3 2 GB module for Unibody models for $44, a 4 GB module for $247.99, a 6 GB kit for $292.99, and an 8 GB kit (Late 2009 MacBook only) for $475.99.
Best Mac OS X Prices
Be sure to factor in shipping costs and possible sales tax. Your best value depends on whether you need/want a color printer, extra RAM, etc.
Unless otherwise noted, there is no surcharge for credit card purchases, and shipping is not included. Vendors are listed in alphabetical order. Be sure to visit their sites for full details.
Core Duo models are listed before Core 2 models, which are more efficient and run cooler. Unibody and MacBook Pro models are also separated. Prices may be limited to quantity on hand. Not responsible for typos. Please email any corrections or additional sources with competitive prices toDan Knight .
Buying through some of these links benefits Low End Mac. Buying at these prices benefits you.
Profiles: Core Duo / Core 2 Duo (Late 06) / Core 2 Duo (May 07) / Santa Rosa (Oct 07) / Penryn (Feb 08) / White (Oct 08) / Unibody (Oct 08) / White (nVidia) / White (June 09) / White Unibody (Oct 2009) / 13" MacBook Pro
New, Demo, & Apple Refurbished
Amazon.com
Free ground shipping from Amazon.com, may be additional cost from other sources. Amazon.com collects sales tax on orders shipped to KS, KY, ND, and WA.
- 2.13 GHz MacBook White (May 09), 2 GB/160/SD, $934 + $31.15 shipping
- 2.4 GHz Unibody, 2 GB/250/SD, $1,139.99 + $34.99 shipping
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,168.95 shipped
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,409.99 shipped
Apple Store US
Apple collects sales tax on orders shipped to most states. Free ground shipping.
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Oct 09), 2 GB/250/SD, $999 shipped
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,199 shipped
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,499 shipped
Apple Store Canada
Apple offers free shipping.
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Oct 09), 2 GB/250/SD, C$1,099 shipped
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, C$1,299 shipped
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, C$1,599 shipped
B&H - MacBook - MacBook Pro
B&H offers free ground shipping.
- 2.13 GHz MacBook White (May 09), 2 GB/160/SD, $899.95 shipped
- 2.0 GHz Unibody, 2 GB/160/SD, $999.95 shipped
- 2.4 GHz Unibody, 2 GB/250/SD, $1,099 shipped
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Oct 09), 2 GB/250/SD, $999 shipped
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,168.95 shipped
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,410 shipped
Club Mac - MacBook - MacBook Pro
Ground shipping can add $13 or more. Club Mac collects sales tax on orders shipped within California. Free Epson Stylus printer and Parallels Desktop (after mail-in rebates).
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Oct 09), 2 GB/250/SD, $988.99 less $65 mail-in rebate = $923.99
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,168.99 less $50 mail-in rebate = $1,118.99
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,473.99 less $75 mail-in rebate = $1,398.99
J&R Computer/Music World
Free ground shipping.
- 2.13 GHz MacBook White (May 09), 2 GB/160/SD, $899 shipped
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Oct 09), 2 GB/250/SD, $999.99 shipped
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,199 shipped
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,498.88 shipped
LA Computer Company - MacBook - MacBook Pro
Ground shipping can add $20 or more. LA Computer collects sales tax on orders shipped within California.
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Oct 09), 2 GB/160/SD, $999
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,199
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,499
Mac Connection - MacBook - MacBook Pro
Free ground shipping. Mac Connection collects sales tax on orders shipped to AL, CT, IL, MA, NC, NJ, NY, OH, TN, and TX.
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Oct 09), 2 GB/160/SD, $989.99 less $65 mail-in rebate = $924.99
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,169 less $50 mail-in rebate = $1,119 shipped
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,474 less $75 mail-in rebate = $1,399 shipped
MacMall- MacBook - MacBook Pro
Ground shipping can add $10 or more. MacMall collects sales tax on orders shipped to CA, IL, MN, TN, and WI.
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Oct 09), 2 GB/250/SD, $994 less $50 mail-in rebate = $944
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,194 less $80 mail-in rebate = $1,114
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,494 less $95 mail-in rebate = $1,399
MacResource
Ground shipping may add $28 or more.
- open box 2.1 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/80/Combo, $899.99
- open box 2.4 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,149
- open box 2.4 GHz Core 2, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $1,199
Power Max - MacBook - MacBook Pro
Free ground shipping.
- 2.13 GHz MacBook White (May 09), 2 GB/160/SD, $929 shipped
- 2.4 GHz Unibody, 2 GB/250/SD, $1,299 shipped
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Oct 09), 2 GB/250/SD, $999 shipped
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,199 shipped
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,499 shipped
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/256 SSD/SD, $2,294 shipped
special value
- open box 2.13 GHz MacBook White (May 09), 2 GB/160/SD, $899 shipped
- open box 2.0 GHz Unibody, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,049 shipped
- open box 2.4 GHz Unibody, 2 GB/250/SD, $1,149 shipped
- open box 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,149 shipped
Small Dog Electronics - MacBook - MacBook Pro
Free ground shipping.
- 2.13 GHz MacBook White (May 09), 2 GB/160/SD, $899.99 shipped
- 2.0 GHz Unibody, 2 GB/160/SD, $999.99 shipped
- 2.4 GHz Unibody, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,199.99 (demo, $1,129.99)
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Oct 09), 2 GB/250/SD, $999.99 shipped
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,199.99 (demo, $1,099.99)
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,499.99 (demo, $1,449.99)
- several custom configurations available
Apple Refurbished MacBooks
Apple Store US
Free ground shipping. Apple collects sales tax on orders shipped to most states.
- refurb 2.0 GHz Unibody, 2 GB/160/SD, $899
- refurb 2.4 GHz Unibody, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,299
- refurb 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $999
- refurb 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,299
Apple Store Canada
- refurb 2.0 GHz Unibody, 2 GB/160/SD, C$1,049
- refurb 2.4 GHz Unibody, 2 GB/128 SSD/SD, C$1,399
Used & Reseller Refurbished MacBooks
Apple Palace
Free ground shipping. 60 day warranty.
- used 1.83 GHz Core Duo, white, 1 GB/60/Combo, $595 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, white, 1 GB/80/SD, $625 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, black, 1 GB/80/SD, $725 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/80/SD, $695 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, black, 1 GB/120/SD, $745 shipped
- used 2.16 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/120/SD, $749 shipped
- used 2.16 GHz Core 2, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $795 shipped
ExperCom
Estimated shipping is $15.50.
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, white, 2 GB/100/SD, $549
Gainsaver
Ground shipping may add $31 or more. Prices reflect a 10% off sale which appears to end at 10:00 p.m. daily. Gainsaver replaces the stock SuperDrive or Combo drive with a CD-ROM, removes AirPort Extreme, and often includes less RAM and a smaller hard drive than originally shipped with the computer. Units are untested unless you pay $25 for diagnostics. 30 day warranty. Gainsaver is located in Long Beach, California. There is a 20% restocking fee for returns, and Gainsaver is unlikely to refund your credit card - instead, the company prefers to issue a store credit, according to customers. Gainsaver has also been accused of bait-and-switch tactics by several customers. We list these because of their excellent prices for those who might not need a SuperDrive, are willing to upgrade RAM and hard drives themselves, and are willing to deal with Gainsaver when they know the company's policies in advance. Because these Macs have been downgraded, we do not include Gainsaver's prices when listing "Best Deals". Caveat emptor.
- 1.83 GHz Core Duo, white, 512/20/CD, $422.10
- 1.83 GHz Core 2, white, 512/20/CD, $449.10
- 2.0 GHz Core Duo, white, 512/20/CD, $449.10
- 2.0 GHz Core Duo, black, 512/20/CD, $494.10
- 2.0 GHz Core 2, white, 512/20/CD, $476.10
- 2.0 GHz Core 2, black, 512/20/CD, $503.10
- 2.16 GHz Core 2, white, 512/20/CD, $467.10
- 2.16 GHz Core 2, black, 512/20/CD, $521.10
- 2.2 GHz Core 2, white, 512/20/CD, $485.10
- 2.2 GHz Core 2, black, 512/20/CD, $539.10
- 2.4 GHz Core 2, black, 512/20/CD, $584.10
LA Computer Company
Ground shipping may add $18 or more. LA Computer collects sales tax on orders shipped within California. 30 day warranty.
- 2.0 GHz Core 2, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $649
- 2.16 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/60/SD, $649
- several other configurations listed
Mac in the Box
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/80/SD, $649
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, black, 512/80/SD, $699
Mac of All Trades
Ground shipping may add $35 or more. Mac of All Tradest has the highest product turnover of any used Mac dealer we track and collects sales tax on orders shipped within FL.
- used 1.83 GHz Core Duo, white, 1 GB/60/Combo, $499.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, black, 2 GB/80/SD, $699.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/80/SD, AppleCare to 6/26/10, $599.99
MacResource
Ground shipping may add $28 or more.
- used 1.83 GHz Core Duo, white, 512/60/Combo, $569.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, white, 512/60/SD, $629.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, black, 512/80/SD, $659.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/80/SD, $699.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, black, 1 GB/120/SD, $749.99
Power Max
Free ground shipping.
- used 1.83 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/60/Combo, $589 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, white, 1 GB/80/SD, $689 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/80/Combo, $689 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, white, 1.5 GB/60/SD, $769 shipped
- used 2.2 GHz Core 2, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $889 shipped
- used 2.4 GHz Core 2, white, 2 GB/160/SD, $939 shipped
- lots of other configurations listed
Wegener Media
Ground shipping may add $19 or more 60 day warranty. Apple Remote $9.99 additional.
- used 1.83 GHz Core Duo, white, 512/60/Combo, $569.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, white, 512/60/Combo, $649.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, black, 512/80/Combo, $699.99
- used 1.83 GHz Core Duo, white, 512/80/Combo, $739.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/80/Combo, $769.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, black, 1 GB/120/Combo, $799.99
- wireless remote, $9.99
Need something thinner and lighter with most of the power? Check out
our Best MacBook Air Prices.
Need something bigger and more powerful? See our Best 15" MacBook Pro Prices and
our Best 17" MacBook Pro
Prices.
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