When buying a used Apple MacBook Pro computer, there are a few things to remember. These include the Model year, Keyboard, Battery, and Operating system. Checking these things will make it easier to find a great bargain. You can also ask the seller to include a warranty or a money-back guarantee.
Model year
One of the best ways to determine the model year of a used Apple MacBook Pro computer is by checking the serial number. The serial number is usually located on the bottom of the MacBook. It’s small but usually visible, so you can write it down or take a photo to determine the model year.
Used Apple MacBook Pro computers have two kinds of hardware: hard drive and RAM. RAM can be upgraded from standard 8 GB to 16 GB. Hard drives are also upgradeable. You can get up to 7200 RPM hard drives or third-party SSDs. Some machines even have a caddy for replacing the internal optical drive with a second, 2.5-inch hard drive.
You can also look for a MacBook Pro with a 3.5-mm headphone jack. Older models had TOSLINK functionality for connecting headphones to the computer.
Keyboard
If you’re in the market for a used Apple MacBook Pro computer, then the keyboard is one of the essential features to look for. The new MacBook Pro has a Touch Bar, which is quite remarkable, but many people still prefer traditional keys. The keyboard of used MacBook Pro computers features traditional function keys for media playback and screen brightness, as well as a big escape key for programmers. Unlike Windows PCs, however, Apple MacBook Pros are built with Apple M1 chips instead of AMD or Intel.
The butterfly keyboard was thin, which allowed Apple to incorporate more components and make the laptop thinner. Another benefit was that the keys were much more stable, giving users the same feel at the corners as in the center. The butterfly keyboard was a prevalent feature of the last generation of Apple laptops, but it caused many problems and caused consumers unnecessary grief.
Luckily, Apple has been addressing the issue of worn keyboards with recent product updates. While many MacBooks are available with keyboard replacements, some models have a keyboard problem that is more widespread than others. Despite this, most Apple stores have closed during the pandemic.
Operating System
If you are in the market for a used Apple MacBook Pro computer, you’ll want to be sure it’s running the latest operating system. Whether it’s Windows or Linux, a used Apple computer’s operating system is a vital consideration. After all, even if the machine’s current OS is up-to-date, future updates may be incompatible.
To begin, you’ll want to be sure it’s running the latest version of OS X. Typically, Apple releases minor updates to the operating system through the Mac App Store, and you can usually download them for free. For example, if you’re currently running OS X 10.6.8 and need an update, you can download OS X 10.9 Mavericks through the App Store.
If you need a dual-boot system, check if it runs Windows. Apple computers can be configured to run Windows through a virtual machine or directly on the system. You can install Windows using Boot Camp, a built-in application. This way, you can divide the hard drive into separate partitions and use either OS on the same machine.
