refurbished

Refurbished iPads hit the Apple Store

I'm a longtime fan of refurbished gear--especially Apple's refurbished gear, which looks and operates like new and comes with the same warranty as the new stuff.

I speak from experience, having purchased several refurbished iPhones and iPod Touches. But I've yet to land an iPad this way--mostly because Apple didn't offer them. Until now.

For the first time, refurbished iPads are available from the Apple Store (online only).

Like their smaller counterparts, they come with a new battery, a new outer shell, and a full one-year warranty. You also get all the same accessories (USB cable … Read more

Get a refurbished iPhone 4 for $149.99

When I buy stuff from Apple, I always, always go the refurb route. Know why? Because the company's refurbished gear is literally good as new, right down to the warranty. The only real difference: you don't get the same sexy box.

Update: Some have suggested that the warranty is only 90 days. That's not what I was told, but I'm double-checking and will post another update if I find out that's the case. Either way, you should definitely investigate yourself before ordering, as a $50 savings is not enough to offset a 9-month warranty loss. … Read more

Are refurbished Kindles a bargain?

With the third-generation Kindle now shipping, Amazon has begun offering refurbished second-gen Kindles at a discount. That includes both the Kindle and Kindle DX, which sell for $159.99 and $289.99 respectively in their refurbished states.

It's unclear exactly what condition these Kindles are in, but we presume they're basically indistinguishable from new product, and may, in fact, be extra stock that was left over when Amazon announced the new Kindle at the end of July. They may also be Kindles that customers returned shortly after learning that a new Kindle was on the way.

Either way, … Read more

Ask Maggie: On iPhone or Android; the Verizon iPhone; and buying refurbs

A lot has happened since Apple introduced the iconic iPhone in 2007.

Smartphones have become all the rage. No longer are these mobile computers relegated to the corporate road warrior looking to keep up with work e-mail. Now it seems that everyone from high school kids to soccer moms has a smartphone. And if they don't already have one, they're likely lusting for one.

These customers are expecting a lot more out of their phones. They want a full Web-browsing experience, Internet search, location-based services, navigation, access to social networking, high-definition video cameras, and much, much more.

And … Read more

You can still break even on iPhone 3GS upgrade

So it has come to this: My iPhone 3G is a year old and out of warranty. Its battery ain't what it used to be. And, heavens, does it seem slow sometimes.

Needless to say, I've been eyeballing a 3GS for some time, but I still don't qualify for a price break on an upgrade--not until April, 2010, according to AT&T.

So if I want to replace my 16GB 3G with a 32GB 3GS, it'll cost me $499. It'll be a warm January day in Michigan before I spend that kind of money … Read more

Get a refurbished Kindle for $149

As you've probably heard by now, Amazon just cut the price of the Kindle 2 to $259. Definitely a step in the right direction, but still too rich for my blood.

Now, $219 shipped for a refurbished Kindle 2? That's a deal worth considering.

This is the first time I've seen a refurb offer on the famed e-book reader, though, as it turns out, you can also get a 1st-generation Kindle for just $149 (!).

Both models come from Warehouse Deals by Amazon, meaning they're eligible for Amazon customer service and covered by a 30-day return policy. … Read more

Redecorate your home on your Mac

Live Interior 3D Pro is a full-featured interior-design application designed to help you plan and visualize redecorating and remodeling projects, in both 2D and 3D. The most impressive improvement in version 2 (which also splits the application into Standard and Pro versions) is the ability to edit 3D objects directly in Live Interior 3D using Google SketchUp. You can even export entire projects to Google SketchUp format, with import and export support for Google SketchUp 7.

The 3D models that you can create--both as QuickTime movies and QTVR virtual-reality "walkthroughs"--have gotten better, too, with improved lighting and … Read more

Apple drops 8GB iPhone 3G to $99

Well, here's hoping you waited on that $99 refurbished iPhone 3G, because as of Monday you can get a new one for the same price. Apple just announced at WWDC 2009 that the 8GB iPhone 3G will stay on the market for $99.

So what do you think? Now that you can finally get a shiny new iPhone with a full warranty (one year) for less than a hundred bucks, will you pull the trigger?

Based on the comments in last week's aforementioned refurb post, I'm guessing no. For most of you, it's not the price … Read more

A $99 iPhone? It's already here

At next week's Worldwide Developers Conference, we should find out if the rumors of a $99 iPhone are true.

Of course, savvy shoppers know that it's already possible to buy an iPhone for $99: For several months, AT&T has offered refurbished 8GB models for that tempting price.

(More recently, the company dropped the price of refurbished 16GB iPhones to $149, but at the moment those are out of stock.)

Obviously it makes sense to wait a few days and see what develops at the conference. After all, if you can buy a new iPhone 3G for $… Read more

The 404 337: Where Dan Levy makes it rain

Our good friend Dan Levy from OntheDLPodcast joins our show today in our studio and witnesses the first-ever live 404 unboxing! Justin's choice to buy a refurbished Macbook Pro turns out to be the right decision after all.

We then talk with Dan about various stories from around the Internet, including one out of Dublin, in which a student's fake Wikipedia edit actually wound up in newspapers as legitimate! This leads us into a a discussion of proposed legislation that would make it basically illegal to slander someone online. Isn't that what the Internet was created for?

All this and more, plus Calls from the Public on today's show! Also, make sure to check out Blogs With Balls if you're interested in the just-as-nerdy sports blogosphere.

Sorry to those looking for today's video stream--a few technically difficulties prevented us from uploading the video. We've got everything figured out and tomorrow we'll be back up on CNET TV!

Leave us a voicemail 866-404-CNET or e-mail us at the404 [at] cnet [dot] com!

EPISODE 337 Download today's podcast | Subscribe in iTunes audio | Subscribe in RSS Audio| Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more