Best 15" MacBook Pro Deals
2009.11.17
The original
15" Unibody MacBook Pro was introduced last October. Eight months
later, Apple made some significant changes - not the least being a
built-in 7 hour battery (vs. a removeable 5 hour battery).
The newest
15.4" MacBook Pro (MBP) comes in four speeds (2.53, 2.66, and 2.8
GHz, plus a 3.06 GHz build-to-order option) and includes nVidia GeForce
9400M graphics. It's the first 15" MacBook Pro with an SD Card slot,
and it's also the first to support up to 8 GB of RAM.
Apple offers two solid state drive option - 128 GB and 256 GB. There
is no longer a FireWire 400 port, although FireWire 800 is backward
compatible with FW400.
The 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro includes 2 GB of RAM, a 250 GB hard drive,
and GeForce 9400M graphics, which uses 256 MB of system memory. The
2.66 GHz and faster models have 4 GB of RAM, a larger hard drive, and
also include GeForce 9600M GT graphics, which reduced battery life by
about one hour.
The original Core Duo models ran hotter than the later Core 2 models
and support a maximum of 2 GB of RAM; the more efficient Core 2 design
also provides about 7% more processing power at the same CPU speed.
Pre-Santa Rosa Core 2 models can handle up to 3 GB of memory. Santa
Rosa and later models support up to 6 GB. Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" is
supported on all Intel-based Macs.
Listings note RAM/hard drive size. All models have SuperDrives,
AirPort Extreme, and Bluetooth 2.0. The best deals are marked in bold
type in the full listings below.
Best Used Prices
- 1.83 GHz Core Duo, $750, TechRestore
- HOT 2.16 GHz Core 2, $800,
TechRestore
- 2.2 GHz Core 2, $880, TechRestore
- 2.33 GHz Core 2, $900, TechRestore
- 2.4 GHz Core 2, $1,000, Mac of All Trades, TechRestore
- 2.5 GHz Core 2, $1,299, Apple Palace
- 2.6 GHz Core 2, $1,419 shipped, Power Max
Best Refurbished Prices
- 2.4 GHz Unibody, $1,299, Apple
- 2.53 GHz June 09, $1,449, Apple
- 2.66 GHz June 09, $1,699, Apple
- 2.8 GHz June 09, $1,899, Apple
- 3.06 GHz June 09, $2,169, Apple
Best New Prices, without rebate
- 2.53 GHz June 09, $1,679 shipped, Amazon.com, B&H, J&R, Mac
Connection
- 2.66 GHz Unibody, $1,899 shipped, Power Max, Small Dog
- 2.66 GHz June 09, $1,949 shipped, B&H, J&R, Mac
Connection
- 2.8 GHz June 09, $2,149 shipped, Mac Connection
- 3.06 GHz June 09, $2,399 shipped, Mac Connection
Best New Prices, after rebate
- 2.53 GHz June 09, $1,579 shipped, Mac Connection
- 2.66 GHz Unibody, $1,899 shipped, Power Max, Small Dog
- 2.66 GHz June 09, $1,799 shipped, Mac Connection
- 2.8 GHz June 09, $2,089 shipped, Mac Connection
- 3.06 GHz June 09, $2,399 shipped, no rebate, Mac Connection
Recent Memory Prices (per module unless otherwise noted)
- PC5300
(pre-Unibody): 512 MB, $5; 1 GB, $19.76; 2 GB (Core 2 only),
$39.85
-
OWC sells a PC5300 3 GB kit (Core 2 only) for $83.99, a 4 GB kit
for $109.97; a 4 GB module (Santa Rosa only) for $144.99, and a 6 GB
kit for $197.99
- 1066
DDR3 (Unibody): 1 GB, $17.96; 2 GB, $40; 4 GB, $237
-
OWC sells a 1066 DDR 2 GB module for $49.99, a 4 GB kit for $99.97,
a 4 GB module for $259.99, a 6 GB kit for $307.99, and an 8 GB kit for
$497.99
Best Mac OS 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.
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.
New, Demo, and Open Box
Amazon.com
Free ground shipping. Amazon.com collects sales tax
on orders shipped to KS, KY, ND, and WA.
Free ground shipping. Apple collects sales tax on
orders shipped to almost all states.
- 2.53 GHz June 09, 4 GB/250, $1,699 shipped
- 2.66 GHz June 09, 4 GB/320, $1,999 shipped
- 2.8 GHz June 09, 4 GB/500, $2,299 shipped (add $300 for 3.06
GHz)
Apple offers free shipping.
- 2.53 GHz June 09, 4 GB/250, C$1,999 shipped
- 2.66 GHz June 09, 4 GB/320, C$2,299 shipped
- 2.8 GHz June 09, 4 GB/500, C$2,599 shipped (add C$360 for 3.06
GHz)
B&H offers free ground shipping.
- 2.53 GHz June 09, 4 GB/250, $1,679
shipped
- 2.66 GHz June 09, 4 GB/320, $1,949
shipped
- 2.8 GHz June 09, 4 GB/500, $2,149 shipped
- 3.06 GHz June 09, 4 GB/500, $2,614 shipped
Ground shipping can add $14.99 or more. Club Mac
collects sales tax on orders shipped within California.
- 2.53 GHz June 09, 4 GB/250, $1,678.99 less $100 mail-in rebate =
$1,578.99
- 2.66 GHz June 09, 4 GB/320, $1,948.99 less $150 mail-in rebate =
$1,798.99
- 2.8 GHz June 09, 4 GB/500, $2,238.99 less $150 mail-in rebate =
$2,088.99
Free ground shipping.
- 2.53 GHz June 09, 4 GB/250, $1,678.88
shipped
- 2.66 GHz June 09, 4 GB/320, $1,949
shipped
- 2.8 GHz June 09, 4 GB/500, $2,259 shipped
Ground shipping may add $29 or more. LA Computer
collects sales tax on orders shipped within CA.
- 2.53 GHz June 09, 4 GB/250, $1,699
- 2.66 GHz June 09, 4 GB/320, $1,999
- 2.8 GHz June 09, 4 GB/500, $2,299
Free ground shipping. Mac Connection collects sales
tax on orders shipped to AL, CT, IL, MA, NC, NJ, NY, OH, TN, and
TX.
- 2.53 GHz June 09, 4 GB/250, $1,679 less
$100 mail-in rebate = $1,579 shipped
- 2.66 GHz June 09, 4 GB/320, $1,949 less
$150 mail-in rebate = $1,799 shipped
- 2.8 GHz June 09, 4 GB/500, $2,239 less
$150 mail-in rebate = $2,089 shipped ($2,149 w/o rebate)
- 3.06 GHz June 09, 4 GB/500, $2,399
shipped
UPS ground shipping may add $10 or more. MacMall
collects sales tax on orders shipped to CA, IL, MN, TN, and WI.
- 2.53 GHz June 09, 4 GB/250, $1,694 less $100 mail-in rebate =
$1,594
- 2.66 GHz June 09, 4 GB/320, $1,949 less $100 mail-in rebate =
$1,849
- 2.8 GHz June 09, 4 GB/500, $2,249 less $150 mail-in rebate =
$2,099
Free ground shipping.
- 2.53 GHz June 09, 4 GB/250, $1,699 shipped
- 2.66 GHz Unibody, 4 GB/320, $1,899
shipped
- 2.66 GHz June 09, 4 GB/320, $1,999 shipped
- 2.8 GHz June 09, 4 GB/500, $2,299 shipped
- 3.06 GHz June 09, 4 GB/500, $2,599 shipped
Free ground shipping.
- 2.53 GHz June 09, 4 GB/250, $1,699.99 shipped
- 2.66 GHz Unibody, 4 GB/320, $1,899.99
shipped (demo, $1,819.99)
- 2.66 GHz June 09, 4 GB/320, $1,999.99 shipped
- 2.8 GHz June 09, 4 GB/500, $2,299.99 shipped
-
3.06 GHz June 09, 4 GB/500, $2,549.99 shipped
-
many custom configurations available
Apple Refurbished
Apple refurbished unit have Apple's full one-year
warranty and are eligible for AppleCare.
Apple collects sales tax on orders shipped to almost
all states. Free ground shipping.
- 2.4 GHz Unibody, 2/250, $1,299
- 2.53 GHz June 09, 4/320, $1,449
- 2.66 GHz June 09, 4 GB/320, $1,699
- 2.8 GHz June 09, 4 GB/320, $1,899
- 2.8 GHz Unibody, 4 GB/128 SSD, $1,949
- 2.93 GHz Unibody, 4 GB/320, $1,949
- 3.06 GHz June 09, 4 GB/320, $2,169
- 2.4 GHz Unibody, 2/250, C$1,499
- 2.53 GHz June 09, 4/250, C$1,699
- 2.66 GHz June 09, 4 GB/320, C$1,949
- 2.8 GHz June 09, 4 GB/320, C$2,159
- 2.8 GHz Unibody, 4 GB/128 SSD, C$2,249
- 2.93 GHz Unibody, 4 GB/320, C$2,249
Used and Store Refurbished
Used and store refurbished Macs have a store
warranty and are not eligible for AppleCare.
Ground shipping may add $30 or more.
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, 1 GB/80, $899 shipped
- used 2.2 GHz Core 2, 2 GB/120, $1,095 shipped
- used 2.33 GHz Core 2, 2 GB/160, $1,175 shipped
- used 2.4 GHz Core 2, 2 GB/160, $1,195 shipped
- used 2.5 GHz Core 2, 2 GB/250, $1,299
shipped
Ground shipping may add $18 or more. LA Computer
collects sales tax on orders shipped within California. 30 day
warranty.
- used 2.16 GHz Core Duo, 1.5 GB/100, $899
Ground shipping may add $35 or more.
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, 512/80, $825
- used 2.16 GHz Core Duo, 1 GB/100, $949
Ground shipping averages $30. Mac of All Trades has
the highest product turnover of any used Mac dealer we track.
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, 2 GB/80, $799.99
- used 2.2 GHz Core 2, 2 GB/120, AppleCare to 1/10/10, $899.99
- used 2.4 GHz Core 2, 2 GB/160,
$999.99
- used 2.53 GHz Unibody, 4 GB/320, Apple warranty to 12/5/09,
$1,399
Free ground shipping.
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, 512/80, $959 shipped
- used 2.16 GHz Core Duo, 1 GB/320, $1,039 shipped
- used 2.16 GHz Core 2, 1 GB/120, $1,249 shipped
- used 2.2 GHz Core 2, 2 GB/120, $1,309 shipped
- used 2.33 GHz Core 2, 2 GB/320, $1,359 shipped
- used 2.4 GHz Core 2, 2 GB/160, $1,379 shipped
- used 2.6 GHz Core 2, 2 GB/200, $1,419
shipped
- lots of other configurations listed
- used 1.83 GHz Core Duo, 1 GB/80,
$749.99
- used 2.16 GHz Core Duo, 1 GB/120,
$799.99
- used 2.2 GHz Core 2, 1 GB/120,
$879.99
- used 2.33 GHz Core 2, 1 GB/160,
$899.99
- used 2.4 GHz Core 2, 1 GB/160,
$999.99
Ground shipping may add $23 or more.
- used 1.83 GHz Core Duo, 512/80, $899.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, 512/80, $979.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, 512/100, 256 VRAM, $1,099.99
- used 2.16 GHz Core Duo, 1 GB/100, $1,179.99
- Apple Remote (not included with computer), $9.99
Want Intel Core power in a portable for less? Check out our MacBook Deals for pricing on the 13"
MacBook. Need a larger screen? Look at our 17" MacBook Pro Deals.
Ground shipping may add $29 or more.
Ground shipping may add $27 or more. PowerBook Guy
returns systems to factory specifications as much as possible. This
includes reinstalling the Mac OS as it originally shipped, replacing
any failed parts, cleaning the system, and performing various tests to
ensure that it functions correctly
Ground shipping may add $21 or more.