so, the Firefox thing. Other than sticking it to the Microsoft man, why should I use it? I'm currently on IE7 on XP.

Because it's smoother and quicker and has loads of add-ons and themes and customization if you want.

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On occasion, however, you run into sites that were specifically made for IE that MS has not allowed Firefox access to.

Those pages are few and far between, and I'm finding them less all of the time.

Dumbass question: anyone have experience with apple's refurbed merch?

I'm looking at a macbook pro with the mostly same specs as a midline macbook for not that much more, but bigger screen. Which I might like (am going to hit the actual box store tomorrow for hands-on feel.) Pro would run slower because it doesn't have all the stuff the latest and greatest pro does? (Though, anything would be faster than what I have.

This (possibly dying) 8 year old ibook, I bought used from an in-house mac IT person ages ago, so I trusted him (and knew where he lived!) So I don't have a problem with scratch'n'dent issues. Refub-by-manufacture, I know nothing about.

I've done an iPod and ... something else. The iPod is finally dying after years of massive use and occasional abuse but it's lasted long enough to have been worth it if I'd paid new. And things I've seen have at least a year warranty. So I've had positive experiences. And saved money.

I have purchased multiple refurbed Macs over the years and have had excellent luck with them.

That's reassuring to hear.

I guess after an inhouse visit to make sure I don't hate the size, I'll probably come home to melt the credit card.

My recent bouts with second hand power books have been good. Not refurb, tho.

Refurbs, otoh, have the benefit of being thoroughly gone over.

My iPhone is currently restoring music and video files. I should be up and running on 2.0 as soon as this completes, then I can load some apps on it as well.

Yeah, this used one lasted at least 7 years in my hapless possession until it started melting down. And frankly, it is OLD. Can't really upgrade any further, the screen is dead 90% of the time (and I swear to god, tonight's madness began with a spark. Though it may have been a reflection) and now it has freaked out, either over the modem disconnecting or just random freeze and unwillingness to restart a couple times.

Thank god I backed up my mail and pictures last week (everything else, I can live without.)

I've purchased at least half a dozen, if not closer to a dozen refurbed Mac systems over the years. Desktops, iMacs, iBooks, and Powerbooks. They've always arrived in as new condition with the current OS installed and in as new packaging. They've run for years for me. One of my rental machines is a 17" reconditions Intel iMac and it's worked flawlessly for a year now.

I bought a refurbed MacBook Pro on Drew's rec, and am blissfully happy with it.