You can get refurbs directly from Apple. I’d check them out first.
Did — the cheapest they have is one for 900 - so far out of our price range it’s not funny.
But that might be an option when it is time to do a planned upgrade
Typing from an Apple refurb now. It was like new out of the box. Checking with Apple is a great idea. From their website you can check their refurb items.
You may want to not consider any notebook with Nvidia’s 8600 graphics card which has been problematic across the board for Dell, Apple etc.
For your daughters needs, any Macbook would be fine. Of course the new one to which is about $1300. Shoot, they may have refurbs of the new unibody model any time now.
Best of all with the Apple OS, you can use software to run windoze if need.
But the Apple OS is not only solid, it’s great across the board.
So check out Apple and you will have a great machine with a guarantee and no worries.
If firewire is an issue, Apple is still selling the older Macbook.
I’ll second that - their prices are quite a bit lower and based on my experience the quality is excellent.