Refurbs don't include the software CDs that typically comes with new. The OS is installed though. The single unit iMacs are very good machines. Hell, the earlier ones are too.

Refurbs are okay, yes. Prefer a G4 or G5 for speed, and you want Mac OS X installed, preferably the version called 10.4.11.

You may have to buy, borrow, or steal the applications you want on top of the OS, such as Microsoft Office or iLife, depending on what the person will want to be doing.

A local Mac consultant is probably a good bet on helping decide what software h/she will want.


A