I can tell you that the Thinkpads are better built and far more reliable. Even most Macbook owners I know who've had both will agree. We had 3 newer MBPs and a 1 yr old Lenovo X60 for 6 months in California. It seemed like the Macs were in and out of the shop constantly, experiencing all sorts of weird problems. Like most Apple products, the hardware is of mediocre quality and drastically overpriced, and the service is atrocious.
But you don't buy Apple comps for the hardware. If you like OSX better (and if you're programming, you most likely will) get a Macbook. Even with the troubles we had, our 3 programmers all agreed that they would not have switched back to Windows. We joked that we'd just keep an extra MBP on hand at all times, and honestly it's not such a bad idea.
Either way though I'd never buy a MBP refurb. That's just asking for trouble.
But you don't buy Apple comps for the hardware. If you like OSX better (and if you're programming, you most likely will) get a Macbook. Even with the troubles we had, our 3 programmers all agreed that they would not have switched back to Windows. We joked that we'd just keep an extra MBP on hand at all times, and honestly it's not such a bad idea.
Either way though I'd never buy a MBP refurb. That's just asking for trouble.