how many people bought applecare but never once had to use it in the three years?

apple care

I've have two iBooks--the original 300 MHz clam shell iBook (which runs OS X like a champ with 198 MB RAM and no 2nd party haxies, etc.) and a somewhat newer 500 MHz white iBook (which has taken a speed hit, probably because of all the crap I've put on it). I've never once had a problem with the older iBook (in fact I'm writing on it right now; see below), though I have had a few problems with the newer iBook (which was covered under the standard 1 year warranty). Right now I'm having a problem with the newer iBook, because my precious pet cat chewed through my power cord--I can't recharge unless I'm at work borrowing someone else's power cord, so until Apple sends me a new one, that machine sits idle, shut down to preserve what charge remains. But, who would guess a cat would find those things tasty?

Anyhow, I've not missed having apple care--warranty covered the few original problems I had with the newer ibook.

Its really a tossup. I can usually sell someone applecare before they walk out of the door with their new computer with saying one thing. I tell them the macs are great but they are machines and there is no guarentee that they will not break. then i tell them there probably isnt a single part in that computer that is less than applecare. once i say that they usually get applecare.

iJon

Re: apple care

>(Maclicious) But, who would guess a cat would find those things tasty?

My brother used to have a 64MB cartridge (rare, discontinued quickly) for his N64 system, but his dog chewed it up before I ever saw it.

Luckily I wasn't there when his dog was eating the memory lol

As for AppleCare, if you're rich, get AppleCare. Otherwise, you risk unfortunate and costly accidents to your computer. I've read a few very said stories on the forums, from the almost-forgotten Ensign Paris and his encounter during a thunderstorm, blakespot's unfortunate encounter with his portable and the ground, etc.

If you are really heartbroken by such stories, and you would rather have portables, you may want to have AppleCare handy.

If you are really careful with your Macs 90+ percent of the time, you probably won't need AppleCare.

When I got the original iMac 233 over three years ago, it worked. Today, it's sitting in the condo in Maine still ready for use.

My clamshell iBook 466 worked two years ago, when I received that for Xmas. Today, it amazes my classmates to see OS X on it.

But, in the end, jef, I agree with everyone who thinks you have to make that decision. It's one of those things you feel is most important for your computer. Nobody else can decide that but you, but you might read a few personal experiences along the way of deciding.

I'd put a vote in FOR applecare. My Ti500 has it, and over the past month they've replaced the DVD player, the battery twice, and two parts of the case. Total cost, $600. Net cost for me, $0.

I had my Performa for years. Worked great and finally gave it away still working fine. Did not have Applecare.

I now have a Ti400. No Applecare. The adhesive holding the metal around the battery snug to the computer came loose, and my keyboard stopped working, but that was nothing a little epoxy and fresh install couldn't fix.

On the other hand, a friend of mine had a nightmare with his iMac. He had to have his harddrive replaced 3 times and other stuff. Lucky for him, he did have the Applecare.

It's a gamble. If something bad happens, you're glad you got it. If nothing happens, you've just wasted a bunch of money. But I guess, you've still bought peace of mind.

Just for your info, LCD screen replacement cost for a Powerbook G3 was like $1000 without warranty plus labor. And power suppoly box replacement for PowerMac 7500 was $300 incl. labor.

My PowerMac G3/400 has a CompUSA T.A.P. which was part of the deal for taking a floor model but I've never had to use it in the last 3 years.

My dad's iMac is going on 3 years old and we bought T.A.P. on it and it's had a battery, modem, and a hard drive replaced so far which were valued at around $600. This was especially important noting that there were many refurbished iMacs in the department when we got it.

My latest PowerMac, a dual G4/800 was a floor model and I bought AppleCare but don't expect to need it. The store manager discounted the combination further to make certain I bought AppleCare (they were taking a small beating as the price of the machine was half the original price).