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applecare debate
- Thread starter newtothis
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I too am new to mac and will buy applecare for my 1.6/80 MBA. Friends that have it rave about Apple support. I haven't read too many negative posts in the few weeks that I've needed information. I'll be interested in others with more experience who choose to respond.
Best wishes.
Worth Every PENNY!
I've owned 4 mac computers (old power book, Imac, MBA and MBP) and I've got the apple care on every one... The reason is that Apple's support is the best! if you have an apple store near by it makes it that much better. I believe that Apple goes by the "customer is always right" philosophy because any time I've had any small issue with my mac, they've taken care of it. My Girlfriend had a Macbook that was literally possessed.... for a year it was in and out of Apple care getting new mother boards, new hard drive and so on.... after about the 4th time they basically said... look, if its ok with you, we'd like to just give you a new computer (remember this was one year later... updated models) and so basically my G/F went from a REV A macbook the the latest one for FREE...
Also Apple care for ipod is great too, any time there is a problem they just hand you over a free one, to replace the broken one.
These are my experiences and I feel you made the right decision... tell you husband this isn't those crappy Best Buy Warranty extensions! this is the real deal!
I've owned 4 mac computers (old power book, Imac, MBA and MBP) and I've got the apple care on every one... The reason is that Apple's support is the best! if you have an apple store near by it makes it that much better. I believe that Apple goes by the "customer is always right" philosophy because any time I've had any small issue with my mac, they've taken care of it. My Girlfriend had a Macbook that was literally possessed.... for a year it was in and out of Apple care getting new mother boards, new hard drive and so on.... after about the 4th time they basically said... look, if its ok with you, we'd like to just give you a new computer (remember this was one year later... updated models) and so basically my G/F went from a REV A macbook the the latest one for FREE...
Also Apple care for ipod is great too, any time there is a problem they just hand you over a free one, to replace the broken one.
These are my experiences and I feel you made the right decision... tell you husband this isn't those crappy Best Buy Warranty extensions! this is the real deal!
"Scam" is an interesting description. 
But like it or not, it's the price. A smart choice, especially for a new item like the MBA. It's an extra cost but if you purchase at Amazon and get no tax, that savings helps cover part of the expense. And 3 years of insurance/help is not so bad. An interesting poll would be how many bought the coverage (recently or 3 years ago for another Mac) and is/was it worth it? The experiences of many could provide some insight whether your husband is correct.
But like it or not, it's the price. A smart choice, especially for a new item like the MBA. It's an extra cost but if you purchase at Amazon and get no tax, that savings helps cover part of the expense. And 3 years of insurance/help is not so bad. An interesting poll would be how many bought the coverage (recently or 3 years ago for another Mac) and is/was it worth it? The experiences of many could provide some insight whether your husband is correct. This MBA is my first mac as well. With all my previous laptops I purchased a service plan. With one computer I was told the cost of the battery was the same as the service plan and the battery would go in a year. I made good use of those service plans. With my MBA, AppleCare was a no brainer. And it's in the shop right now.
Insurance makes sense to me.
Insurance makes sense to me.
Buy it at the end of the year, gives you plenty of time to think about it and realise how you would feel if you didn't buy it!
Guess its best to buy applecare....
It's a pretty new product and God knows what might happen to it after a year...
It's a pretty new product and God knows what might happen to it after a year...
I would agree with everyone else here - it's worth it. I've had 2 Macbook Pro's, the Macbook Air, and a Mac Mini. The Mini (bought secondhand) was the only one not under Applecare. I've had some pretty major repairs on each of the others, always hassle-free. Recently the Mini died, and I really wish it had been under Applecare. The cost of replacing the logic board alone was more than the cost of a new (top spec) Mini!
On a recent repair to my MBP I had 2 issues - one involving a very subjective issue with the screen, the other where the drive would occasionally 'phantom' eject. Not only did they replace both components, they also replaced the bottom casing on their own. The repairs amounted to nearly half the original cost of the machine.
Also watch eBay as you can usually pick up Applecare for a fraction of Apple's cost. Just be careful to use a reputable seller and pay with Paypal or a credit card that protects you. I got Applecare for the Air recently for £75, and picked it up for the (next) Mac Mini for £30!
Also agree with the poster above about waiting until the end of first year to buy it... you then have time to see how your machine holds up first, and there's always the possibility that you'll get rid of it or upgrade during the year (depends on your desire for the latest and greatest!)
On a recent repair to my MBP I had 2 issues - one involving a very subjective issue with the screen, the other where the drive would occasionally 'phantom' eject. Not only did they replace both components, they also replaced the bottom casing on their own. The repairs amounted to nearly half the original cost of the machine.
Also watch eBay as you can usually pick up Applecare for a fraction of Apple's cost. Just be careful to use a reputable seller and pay with Paypal or a credit card that protects you. I got Applecare for the Air recently for £75, and picked it up for the (next) Mac Mini for £30!
Also agree with the poster above about waiting until the end of first year to buy it... you then have time to see how your machine holds up first, and there's always the possibility that you'll get rid of it or upgrade during the year (depends on your desire for the latest and greatest!)
I definately agree with this, i never buy it up front as you have 12 months (okay 11 months 20 odd days..
) before you need to worry about it anyway, i make a judgment 7 or 8 months in as to whether its worth it.Mind you, im a bit of an upgrade whore and don't generally keep mine for longer than 12 months before selling and moving on anyway...
Forgot to add, I think it also adds significantly to the resale value if you choose to sell the machine after the 1st year as it gives the buyer peace of mind. If you sell before the end of first year, your buyer has the option of whether to buy Applecare or not.
It does, incidentally, fully transfer to whomever owns the machine. You just notify Apple and they switch it over.
It does, incidentally, fully transfer to whomever owns the machine. You just notify Apple and they switch it over.
It's not a scam, although I'm sure Apple does make money on it--they need to or they couldn't offer it. It's more than a warranty, btw (I'm assuming you're talking about Apple's extenteded warranty) since it includes general OS X tech support. I don't think it's an overly expensive support program, considering its a pretty good program. You can usually talk to someone who it knowledgeable (once or twice I've gotten a trainee or something... If that happens you'll know--just get off the phone asap and call back to get someone else). In my experience, they work to resolve issues rather than to just get you off their back (as some other support programs do--are your ears burning, Dell?).
LOL, I just realized: I've used AppleCare for this and that over the years with two laptops, a Mini, and an iPod, but I've never actually used it during the extended period--Everything that's ever gone wrong has happened in the first months, or with my iBook, was covered under the logic board failure program (dang thing died five times before I asked them to send me a new one). I guess for me it has not paid off! I still have time to "get lucky" with my MBP, though!
To AppleCare or not to AppleCare
We have purchased all previous MACs WITH AppleCare right away.
-MacMini (never used the AppleCare)
-GS Quad (used once, to replace two fans)
-MacBookPro (never used the AppleCare, sold but did NOT recoup the AppleCare cost)
-24" Imac Extreme (bought AppleCare, we will see if it was needed, the plan is to keep this machine for awhile...)
-MacBookAir (the first MAC that we did not buy AppleCare right away)
.
We have purchased all previous MACs WITH AppleCare right away.
-MacMini (never used the AppleCare)
-GS Quad (used once, to replace two fans)
-MacBookPro (never used the AppleCare, sold but did NOT recoup the AppleCare cost)
-24" Imac Extreme (bought AppleCare, we will see if it was needed, the plan is to keep this machine for awhile...)
-MacBookAir (the first MAC that we did not buy AppleCare right away)
.
Another way to look at it (as relates to the Air)... Applecare for the Macbook (which includes the Air) is one of the cheapest Applecare policies they sell, yet the Air (with 1.8/SSD) is the most expensive laptop they sell. I suspect it's only a matter of time before they correct this disparity somehow - most likely by charging more or offering a separate policy for the Air. If the SSD fails it's a relatively expensive component to replace!
Yes, you have until the end of the standard warranty (1 year) to buy Applecare. The only thing you'll sacrifice by waiting is phone support, which is only available for the first 90 days unless you have purchased Applecare. In most cases for any serious issues you'd take it into an Apple store anyway. I've always found the phone support more trouble than it's worth.
3 years ago, I bought a powerbook. It died, and I bought the latest MBP. I called my home insurance company to inquire about my PB being dead, I got a claim, and now have a check for $2600. Ya it increased my premiums, by ~$8 a month. But do the math, thats 27 years before I break even. That is my "applecare". I did not even have to take it to a shop to "verify" it was dead.
I also get to keep the old PB, and I will be selling its remains on ebay.
I am NOT saying applecare is bad, I AM saying, check your home insurance, if you feel buying applecare is a "scam", see if they offer something like mine does. BTW, my insurance is through USAA.
I also get to keep the old PB, and I will be selling its remains on ebay.
I am NOT saying applecare is bad, I AM saying, check your home insurance, if you feel buying applecare is a "scam", see if they offer something like mine does. BTW, my insurance is through USAA.
If you plan to own your computer more than a year and do not tinker with the insides, buying AppleCare really seems like a no brainer to me. Personally, since I tinker with almost all of my machines I don't get AppleCare, but it is a wise investment. Since there are no 1.8in HDDs (yet) that are larger, I may actually buy it myself this time.
Please explain a bit more. What "claim" can you have with a homeowner's insurance that they paid you back for a dead laptop?
This could really help in the future!
Got to have Applecare, especially on a Macbook Air.
This is a brand new product, with a highly customised interior that includes a customised processor. Nobody knows yet what might go wrong during years 2 and 3.
This is a brand new product, with a highly customised interior that includes a customised processor. Nobody knows yet what might go wrong during years 2 and 3.
Regarding the possibility of claiming on home insurance, I contact my insurer this morning (as my Mini died recently) and they wouldn't cover it. Apparently *most* home insurance won't cover 'breakdown' of electrical equipment. If you have accidental damage cover you might get away with saying you dropped it or spilled liquid in/on it, but that's about the only way I can see it working.
Personal belongings cover (for items that you take outside the home with you) is a different matter entirely, but that is designed to cover loss/theft rather than breakdown.
Personal belongings cover (for items that you take outside the home with you) is a different matter entirely, but that is designed to cover loss/theft rather than breakdown.
Yes sadly it is 250, just be glad you don't have a pro or it would be 350. To add insult to injury the service has fallen to a pretty bad state. I'd suggest selling it after a year and buying another one if you aren't sick of it yet.