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xvolcomx88

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 15, 2008
22
0
The bookstore at my school has applecare on sale for only $133 for the new MB. I haven't purchased the MB yet but one thing holding me back is whether or not it will last me 3+ years. This would be my first Mac so i really have no idea how applecare works or what it covers. The technical support is not a big deal to me but the extra warranty would be nice. What is your guys' opinion on applecare? Also, does it cover the battery? Thanks.
 
It is totally worth it. I bought apple care with my blackbook back in feb 2007. It's good until feb 2010, and I've had to use it twice. Once was for a failed hard drive, which was replaced for free, another for a crack in the case (again, free).
 
It covers pretty much everything that it should be free from defects as long as it looks like you haven't been mistreating your computer. Applecare is definitely worth it IMO, especially for notebooks because they *tend* to break down more than desktops do. And you have a REV A MacBook so god knows what problems may show up in the future.

However, you still have 1 year to decide whether or not you want to get it really. If you don't purchase Applecare within that 1 year grace period then you can't buy it later on.

Applecare doesn't cover batteries unless all signs point to it being defective because its a consumable. Batteries lose their juice, so to speak, overtime, and that is natural and Apple wont cover it.
 
Did you buy it on a credit card? If so, check with your CC company... many of them automatically double the warranty of anything you buy on them.

FWIW, I've had my first-gen MacBook for two years and haven't had a single major issue with it so far. But a sample size of one isn't worth much, YMMV.
 
All about AppleCare

I highly recommend AppleCare. Apple replacement parts cost so much, that it is better to be safe than sorry. On the other hand, you can check out eBay for some good deals on APP.
 
Applecare

I would buy Applecare, but not from Apple. You can get it much cheaper online.
Try
MegaMacs.com
lacomputercompany.com

I got my MacBook Applecare for $180 rather than the $250 that Apple wanted.
 
You should definitely get it if you plan on keeping it for more than 1 year.
But I recommend that you get it from Amazon.com or other Reseller because it's usually cheaper and no tax.
 
It is totally worth it. I bought apple care with my blackbook back in feb 2007. It's good until feb 2010, and I've had to use it twice. Once was for a failed hard drive, which was replaced for free, another for a crack in the case (again, free).

Two major problems in a year and a half seems like a lot of downtime on a new machine. I`d go for applecare if it were priced reasonably, but I find it a bit nuts for them to be asking $299 Canadian for 3 years of coverage on a Macbook.
 
1. Most things go wrong in the first year.
2. I rarely keep any computer for more than 1 year.
3. It's way too expensive.

Not for me.
 
Funny how most people think AppleCare is something to have, I thought apple stod for quality. In my country there's a 3year mandatory warranty for all electronic products. -> This is only if the problem not was caused by you.

And about cracks in the old white macbook -> I would never buy a product that 90% have problem with. Go buy a dell for 40% lower price instead.
Hopefully Apple is back on track with the new macbooks.

So I would never spend 100-300 dollars more for some warranty that I'm already entitled to.
 
a few points

Funny how most people think AppleCare is something to have, I thought apple stod for quality. In my country there's a 3year mandatory warranty for all electronic products. -> This is only if the problem not was caused by you.

And about cracks in the old white macbook -> I would never buy a product that 90% have problem with. Go buy a dell for 40% lower price instead.
Hopefully Apple is back on track with the new macbooks.

So I would never spend 100-300 dollars more for some warranty that I'm already entitled to.

I agree with you 100% about how this should be the case. But 1) you also get a full three years of phone support with applecare; 2) its transferrable, and 3) it raises the resale value of your laptop, and gives you 4) peace of mind.

I've got applecare on my white iMac in my office that I bought in March of this year. Now I spend every day HOPING that it breaks and fries, instead of desperately hoping that it doesn't.
 
Yes, always buy Apple Care because in 3 years you're very likely to need it. Apple's badge doesn't protect you from the pitfalls of mass manufacturing and "made-in-China". I have working Macs 6 years old still in daily use with never a fault. I have newer Intel Macs (Mac Pro, MBP) both of which developped hardware faults within just 1 year which doesn't bode well for year 3. Electronics today are throw away, a lot faster than your wallet can afford usually.

If you buy online, Apple Care will cover all the purchases in a single order so best to do it at once rather than buy it separately.
 
At least here in the UK, goods legally have to be free from manufacturing defects, or else the supplier is liable. I suspect it is similar in most other countries. A defect should be corrected even if you don't have Applecare.

Also, compared to other sellers, Apple is usually fairly generous when it comes to repairs.

My Macbook case cracked long after the standard warranty had expired, but Apple still repaired it for free, even though I don't have Applecare.

Of course, Applecare will also cover you for problems that do not result from manufacturing defects. Personally, I don't think Applecare is worth the money, but it depends on your attitude to risk.
 
I remember buying a £4,000 Quad G5 with the intention of buying Apple Care when the bank balance recovered. I forgot and 13 months later both the logic board and processors failed. Apple Care basically told me to stick it and the cost of repair being so high meant I had to buy a new Mac Pro which failed after a month so I'm on my 2nd machine already - this one has USB connectivity problems but I can't be bothered to take it back again.

You're right about UK law but try getting a company to respect it without having first to pay for expensive legal action. In the end it's you and the person on the telephone or behind the counter.
 
I essentially refuse to purchase extended warranties.
Now granted because I buy using HE discount I get 3 years (no phone support, boohoo) for free, but even if I didn't I would not purchase it.

I prefer to take the line that I get at least 1 year anyway, and beyond that for faults which are clearly not acceptable (cracking macbooks etc) -if the hard drive goes after that then so be it, but I'm not chucking yet more cash at Apple just so they can guarantee they get their cut. After a year I'll probably want the latest one anyway, so I'll just save the cash for that.
 
I agree, if you intend to keep it just 1 year, I wouldn't buy either. Actually I don't buy extended warranties on any product except Apple computers because they're not throw away and I can't be bothered to play the humble please-sir act to Genius's at the store when I need something fixed.
 
I agree, if you intend to keep it just 1 year, I wouldn't buy either. Actually I don't buy extended warranties on any product except Apple computers because they're not throw away and I can't be bothered to play the humble please-sir act to Genius's at the store when I need something fixed.

Oh I don't mean to say I intend to bin it after a year, but in my experience problems generally arise in the first year or not at all. All I mean is if it went after a year I would try to get it fixed outside or warranty, but if I couldn't would probably have wanted an upgrade as it is.
By the way that is not saying I accept that things should implode after a year, if they do I won't buy that brand again.

Everyone will now chime in and say they had everything explode at 13 months, but I'm going on what I have known.
 
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