Applecare? or What Protection Plan for the RMBP?

[caleba94]

I'm going to be buying a Retina Macbook Pro before I start at college this fall. I'll be paying for it myself and I'll need it to last at least all 4 years of college. What protection plan should I get? Applecare or some alternative?
Thanks!!

 

[ryane67]

Applecare doesn't cover accidents, many other 3rd party warranties do. Consider that in your decision.

If Best Buy carried some 16gb configs of the rMBP, I'd buy there and get the protection plan over apple care.. that way when my kids (or your roommate) spill something on it, it's covered.

 

[GGJstudios]

I'm going to be buying a Retina Macbook Pro before I start at college this fall. I'll be paying for it myself and I'll need it to last at least all 4 years of college. What protection plan should I get? Applecare or some alternative?

With AppleCare, you don't have to decide right away. You can buy it anytime during the first year.

AppleCare
AppleCare Protection Plan for Mac or Apple Display

• You can buy AppleCare any time during the first year warranty period, so you don't have to buy it at time of purchase.
• You can check your remaining warranty and/or AppleCare coverage here
• AppleCare will extend the 1 year warranty for an additional 2 years, for a total of 3 years coverage from the date of your Mac purchase.
  It also extends telephone support from 90 days, which is included with your original warranty, to a total of 3 years.
• You cannot buy AppleCare again or renew it once it expires.
• Neither the Apple Warranty nor AppleCare will cover damage from accidents, spills, etc. They only cover manufacturing defects.
• AppleCare+ provides some coverage for accidental damage, but is only available for the iPad and iPhone, not for Apple computers.
• Neither the Apple Warranty nor AppleCare will cover batteries that have worn out. They only cover defective batteries.
• For more detailed questions, read the AppleCare Protection Plan (pdf) agreement.

As to whether AppleCare is worth it or not, that's a matter of opinion. You'll find lots of opinions on both sides, with roughly 75% saying it's worth it. You really need to decide if it's worth it to you. If you want more information, you can search the forum, where you'll find dozens, if not hundreds of threads asking "is AppleCare worth it?" The overall consensus seems to be about 75% in favor of it.

 

[caleba94]

My only concern about getting the best buy one would be what if Best Buy goes out of business within the next few years? Do I just lose my warranty or do they have to honor it somehow?