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Applecare Protection plan neccassary?

HLdan said:
Should you really have to ask? Visiting this forum for no more than 5 minutes should be more than enough to convince anyone to buy Applecare with all the complaints here.
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I guess the above sadly says it all then. If you buy a Mac because of the way they are built and/or the parts used you're going to experience problems most likely so pay 1/5 more now on top of the high price to avoid paying tons more later, when it sounds like it's sure to break due to craftsmanship. Amazing. What a shame. :(

Thanks for the various feedback. At least it gives me something to think about more & worry about.
 
pwyler said:
I guess the above sadly says it all then. If you buy a Mac because of the way they are built and/or the parts used you're going to experience problems most likely so pay 1/5 more now on top of the high price to avoid paying tons more later, when it sounds like it's sure to break due to craftsmanship. Amazing. What a shame. :(

Thanks for the various feedback. At least it gives me something to think about more & worry about.
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Well, the problem is you're missing the point of what I was saying or maybe I didn't say enough. A Macintosh computer costs more than your common Windows machine because many common Windows machines are in the $500-$800 range, specs don't necessarily match the Macintosh in that price range however the point is Apple just doesn't start in that range for a Mac notebook.
The problem is with many people (including you) is that you look at Mac notebook and think it's gotta be perfect just because it's expensive. What most people fail to realize is that Macs (although built well and have special features not found on Windows notebooks) are not custom hand-built machines sold in speciality stores, they are in fact consumer machines and it's very possible to have problems.
Apple can't control the LCD failing over time or pixels going bad, or logic board failure, this is something that CAN happen on any device, we just have a very vocal community on MR when something goes wrong. It's best not to gamble on electronics.
We can say the same thing about an olympic athlete that stays in shape and eats healthy, doesn't mean they are exempt from having health problems.

The OP made the right choice on deciding to buy Applecare. Not everything on a computer that breaks is customer replaceable outside of the geekworld.
 
pwyler said:
I guess the above sadly says it all then. If you buy a Mac because of the way they are built and/or the parts used you're going to experience problems most likely so pay 1/5 more now on top of the high price to avoid paying tons more later, when it sounds like it's sure to break due to craftsmanship. Amazing. What a shame. :(

Thanks for the various feedback. At least it gives me something to think about more & worry about.
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People who have no issues rarely post to an internet board. People who run into problems, on the other hand, are much more likely to do so . . .

And even so, you will find a large number of positive and enthusiastic threads on macs in this and other forums.

Macs are indeed made from high quality parts and are well built. Open up a mac and look inside and you will see--if you have something to compare against, anyway. I have owned three macs so far and have had no issues with them at all.

Now . . . AppleCare . . . is NOT necessary. As mentioned, almost all problems, statistically speaking, will happen in the first year of ownership, and that is already covered by the warrantee. So, it is unlikely that you will need the extra coverage that AppleCare offers. However, as was also mentioned, the cost per year of AppleCare isn't all that much, and for many, this cost is worth it for the peace of mind it offers.

Psychologically speaking, people are more concerned with stuff that they paid a lot of money for. Usually, it is a prized possession. I know I love, love, love my MBP and MP. I dreamed about owning these computers for months, and even years, before I finally did. My first Apple was a used G4 desktop, for example. So, the more you appreciate and love and get attached to your computer, the more you worry about what you will do if something happens to it.

So . . . the question you need to ask yourself is this: "can (and will) I afford to fix my computer if it breaks?"

If the answer to this is "yes", then AppleCare is (statistically speaking) not a bargain (to say the least)."

If the answer to this is "no", then AppleCare is a good idea.

This is the essence of insurance, right? Statistically, the insurance company makes out, because for the individual, they can't risk the cost of being in the wrong statistical group. So, they pay a premium over the true statistical cost, in order to be INSURED that if something does happen, it will be taken care of.

The reason there are so many threads about AppleCare and why so many here are pro-AC, is just due to this simple psychological factor, and does NOT indicate that Macs are poor quality or prone to defects, or poorly made.
 
MacModMachine said:
you dont drive your car without insurance ....do you ?
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Applecare isn't insurance though.

With my car insurance, if I accidentally hit a patch of black ice, which is extremely common out here, and end up hitting a tree, I get money to fix it, or replace my vehicle.

If I slip on a patch of ice walking to my vehicle and my MacBook goes falling, and my screen breaks. Apple does not pay for the repair, makes me pay a lot of money, and essentially cancels my warranty for the rest of the time I have that machine.

I think Applecare is useful, but I also think it might be just as useful to purchase an actual accidental insurance plan through something like Safeware.
 
-js- said:
Macs are indeed made from high quality parts and are well built. Open up a mac and look inside and you will see--if you have something to compare against, anyway. I have owned three macs so far and have had no issues with them at all.

Now . . . AppleCare . . . is NOT necessary. As mentioned, almost all problems, statistically speaking, will happen in the first year of ownership, and that is already covered by the warrantee. So, it is unlikely that you will need the extra coverage that AppleCare offers. However, as was also mentioned, the cost per year of AppleCare isn't all that much, and for many, this cost is worth it for the peace of mind it offers.
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HL and js, I appreciate the follow up comments. That helps some at least. My first computer ever was a Mac laptop so I'm aware of the software and company. I just found it, again, amazing how much people said get AC without even blinking an eye. That bothered me. It's as if they are saying it's going to break so just deal with it.

I realize no computer is perfect, regardless of the price. I baby stuff like crazy, but again I never had to buy any protection for four different Windows personal computers (five if you include my Mac from years ago), along with ones I've used at work. Never needed a "care" program. Hearing about it so much wasn't reassuring, as I'm sure one can understand.

But it helps to hear more from you two. Much appreciated and good food for thought.
 
HLdan said:
Well, the problem is you're missing the point of what I was saying or maybe I didn't say enough. A Macintosh computer costs more than your common Windows machine because many common Windows machines are in the $500-$800 range, specs don't necessarily match the Macintosh in that price range however the point is Apple just doesn't start in that range for a Mac notebook.
The problem is with many people (including you) is that you look at Mac notebook and think it's gotta be perfect just because it's expensive. What most people fail to realize is that Macs (although built well and have special features not found on Windows notebooks) are not custom hand-built machines sold in speciality stores, they are in fact consumer machines and it's very possible to have problems.
Apple can't control the LCD failing over time or pixels going bad, or logic board failure, this is something that CAN happen on any device, we just have a very vocal community on MR when something goes wrong. It's best not to gamble on electronics.
We can say the same thing about an olympic athlete that stays in shape and eats healthy, doesn't mean they are exempt from having health problems.

The OP made the right choice on deciding to buy Applecare. Not everything on a computer that breaks is customer replaceable outside of the geekworld.
Click to expand...

So agree with this. Like I said in a previous post, it's about pricing. If the computer costs $500-800, why am I going to put down $400 which is basically the price or half the price of the computer I paid for? But we're talking about an Apple which costs thousands. $400 is little compared to what the actual computer costs.
 
iLog.Genius said:
So agree with this. Like I said in a previous post, it's about pricing. If the computer costs $500-800, why am I going to put down $400 which is basically the price or half the price of the computer I paid for? But we're talking about an Apple which costs thousands. $400 is little compared to what the actual computer costs.
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No.

$400 is still a significant fraction of even the cost of a 15 or 17" uMBP! AppleCare may still be a good idea. Not saying it isn't. But $360 is a big chunk of change. Period. It's only "little" compared to, say, the cost of a new car, or a house.
 
iLog.Genius said:
So agree with this. Like I said in a previous post, it's about pricing. If the computer costs $500-800, why am I going to put down $400 which is basically the price or half the price of the computer I paid for? But we're talking about an Apple which costs thousands. $400 is little compared to what the actual computer costs.
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Come on dude, stop exaggerating, Macs aren't costing "THOUSANDS" of dollars. Both 13's, the low end 15", the Mac mini and most of the iMacs are well under $2k. It's unrealistic to equate high price with perfection, especially when we are talking about consumer electronics. Anything electronic has the potential to break regardless of price.
 
I buy with a credit card that doubles the factory warranty. I'm taking a gamble with a major problem cropping up in year 3, but it's highly unlikely that I'll use a computer much longer than 2 yr...maybe 2.5 yr at the most.
 
HLdan said:
Come on dude, stop exaggerating, Macs aren't costing "THOUSANDS" of dollars. Both 13's, the low end 15", the Mac mini and most of the iMacs are well under $2k. It's unrealistic to equate high price with perfection, especially when we are talking about consumer electronics. Anything electronic has the potential to break regardless of price.
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Sorry. I should've just said it based on my view of things. Sure you could get the low-end MacBook (Pro) for a little over a thousand so you might find 400 a little excessive if it's about half the price. At the time, I got my MacBook Pro for 2400 and come change and with RAM and HDD upgrades and other stuff almost $3000. I have no problem putting down another 400 to make sure that all that money I spent on a computer (which quite frankly is a a lot) last me more than a year if anything were to happen after the one-year.
 
applecare - ?? hmmm...
let's see
most credit cards double the warranty - so that gives you 2 years
if you use your homeowners insurance it also protects the computer against theft... and it won;t cost $300 to buy that third year of coverage for a 2 year old computer (the value of which is only half of the purchase price)

it comes down to this: do you believe that apple makes reliable computers or not? If you think they make poorly reliable computers, then yes, applecare is a good option... maybe... but very expensive compared to the coverage you already have with credit card purchase.
 
iLog.Genius said:
Sorry. I should've just said it based on my view of things. Sure you could get the low-end MacBook (Pro) for a little over a thousand so you might find 400 a little excessive if it's about half the price. At the time, I got my MacBook Pro for 2400 and come change and with RAM and HDD upgrades and other stuff almost $3000. I have no problem putting down another 400 to make sure that all that money I spent on a computer (which quite frankly is a a lot) last me more than a year if anything were to happen after the one-year.
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The Applecare isn't $400 for the 13" MBP, nor is that much for the iMacs or the mini or the Mac Pro. Only the 15" and 17" MBP's Applecare cost $349 U.S and $249 U.S for the 13" models. Now, those are Apple's prices, I would suggest to anyone to buy Applecare on Ebay in a sealed box which offers substantial cost savings.
 
HLdan said:
The Applecare isn't $400 for the 13" MBP, nor is that much for the iMacs or the mini or the Mac Pro. Only the 15" and 17" MBP's Applecare cost $349 U.S and $249 U.S for the 13" models. Now, those are Apple's prices, I would suggest to anyone to buy Applecare on Ebay in a sealed box which offers substantial cost savings.
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If you get from eBay, the savings make it an even better deal and makes more sense to get it in terms of what you're getting with AppleCare.
 
applecare is offered because apple's shareholders want avenues of profit, not because they care about your feelings.

i've worked retail and know first hand that the markup on extended warranties is stratospheric. i made my best commissions on selling them, and i was quite skilled at it, ranking within the top 50 salespeople in canada for a major retailer.

so take it from me. for the vast majority of users, applecare is wasted money.
 
So what you guys are saying about credit cards... Is it true? I mean obviously you won't lie but since I will but it on a credit card I hope I get the 2 year warranty. I will use a RBC credit card (Royal Bank of Canada) :)
 
tml.chelseafc said:
So what you guys are saying about credit cards... Is it true? I mean obviously you won't lie but since I will but it on a credit card I hope I get the 2 year warranty. I will use a RBC credit card (Royal Bank of Canada) :)
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Check with them. I know Mastercard, Visa and American Express do it...not sure about RBC.
 
I would not buy off of eBay, there is a whole thread off of there. Just buy from L.A. Computer it's reputable and still a lot cheaper. Your credit card company is not going to be able to replace your power charger in as timely manner.
 
I've built numerous windows boxen and do data center IT work. I've also changed out the stock drive in my non unibody penryn Macbook Pro for an x25-m (and even paid the early adopter tax), reapplied the thermal paste and put PC6400 DDR2 in my machine (but it had to be reflashed cause that speed is too high for the MBP). But yet, I bought AppleCare.

Yeah, I have the capability to fix issues, but i'm on my machine for atleast 8 hours a day, doing school, work, play as well as my paperless home office and part time photo work.

I cant rely on you nerds when the going gets tough. If my sole MBP refuses to boot, i'll run the diagnostic CD that they give to certified service reps and try to figure it out myself, but if its a hardware issue i'll be down at the Apple store and hand it off to them, and usually i'll get my machine back pretty quick .

So its not really about ability, but more or less down time and how much troubleshooting your willing to do as well as what your willing to pay. If i really wanted to I could've saved the 260 I paid for applecare (edu) and saved it towards future repairs and just hit up ifixit whenever something goes wrong, but I'd rather spend my time on money making ventures and let the Genii do their jobs. Besides, i'm already 1 our of 4 repairs down until I demand a replacement. 17" Unibody w/ bluray?¿

I also have a replacement plan on most of my portable gear through statefarm, so i'm pretty much protected all around. Applecare if something breaks down mechanically and I need a replacement, and Statefarm if it gets stolen/dropped/eaten.

That's my take on it, anyway.
 
pwyler said:
But see, that's my whole point/question. I'm worried about how much people suggest you get it. I've never bought a product in my life -- and I've bought a lot of electronic stuff -- where I hear someone saying get this extra protection. Even if you don't agree with what I'm asking so to speak, surely you/everyone must understand the concern someone has when they hear how an extra $350 is needed for protection for a product that costs so much to begin with?

I'm sure it is very handy if something goes wrong. Would I rather spend $350 vs say $1,000? Heck, yes. But would I rather just have a product that works well and not spend it at all? Yes, most definitely. I'm just a concerned shopper asking questions. That's all. Not arguing it's worth so much as the all to commonly suggested need of getting it for a product that at its price I would hope would be top quality and not have any issues, unless I dropped it or poured a drink on it.
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I think you miss the point. Mac users talk about Applecare all the time because it is so inexpensive in relation to what it provides. For the couple of hundred dollars you're getting an extension of the manufacturer's warranty for repair by the manufacturer at the manufacturer's facility. It's not like one of those Mack warranties from Best Buy that are more trouble than they're worth, and where you have no idea who what the qualifications are of the people putting their hands in your machine. And finally, unlike Windows machines that are basically collections of components thrown together with their drivers loaded, Macs are fine-tuned collaberations of hardware and software in carefully packed packages that require precision to repair or upgrade. It's like the difference between a Ford Focus and a BMW -- yes, the BMW costs more so so expect it to last longer, but it performs far better and it requires more expertise to care for.
 
re: credit cards

As was stated you have to check the policies of each card. Banks and credit unions will offer a variety of different cards whether of the visa or master card family, which will have differing benefits such as warranty increases but not all will have this.

IIRC mine will double the manufacturer's warranty to a maximum of 1 year extra.
 
buy it

hey just a thaught but i think of extentions on warenty in one simple way.

they are like condoms on a night out!

id rather have one and not need it, than need it and not have it,

that being said, big betty (imac 2007 alu) lasted 2 years no faults, now i have Mia (2009 13" MBP) i know portables have many more issues,

one last thaught, do you have home contents insurance, if so will it cover a single product taht expensive, also are you willing to loose your NCB, and pay a priemium.


swings and roundabouts mate, i got mine cuz ima student.

T
 
I've had the display replaced twice, and the logic board replaced once (genius says new logic boards arent ticking timebombs, so thats good) , I first bought applecare on ebay from a reputable seller with a high rating, a few days after registering my ebay applecare it was void, whoever sold it to me had refunded the actual box (I only asked for the serial, my bad..) I had 3 days left before my 1 year warranty was up and no applecare..so I bought it from apple at the student discounted price. I am grateful that the cost of my repairs is being absorbed by other people who buy applecare and never use it, as well as making apple a tidy profit at the same time, and saving me money, or rather not costing me ridiculous amounts.
 
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