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Glad to hear that you love your new mac. However, you paid $100 for accidental protection that you could get for about $30 through a personal articles policy from an insurance company. I did the same when I first purchased my mac, i returned the BB plan and purchased AppleCare and a personal articles policy from state farm. You should consider doing something similar if you are worried about accidental damage.
 
Junk Out?????

That toshiba didn't cost anywhere near the $2500 price of a new 17" MBP so even if you did manage to do this and get away with it, you wouldn't be getting a new MBP out of the deal. They don't give you whatever you want as a replacement, if an identical model isn't available, they will give you the closest one in specs, and that sure isn't a $2500 MBP. They have a gazillion $749 17" Dells and that's what you'd get.

They replace based on the depreciated value, not purchase price.[/QUOTE]






How do they determine and what would the depreciated value be?

The Toshiba was actually $2300 new and yes that is very close to the price of a new 17" MBP. If I did get away with it, who is to say they will give me one that is closest in specs. That would be difficult since this computer came out in October 2006. The way I got my Toshiba Qosmio is because my 15" HP had something wrong and they junked it out. They gave me what I PAID ($2500) for my HP towards a new computer. So I got the Toshiba since it was the best computer spec wise that they had. If I did get my Qosmio junked out I don't want a PC or one of the gazillion $749 17" Dells, I'm sick of PC's.

Also, Im not trying to steal a MBP, Im just trying to find out what is the best way to use my Warranty with Accidental Coverage, which was $500, to get a MBP. That is not shameful, just wise, like an old man. And yes that is an ASSumption :)
 
Accidental damage coverage is not a cash value replacement policy. It is coverage against the computer that you have, such that if you damaged it, you would get a comparable computer to replace it. It's not a protection for the money you spent but instead for the item you bought, which is now worth substantially less than you paid for it.

They determine depreciated value by specification, so whatever the cost of comparable specs is today, is what you'll get as a replacement system. They've got plenty of 17" Toshibas with similar specs in stock right now. If yours is junked out, you get a comparable IN SPECIFICATION system. And no, you can't tell them you "don't want a PC" since that's what you bought, that's what you get as a replacement.

A long time ago, it used to be possible to buy these policies and "trade up" at the end of the warranty period. However, they aren't stupid. You don't get to spend $2300 once and get a new computer every two years for eternity. Not the way it works anymore.

The short answer is, you can't turn water into gold and you can't turn a 2.0Ghz Qosimo into a 2.8ghz dual core 17" macbook pro. Although, while we're in fantasy land, I'd like a pony.
 
RE:
"I live in a detached house with two roommates. I don't know if the door to my room locks, but I expect they'll throw parties over the course of the year, which makes me lean toward the 2-year Black Tie from Best Buy because, should someone come into my room and spill a beer all over my MBP, Best Buy will replace it"

I'd be more concerned about somebody _stealing_ it.

If you're going to be in a situation where others - particularly folks you may not know - are going to have access to your room, the better strategy is to have some kind of lockable storage into which you can secure the laptop during those parties.

And have the thing PUT AWAY during those times.

If the door to your room doesn't lock, it might be worth paying a good locksmith to come to the house and put a deadbolt lock on the door.

Better safe than sorry.

- John
 
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