My 2018 MBP is a 8gb 512gb ssd. I got the 8gb because I have light usage. Is it worth getting AppleCare on a 8gb machine in the year 2018 if my usage is light? ( I sometimes mess around in photo shop, word processing, and may eventually dabble in iMovie.
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Do you purchase Apple Care + for your MacBook Pro?
- Thread starter Jacoblee23
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With is subjective, only you can say if its worth it.
How did you pay for the laptop, as I said in my earlier post, I used a credit card (Amex) that doubled the default warranty. Other credit cards have similar programs.
So for me, with 2 years of warranty, the question is, should I spend > 269 (or there abouts) for Apple Care which will only give me a single year of coverage, or 379 for AppleCre Plus which includes accidental damage? I know a single out of warranty failure will result in a higher repair cost then the price of AC, but after two years (thanks to amex) what will be the odds that a manufactured defect will rear its ugly head in year 3?
Since I have a year to buy AC (not AC+), I can gauge how things are going for the next 365 days, if there is a trend where a component is more likely to fail, I might take the plunge, but as of right now, spending 269 for one year of coverage doesn't make sense to me.
I didn't get AC for my first MBP and I was lucky, it never needed any repair except for a battery replacement late in its life. But with the latest design, any little failure or defect results in an extremely expensive replacement of either the entire logic board, the entire top case or the display. Not to mention that Apple's reliability record seems to be not-so-stellar recently: probably I was just unlucky, but I've been a customer for a decade and I visited the Apple Store more often in the last 2 years than in the previous 8 put together.
So yes, I got AC+. Even if (statistically) any insurance is by definition a loss in expected value, I decided that the money is well worth my peace of mind.
So yes, I got AC+. Even if (statistically) any insurance is by definition a loss in expected value, I decided that the money is well worth my peace of mind.
When I got my MBA a few years ago I did not get AC - cost benefit wasn't much to warrant AC and I could take the chance that if something major happened I would just take the loss as the MBA wasn't overly expensive. With the 2018 MBP I got AC+ because spending 12% of the price of the MBP seemed like a good value for long term peace of mind. Accidental protection that is now offered with AC+ is a huge bonus as well.
Got Applecare for all my Apple portables. For some strange reason, my Macbook Pros tend to exhibit issues on the second year of its lifetime so I was able to use the Applecare in one way or another. Even on my iMacs I was able to get free screen replacements (those gray stains that appear in many iMacs) and hard disk replacements. So in my case it was worth it. Although for the premium you pay especially, Applecare should be included even just for the highest end models.
Two things have always factored in for me when paying for warranties. Can I repair it myself? And how much is a new one if I can't.
10 years ago you could replace just about everything inside your MacBook Pro, and even if it wasn't a component that was fixable by me, Apple didn't have to replace the entire guts of a computer if the logic board failed. It was a few hundred dollars to change the board. How much is it if that goes down today? With the soldered on RAM and storage... I can't even imagine.
The cost of computers has definitely gone up as well. I guess technically components are about the same price but then again apple doesn't allow me the option for cheaper non SSD drives and makes me buy a touch bar so it cranks the price up about 7-800 more than I would have spent in the past.
So $3600 dollars for a computer that I can no longer fix ANYTHING on... I'm definitely buying AppleCare.
And especially with all the problems people keep reporting. I know the majority of people that don't have problems don't come to post about how great everything is going... we're only hearing from people who are frustrated. But in my 17 years owning Apple products I don't remember this many problems with a single product before.
Definitely buy the AppleCare.
10 years ago you could replace just about everything inside your MacBook Pro, and even if it wasn't a component that was fixable by me, Apple didn't have to replace the entire guts of a computer if the logic board failed. It was a few hundred dollars to change the board. How much is it if that goes down today? With the soldered on RAM and storage... I can't even imagine.
The cost of computers has definitely gone up as well. I guess technically components are about the same price but then again apple doesn't allow me the option for cheaper non SSD drives and makes me buy a touch bar so it cranks the price up about 7-800 more than I would have spent in the past.
So $3600 dollars for a computer that I can no longer fix ANYTHING on... I'm definitely buying AppleCare.
And especially with all the problems people keep reporting. I know the majority of people that don't have problems don't come to post about how great everything is going... we're only hearing from people who are frustrated. But in my 17 years owning Apple products I don't remember this many problems with a single product before.
Definitely buy the AppleCare.
Does this cover repairs in case it does not boot? Or joystick dies on your drone controller?
Yes and yes. If it does not boot the computer is considered broken and eligible for reimbursement. For the drone, all parts of the drone are covered under the insurance including accessories. I had to file a claim for one of my 3 mavic batteries dying and they reimbursed me for the cost of the one battery.
Nice. I mention the joystick because my 1 hour old Mavic Air's joystick quit responding. Grrr.
I got AC+ with my 2017 because of keyboard concerns and also I carry it with me everywhere I go at school (dining halls are scary but I got stuff to do lol) so having the peace of mind that if anything happens accidentally it will be covered is not to be understated. I would not be able to survive without my computer for a significant amount of time.
I did, just like I bought it for my iMac. The cost Vs the cost of the computer or repairs, makes it worth it to me. I normally don't insure anything beyond cars, but AC+ is the exception for computers (>$1800 or first-gen).
I never buy it for my phone, and I certainly didn't get it for the Watch. But Macbook Pro, yep.
I never buy it for my phone, and I certainly didn't get it for the Watch. But Macbook Pro, yep.
If you are going for it for the accidental damage - maybe get some kind of home content insurance instead. I got quotes for ~£130 to cover laptop, multiple mobiles and other appliances. Many policies even cover you for damage to products while not at home for portable products such as mobiles and laptops.
The concern, I have with adding a rider on a home owners (or renters) policy is, that if you submit a claim, that may increase your premiums next policy year.
THIS. Ive said it a few times in this thread already and people keep glossing over it. A personal item policy is more affordable, has $0 deductible, and covers everything including loss, theft, damage, etc.
Yep, but I don't expect a massive increase (at the end, all the companies are trying to compete in a competitive market for your business). If you are a serial claimer, then the increases will add up - but even then, it would make it even more worth it for you (as the cost of replacement/repair will usually be many multiples of your premium).
I do not think any one is glossing over it. I just think people are addressing the original posters question and poll. I am in fact planning on exploring this option with my current plan, however have concerns that @maflynn points out regarding rising premium costs. Have you filed a claim against your home insurance policy for an electronic and what was the resulting premium upon renewal?
I bought it because where I live warranty is only 1 year instead of 2 compared to most EU countries.
But I got it cheaper and had a corporate discount.
But I got it cheaper and had a corporate discount.
That's why you take it out as a personal item policy and not added on to your home or renters policy. I had to submit a claim last year for a lost drone and after they paid out, the policy terminates and you have to renew it. I was able to renew right away at the same price without any increases to my premium.
Yes that's how it works on a personal policy. If its only one item you are covering, once that item has been lost or stolen, the check is mailed and you must the premium again once you repurchase the item and provide a new S/N. If you have multiple items on the policy then you must only pay the cost of the item that was lost. For example if you have a policy for $2000 that covers 2 $1000 items, and the cost for every $1000 is $50 a year, then if you lose one of the items then you have to pay $50 to renew that $1000 coverage. It lasts for a year from the date of payment so you don't have to pay it again at the time the other $1000 renews.
Has anyone used their CC warranty extension coverage for computer or major purchase? I am just wondering if all went smoothly.
I came across a post where someone did. They basically had to pay for the repair and the CC company reimbursed them. I think they had to file some paperwork before sending it, I forget what the process was. I'm not worried with American Express. They work hard at providing member benefits.