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Is AppleCare REALLY worth it for the MacBook Air?

Sounds Good said:
Really? I've been very lucky with my numerous Windows machines. Are there really that many problems (a need for repair or replacement) with a MacBook Air?
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I bought the first revision of the MBA back from 2008. They had a lot of issues that have since been ironed out (from what I've read). I won't buy another laptop that isn't a MacBook Air! I love mine to bits, even if I've needed some work done.

That said, they are machines, and could break or become defective. To me, it's worth the money for the peace of mind. My family has learnt that lesson through various Windows and Apple computers.
 
I've had 3 Mac laptops over the past 12 years. The first one I go Apple Care that covered a display that went bad 2.5 years into the AppleCare. The LCD tended to last about 3 years, and the only thing that went bad. I started replacing it myself with used ones off eBay.

Isn't the LED supposed to last longer?

Also, Apple used to have the fix everything option for something like $400, can't remember the exact price. Is that option still available?

Replacing the screen is quite a bit more involved with the Air. Also not sure how much a replacement screen would be just for a new screen? Probably can pick up a used one off eBay on the cheap.
 
Hi, new here :).
It seems that the general consensus is that the 3 years of hardware warranty from AppleCare makes it pretty much worth while.
But I'm thinking about buying a MBA for university - I'll get the student discount as well as the 3 free years of warranty. Is there anything AppleCare offers on top of the warranty that makes it really worth £40 for the 3 years? (student discount allows for this deal).
I know I'd get phone support but I'm not really bothered with that, I'm happy to use forums or email; anything else AppleCare provides apart from that?
 
comatose81 said:
I bought it for my 11" MBA. I mean, when you're buying something for $1,000+, what's another $200?
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What's another $200?

Well... $200 is another 4GB RAM and a processor upgrade.

Or, at 8 bucks a six, that's... oh... over 6 cases of Sam Adams.

Your choice.
 
Hello,

My visa card gives, for free, an extra one year coverage on top of manufactures warranty, also covering against theft/accidental damage. I have used the plan already when I dropped my 'the new iPad' few weeks after getting it, I just paid the repair cost and within 2 weeks they cut me a cheque.

In this circumstance would you suggest AppleCare for really just the third year (without theft or accidental coverage of course) - if it's going to die due to part failure how likely is it to happen between years two and three?

Thanks,
Matt
 
I bought AppleCare for my new MBA, I wouldn't even know where to begin fixing an Apple machine - so I got it as a "just-in-case"

Question, since I bought it the same day I got the MBA, does that mean that I have 3 years of coverage?
 
mszpara said:
Question, since I bought it the same day I got the MBA, does that mean that I have 3 years of coverage?
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I believe it's 3 year's of coverage from the date of purchase of the computer, regardless of when you buy the Apple Care.
 
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I am probably biased because I've never had any problems with any of my Macs and so never had any need for Apple Care. But I just don't see it as very cost effective. You are already covered for the first year, which is the most important. Any damage to your Mac over years 2-3 is much more likely to be self-inflicted and therefore fall outside the coverage Apple Care provides. Then you won't have the $250 to spend on repairs or a replacement computer.

Also, the medical insurance comparision is just dumb for obvious reasons. And if you view what is basically a 4-1 payout on something with odds that are lower than 1000-1 as "gambling", then you probably don't win much money.

You'll notice that most of the people that recommend it do so for "peace of mind" and not because they think they will need to use it. Although one poster seems to think his computer will stop working after one year if he doesn't purchase Apple Care.
 
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mszpara said:
I bought AppleCare for my new MBA, I wouldn't even know where to begin fixing an Apple machine - so I got it as a "just-in-case"

Question, since I bought it the same day I got the MBA, does that mean that I have 3 years of coverage?
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Yes, it is three years from the date of purchase of the computer, not the AppleCare plan itself.
 
I've never understood the value of AppleCare. Anything that's ever happened to my Macs/iPhones/iPad outside of the first year has been my fault and not covered by AppleCare anyway (spills, floods, drops, etc).

The only time I've had a problem outside of the one year was a faulty logic board in my first iBook, which Apple would have replaced anyway because it was apparently a model-specific issue. (Instead of sending it in for replacement, I sold it for parts at a much higher return and purchased an iMac.)

My credit card doubles the manufacturer warranty to 2 years, which is about my upgrade cycle anyway. I'd guess most people in to Apple enough to be active on this forum probably have a similar (or much shorter!) upgrade cycle.
 
comatose81 said:
If you're worried about $200, you shouldn't be buying a $1,000 laptop where the primary feature is form factor.

Just my opinion.
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The flip side of that argument is those of us who are now in the position to buy such laptops didn't get here by dropping $200 on things we didn't really need.
 
The money I have saved by not buying AppleCare for any of my Macs over the past decade will be paying for my next Mac.

A.
 
I've gotten Applecare for all but one of my Apple laptops and desktops over the years. I've had to use it for 3 repairs (2 were on one machine) in 12 years between 10 computers. I forgot to get it on the 2008 Macbook my daughter now uses for college, and its not had any issues to date.

So statistically speaking, the risk would be very low to forego it on future purchases and just risk paying out of pocket for repairs.
 
Heck yeah Apple Care is worth it! I had an SD reader go bad a few years ago and Apple swapped out the entire logic board... Keys getting stuck on a MacBook Air and they swapped that out entirely... Screen flickering on a 2 year old macbook pro and they took care of that too. So it really does pay for itself especially adds to the resale value.
 
Not worth it imop because you can get an extra year warranty for free by using your amex card to buy it so for $250 your really only getting 1 year (the 3rd year although the 2nd year overlaps and either amex or apple care will cover it). After 2 years I bet the $250 the apple care cost will make up 40% of the value of an Air by then.
 
Chipg said:
Not worth it imop because you can get an extra year warranty for free by using your amex card to buy it so for $250 your really only getting 1 year (the 3rd year although the 2nd year overlaps and either amex or apple care will cover it). After 2 years I bet the $250 the apple care cost will make up 40% of the value of an Air by then.
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EXCELLENT POINT. I will not be buying AppleCare on my new 13" MBA knowing this. Thanks Chip.
 
camac said:
Hi, new here :).
It seems that the general consensus is that the 3 years of hardware warranty from AppleCare makes it pretty much worth while.
But I'm thinking about buying a MBA for university - I'll get the student discount as well as the 3 free years of warranty. Is there anything AppleCare offers on top of the warranty that makes it really worth £40 for the 3 years? (student discount allows for this deal).
I know I'd get phone support but I'm not really bothered with that, I'm happy to use forums or email; anything else AppleCare provides apart from that?
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Camac the extra £48 gives you three years phone support. You get three years repair support regardless of whether you pay the £48 or not. I've got an apple store where I work, so will pass on the additional payment.
 
OT: which visa cc in particular

katmeef said:
Hello,

My visa card gives, for free, an extra one year coverage on top of manufactures warranty, also covering against theft/accidental damage. I have used the plan already when I dropped my 'the new iPad' few weeks after getting it, I just paid the repair cost and within 2 weeks they cut me a cheque.
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Can you tell us which visa cc type/brand that offers 1yr accendental coverage? The few that I've seen all have only up to 90 days.

TIA :cool:
 
scarred said:
Don't care if the queen herself is offering it, the answer is always "No" to extended warranties. This is especially true with computers... if they break, they'll usually break within your first year (which is already covered).

As you research this, watch out for confirmation bias.
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Normally I would agree with you....but.... I bought the first Intel iMac back in January 2006 and the screen developed dodgy lines a couple of weeks before the AppleCare warranty was due to run out in 2009. I took it to an authorised centre and within 4 hours it had a brand new LCD screen and a thorough clean....it is still in use today. Without the AppleCare extended warranty it would have been rendered worthless.
 
Sounds Good said:
Hi guys,

I never buy an extended warranty for my electronics. Truth is I've always been lucky and haven't needed one. Therefore, I typically would pass on something like AppleCare for my MacBook Air purchase. But...

Since AppleCare seems to be a pretty popular item around here, I'm curious to know how many of you think it's a worthwhile investment AND WHY YOU FEEL THAT WAY -- and how many of you believe it's NOT worth it.
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1. Check out what other coverage you have.

2. You can wait ten months to buy AppleCare - see how your MBA works out. If you have any faults and repairs in the first ten months, get AppleCare. If your MBA works fine without any problems after ten months, maybe not.
 
Two reasons I purchase AppleCare:

1). In my experience Apple Geniuses tend to be a little more lenient with repairs on machines/products that have AppleCare. It has even come in handy when I had a TC that went out after 2.5 years. They were able to connect it to a laptop that was purchased at the same time and replaced it for free.

2). Resale value. I tend to hold onto my gadgets for around 2 years. I think it's a selling point to potential buyers that your product is still under warranty.

As far as the extended year for AMEX, I was told when I purchased my last Mini - that yes, that was the case. However, the 4th year is covered through AMEX, not Apple.

One other thing. You can find AppleCare on eBay for cheaper than buying it directly from Apple. Just make sure it is for the correct product. Once you purchase the AppleCare, they will send you the activation code. You simply log into your Apple account and apply it to your device.
 
If you hang out at MacRumors long enough you need 16GB of RAM, 560SSD HD, AppleCare, $400 leather case, keyboard cover, hardcase.. all in the name of future proofing that will likely be slower than next years base model. :)
 
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