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Is AppleCare REALLY worth it for the MacBook Air?

I've only had one Apple laptop, I'm still using it (09 13" MBP) and AppleCare came in handy for me because a few months before the warranty ran out, OS X notified me that the battery needed replacing. Don't underestimate how unreliable battery technology is. Apple's batteries are the best I've seen, but even the best fail at some point (like mine did.)

Try to get an educational or local/state/fed gov't discount, AppleCare is probably the best discount they offer under those programs. Also, I would recommend NOT buying from eBay, because the risk of fraud (due to sellers using programs to generate codes, probably) is too great. There are numerous other threads on this topic.
 
djharris said:
I've only had one Apple laptop, I'm still using it (09 13" MBP) and AppleCare came in handy for me because a few months before the warranty ran out, OS X notified me that the battery needed replacing.
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AppleCare is not supposed to cover batteries. So what the heck?
 
I got AppleCare for my MBA, but not for my iPad. With the price of the MBA, I figured that the extended warranty was worth adding. I was in two minds about it, and I'm sure it's a huge source of profit for Apple, so for the iPad I was more willing to just take the risk. So far, I've only used their technical support for a software issue. I got really good help on the phone, but their surcharges for calling were pretty outrageous, which pissed me off since the service is advertised as 'free' phone support (with a very tiny script at the bottom that says local charges may apply).
 
markcres said:
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.
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While I am sincerely glad it worked out for you, the other option would have been to pay $500 when it broke for the exact same results.
 
islanders said:
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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ha! true that :)
 
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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Actually, for me.. and this is something I've noticed across a lot of products I've bought, they always break RIGHT AFTER the first year.
 
Kebabselector said:
Or as he's in the UK his consumer rights would have been protected by law. No need for Applecare here.
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If he was able to prove that the problem was due to a fault at the time when he received the Mac (almost three years ago), and if "almost three years" is an unreasonably short time.
 
Kebabselector said:
Or as he's in the UK his consumer rights would have been protected by law. No need for Applecare here.
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Don't complain about why things cost more in the UK than the US. I always get annoyed by the "It costs X in the US and the exchange rate is Y, so it should cost X*Y here" argument.
 
just had to have the screen replaced on my 2011 air, there was some sort of tear in the bottom left corner, either way the repair was close to $500.. didnt have to pay so i might consider applecare, still have until sept to decide.
 
islanders said:
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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Ha! Funny, but so true! :)
 
I'm going to be buying AC for my MBA next month and I'm curious about using an Amex card to pay for it. Will that extend AC for another year or is the Amex warranty only good when you use it to purchase the computer itself?
 
Bob Coxner said:
I'm going to be buying AC for my MBA next month and I'm curious about using an Amex card to pay for it. Will that extend AC for another year or is the Amex warranty only good when you use it to purchase the computer itself?
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Good call. If the AC adapter comes with a standard warranty (and I believe it does) then you'll get that extra year from Amex. The Amex terms and conditions does not specify what types of products the warranty applies to, just that it extends the manufacturer's warranty, so you're good.

FYI I use my Amex for everything, even at Mcdonalds. Lol.
 
Creek0512 said:
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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Well, here's one that had Applecare for my MacBook Pro 15", which was replaced with a new one after the faulty one had two screen replacements, two logic boards and a new keyboard so they do go wrong and it is worth having Applecare. Yes, you could pay for Applecare and never use it but you could also trip and fall over Breaking your neck too. That's why I recommended having the peace of mind that Applecare gives.
 
ormie said:
Well, here's one that had Applecare for my MacBook Pro 15", which was replaced with a new one after the faulty one had two screen replacements, two logic boards and a new keyboard so they do go wrong and it is worth having Applecare. Yes, you could pay for Applecare and never use it but you could also trip and fall over Breaking your neck too. That's why I recommended having the peace of mind that Applecare gives.
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But Amex and Visa Sig totally make it not worth it!! Would you actually pay $200 for a ONE year warranty (and in it's 3rd year)??? I'd rather use that money elsewhere or save it for my next laptop.
 
GREEN4U said:
AppleCare is not supposed to cover batteries. So what the heck?
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My old MacBook (white model) had a battery replaced under Applecare. The genius check the batteries history to see whether it had a good or bad history with the cycles and as it hadn't been abused, was replaced under
Warranty. Oh, and the MacBook had been sold to my pal and the warranty was transferred to him too.
 
ormie said:
Well, here's one that had Applecare for my MacBook Pro 15", which was replaced with a new one after the faulty one had two screen replacements, two logic boards and a new keyboard so they do go wrong and it is worth having Applecare. Yes, you could pay for Applecare and never use it but you could also trip and fall over Breaking your neck too. That's why I recommended having the peace of mind that Applecare gives.
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For every story like this, there are thousands of people who don't have issues. Most companies try and meet targets close to a 99.9996% success rate.

I'm actually fine with people buying AppleCare. Apple uses this as a way to keep profits higher while lowering the cost of the device a bit. So another way to look at it, you are subsidizing me by buying apple care. Thanks!
 
My last two MacBook pros had the logic board fail a week after the warranty ended. I used American Express and they refunded my purchase price for both, waiting for my retina MacBook now!

IMO skip AppleCare and get American Express!

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GREEN4U said:
But Amex and Visa Sig totally make it not worth it!! Would you actually pay $200 for a ONE year warranty (and in it's 3rd year)??? I'd rather use that money elsewhere or save it for my next laptop.
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Especially since if it does break after 2 years, Apple only charges a flat 300 repair fee to ship off your laptop and replace ANYTHING that is defective.
 
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