Quick check - Applecare and machine cloning / auto backup

[Sesshi]

- If I buy another MBP and want to leave it as a barebone spec/purchase as a spare machine for now, I can buy Applecare later anytime until 1 year after purchase?

- Is there a software which would back up a complete bootable image of a Mac automatically to a network share and keep it updated on a daily basis? And if so, which is the best?

 

[Applespider]

Yes... you can buy Applecare at any point in the first year although if you want phone support, you may need to buy it then or pay for the call...

Have a look into Superduper which (if registered) can do incremental bootable backups - given that you select the location to save to, I'd guess that it will allow you to select a network location.