Does apple care resolve infected machines from trojans or whatnot? When answering the poll, please post how long you have had your computer and what problem your computer had. Apple care lasts for 3 years, right?
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Should I buy apple care?
- Thread starter morgothaod
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3 years from the day of purchase. At least they can try, but reinstall of OS X is the easiest option. Bought my AppleCare yesterday so I can't answer yet
I don't think it's an indicator that there are bad build quality issues with Mac computers. I've had four different Macs, and bought Applecare three times. I have had three iPods which I have only had Applecare on the most recent. I had Applecare on my iPhone. I've used it once overall, for a logic board issue with my Macbook. Yes, it's expensive, but I'd rather have the peace of mind, that if something does go wrong, it will be corrected.
Also, I think people are possibly voting yes, meaning that they believe it to be worthwhile, not necessarily that they've used it.
Applecare is *very loosely* like health insurance. People without it will wait until a problem festers out of control and at that point the repair bill will cost as much as a new machine.
Applecare customers will probably hit up their local Apple store (or the texas mail in center) at the slightest hint that anything is out of spec, and i've found that Apple usually doesn't have any problem with dealing with legitimate issues. And unlike healthcare, after around the 3rd or 4th repair, you can petition to get a brand new machine. Some people have even had their Applecare extended on the NEW machine and prorated for the previous one. Better chances of getting a new machine than winning the lottery.
Applecare customers will probably hit up their local Apple store (or the texas mail in center) at the slightest hint that anything is out of spec, and i've found that Apple usually doesn't have any problem with dealing with legitimate issues. And unlike healthcare, after around the 3rd or 4th repair, you can petition to get a brand new machine. Some people have even had their Applecare extended on the NEW machine and prorated for the previous one. Better chances of getting a new machine than winning the lottery.
Always get Applecare on notebooks. I don't think it's worth it as much for desktops because you'll plug it in and it won't move for 3 years. It's the moving around of a laptop that eventually leads to its failure rate.
Logic board failures out of warranty can cost 500-1000 bucks. hard drive replacements $200 bad ram $150 and it's not the parts you're paying for labor too. I'm pretty sure that over half ot macs need some kind of repair beyond 1 year of use and applecare makes this a free service
plus and I know this isn't official but Apple phone & genius support is more willing to help you even if you're within the first year if you have applecare. It's like they care more and are there for you and kinda got your back.
Logic board failures out of warranty can cost 500-1000 bucks. hard drive replacements $200 bad ram $150 and it's not the parts you're paying for labor too. I'm pretty sure that over half ot macs need some kind of repair beyond 1 year of use and applecare makes this a free service
plus and I know this isn't official but Apple phone & genius support is more willing to help you even if you're within the first year if you have applecare. It's like they care more and are there for you and kinda got your back.
I figured people voted yes for peace of mind. At $5 a month for 3 years, the cost isn't too much. What exactly does Apple Care cover anyways? Is it just hardware problems?
Man you ask alot of questions
Apple hardware products
An Apple computer
An Apple mouse and keyboard when included with a covered computer (or purchased with Mac mini)
An AirPort Extreme Card, AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme Base Station, Time Capsule, MacBook Air SuperDrive, and Apple RAM when used with a Mac covered by the AppleCare Protection Plan
The Mac OS
Many Apple-branded consumer applications, including iLife and iWork
more: http://www.apple.com/support/products/proplan.html
Basically anything thats from Apple and doesn't include third party hardware upgrades or accidental damage.
Apple hardware products
An Apple computer
An Apple mouse and keyboard when included with a covered computer (or purchased with Mac mini)
An AirPort Extreme Card, AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme Base Station, Time Capsule, MacBook Air SuperDrive, and Apple RAM when used with a Mac covered by the AppleCare Protection Plan
The Mac OS
Many Apple-branded consumer applications, including iLife and iWork
more: http://www.apple.com/support/products/proplan.html
Basically anything thats from Apple and doesn't include third party hardware upgrades or accidental damage.
If you have a laptop, not within the first 11 months of purchase.
You have the same warranty for the first 12 months after purchase, but if you buy Apple care immediately and then spill a cup of coffee over it, or drop it, you have wasted 200+ bucks.
I guess it depends on your risk of doing such things. In my case it's high enough that the $300 bucks for my MBP's AppleCare would seem like a waste, as long as I don't forget to buy them in the last couple of weeks. If you have the luxury to buy earlier, then there you go.
You have the same warranty for the first 12 months after purchase, but if you buy Apple care immediately and then spill a cup of coffee over it, or drop it, you have wasted 200+ bucks.
I guess it depends on your risk of doing such things. In my case it's high enough that the $300 bucks for my MBP's AppleCare would seem like a waste, as long as I don't forget to buy them in the last couple of weeks. If you have the luxury to buy earlier, then there you go.
i havnt gotten it yet (i bought my mbp in june), i would like to at some point just for peace of mind, but as a student that much money is not chump change (maybe my bday or somethin).
i just dont know if purchasing such a limited warranty is worth it, so for instance if there is a dent on the case because i banged it against something but the computer works fine, then next year the logic board fails, will apple say it's the dents fault?
i just dont know if purchasing such a limited warranty is worth it, so for instance if there is a dent on the case because i banged it against something but the computer works fine, then next year the logic board fails, will apple say it's the dents fault?
Compared to what, lunch at the cafeteria? How about compared to buying a new logic board?
It's possible but unlikely. The logic board doesn't have any moving parts, so if it was really dead I don't see how they could claim it was because of the dent.
Applecare is definitely worth it on portables. No question, get it. On desktops I'm in debate - especially with the Mac Mini (2007) I bought used in January. It is about to lose it's first year warranty on October 4th. I bought this on craigslist for $375. It is 1.83ghz Intel Core Duo but the RAM was upgraded to 2.5gb RAM and the Hard drive to 200gb 7200 rpm HDD. As a result, the computer runs really loud. I've had one issue with the wireless card not working because it got damaged in the install. As a result, the local Apple store wouldn't fix it. It's not that big a deal to me though because I can use a hard internet cable.
But now the sound isn't working and I have to take it into the store to get fixed. I'm debating if I should not take any chances and buy the applecare for $65 off ebay or should I just let it go and if something happens, it happens. My worry on getting the Applecare is that, since I can't mail it in (you can only do that w/ portables), the store can give me a hard time on future issues.
If you mail things in, they'll fix anything really I've noticed. They've replaced casing on my occasions for me just by me slipping a note in. Battery too
But now the sound isn't working and I have to take it into the store to get fixed. I'm debating if I should not take any chances and buy the applecare for $65 off ebay or should I just let it go and if something happens, it happens. My worry on getting the Applecare is that, since I can't mail it in (you can only do that w/ portables), the store can give me a hard time on future issues.
If you mail things in, they'll fix anything really I've noticed. They've replaced casing on my occasions for me just by me slipping a note in. Battery too
Just sell the machine after 6 months and use the applecare money and the machine sale price and buy a new machine... That's what I do and it's great. Always under warranty and never have to deal with bad decisions... I can fix it in 6 months.
I own a '07 MBP SR 2.2 with 128Mb GeForce thing. It's now over 2 years old, during it's time, so far...
display replace twice (one developed a fault on the display, other had a connection problem),
keyboard and topcase replaced (due to malfunctioning keyboard and trackpad)
two new replacement batteries (under performing, won't hold charge),
a new maglite PSU (cable split),
replacement superdrive (died)
most recently a brand new logicboard (stopped charging).
Was the APP worth it? Yep! Absolutely!
You missed an option on your poll.
I buy applecare but I've never needed to send my MBP in for repair.
The clear majority of people, including myself purchase applecare but have no problems with their laptops. This isn't a complaint, because a single repair to a laptop will far outstrip the cost of applecare.
For laptops, its generally a no-brainer because of the nature of laptops and the cost of servicing them.
I buy applecare but I've never needed to send my MBP in for repair.
The clear majority of people, including myself purchase applecare but have no problems with their laptops. This isn't a complaint, because a single repair to a laptop will far outstrip the cost of applecare.
For laptops, its generally a no-brainer because of the nature of laptops and the cost of servicing them.
YES. On my MacBook that I owned since September 2007 I've had the following free repairs done
HDD replaced , twice, January 2008 and August 2008
Motherboard replaced September 2009, due to ethernet not working
Superdrive replaced September 2009, due to epic failure
Keyboard/TopCase replaced four times
Plastic Display border replaced once
But don't get Applecare for iPods, because when do you ever need apple care for them anyway?
HDD replaced , twice, January 2008 and August 2008
Motherboard replaced September 2009, due to ethernet not working
Superdrive replaced September 2009, due to epic failure
Keyboard/TopCase replaced four times
Plastic Display border replaced once
But don't get Applecare for iPods, because when do you ever need apple care for them anyway?
I had a powerbook G4 15" which encountered a problem with picking up wireless routers about 2 months before the 3 year apple ran out. I took it in and for some reason they couldn't work out how to fix the problem so they replaced my machine with....a current (at the time) early 2008 macbook pro. It was the equivalent machine of its day, so it being under apple care provided me with an ongoing updated laptop. Its a no brainer, your computer will always be either repaired or replaced. It very much worth it in my book.
I second this, and add that applecare even if you don't use it is a really good thing to just have as a "just in case" type of policy. It can really save you if something goes wrong.
Laptop 1...
1.) First rev. (2006) MBP 2.16 repaired 2 times.
Replaced by a C2D 2.33 15"
2.) 2.33 15" underwent many more repairs...
Replaced by C2D 2.6 17" HR/Matte"
Laptop 2...
1.) SR 2.2 15" w/2 repairs & faulty battery
Replaced with 17" MBP Unibody 2.93 - Issue free!
Not that you would ever go through anything like the above, but...
Yes, AppleCare is more than worth it for the peace of mind!
I have been through more, but cannot go into detail because of confidentiality agreement...
1.) First rev. (2006) MBP 2.16 repaired 2 times.
Replaced by a C2D 2.33 15"
2.) 2.33 15" underwent many more repairs...
Replaced by C2D 2.6 17" HR/Matte"
Laptop 2...
1.) SR 2.2 15" w/2 repairs & faulty battery
Replaced with 17" MBP Unibody 2.93 - Issue free!
Not that you would ever go through anything like the above, but...
Yes, AppleCare is more than worth it for the peace of mind!
I have been through more, but cannot go into detail because of confidentiality agreement...