Thunderbolt Display - Worth getting AppleCare?

[Dadioh]

Probably a common question but searching the forum for reliability issues there don't seem to be any red flags. Just wondering if it worth the $129 CDN to get the extra 2 years coverage? Any particular reliability issue that would warrant purchasing AppleCare?

 

[cebseb]

Probably a common question but searching the forum for reliability issues there don't seem to be any red flags. Just wondering if it worth the $129 CDN to get the extra 2 years coverage? Any particular reliability issue that would warrant purchasing AppleCare?

I really don't think so. The LCDs are quite reliable. I've found that if any issues were to arise with a display, it will rear its head within the first year.

 

[cfedu]

Only worth it if you get it free with the purchase of applecare on another purchase. If you buy a Mac and a display, apple care covers both.

If you are not buying a Mac then I would make sure you buy it on a credit card that extends the warranty to two years. if you don't have one, I'm sure a friend or family member does.

 

[Dadioh]

Thanks. That is what I was thinking. Usually display issues are pretty obvious up front (no pun intended... Well maybe a little intended)

The other factor for me is that I do Mac repairs so in the unlikely case that I had an issue I would probably try to resolve it myself. Although I have never opened a Thunderbolt Display I have worked on iMacs, Mac mini, MacBook pros, Airs so I think I would be able to sort it out.

Here's to apple reliability

 

[alphaod]

The display has never failed on mine, but the cable has been damaged twice before. Both times they replaced the whole unit with a new one.

 

[cebseb]

The display has never failed on mine, but the cable has been damaged twice before. Both times they replaced the whole unit with a new one.

Ah yes, totally forgot about that rotten cable... That's easily avoided though. With a healthy fear of keeping the cable clean and free of kinks, issues would rarely arise.

 

[Dadioh]

Ah yes, totally forgot about that rotten cable... That's easily avoided though. With a healthy fear of keeping the cable clean and free of kinks, issues would rarely arise.

I looked at the iFixit teardown and looks like the cable is easily replaceable. It is a thunderbolt connector on the logic board so presumably any Thunderbolt cable will work. Just a matter of routing it out through the back. I notice they also snapped on a couple of ferrites for EMC reduction.

With careful handling I suspect the cable should last me the life of the monitor. I sit my Air on the monitor foot which gives the cable a nice gentle curve without straining the connector.