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What's your opinion of Apple's "One to One" service?
- Thread starter Luba
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Yes. You have within either 30 or 45 days (I can't remember exactly) to renew your membership. Your membership can be renewed up to two additional times, for a total of 3 years.
You get unlimited one-to-one sessions in a year, and are only limited by the competition with other members to get the available times that the store has available (they are on a first-come-first-serve basis). The are 50 minutes (with 10-minutes for setup and a short break for the Creative (trainer) ) long, and the topic can be on anything Apple. The only thing you may be limited to would be if you originally specify, for example, your topic to be about iMovie and last minute want Garage Band and the Creative is not too experienced with Garage Band, as they pair you up with a Creative that knows your requested topic.
The one-to-one service also comes with a free data transfer from almost any previous computer, whether it be a Mac or Windows PC to your new Mac (ask your local Apple Store for details about restrictions). ALL competitors (for example Geek Squad) charge AT LEAST $50 with data limits on data transfers. If you are interested in a data transfer at all, this is a no-brainer.
You also get to join one-to-one member exclusive group workshops to learn new software and Apple stuff with other members like yourself.
Think about it this way: data transfer (not limited in amount of data storage), free hour-long (50 min) classes for a year with Apple-Certified trainers on any Apple-related topic or software (both simple and advanced, such as Aperture or Motion), exclusive workshops with other members.
Also think about it this way: even if you don't take advantage of the data transfer, if you take a class once per month, you're looking at less than $10 for that hour long session. (And there's no tax on the $99)
@jefbond: Don't forget the Personal Projects or Open Training or whatever you call it. That allows you to bring in your own projects (eg if you were editing a video or making a photobook or something) and work with a Trainer and several other One to One members in the store. I think you have up to 90 mins or 2 hours or something. I never did the OTO sessions btw, I just happen to know so much about it because I read a lot about it 
I saw something about it mentioned somewhere and I Googled it. Now where did I leave the TV remote? Anyone seen it?
I saw something about it mentioned somewhere and I Googled it. Now where did I leave the TV remote? Anyone seen it? Anyone seen this? http://www.macworld.co.uk/mac/news/?newsid=3378088
Crazy really. I guess the PC users who would be using the Apple One to One webpage/service would most likely be the ones who use Windows at work and maybe a lot of OTO members book their sessions from work. I could be wrong though. I found my TV remote in the end
Crazy really. I guess the PC users who would be using the Apple One to One webpage/service would most likely be the ones who use Windows at work and maybe a lot of OTO members book their sessions from work. I could be wrong though. I found my TV remote in the end
100% Recommendation
Looks like a lot of different feelings about the service, and nothing new since 2012.
So, an updated comment is 100% recommendation. I use it for my projects from photo editing with iPhoto to videos with Final Cut. Totally worth the $99.
For more details, check out my full review: http://www.pottymouthtours.com/shout-out-apples-one-one-100-recommendation/
Looks like a lot of different feelings about the service, and nothing new since 2012.
So, an updated comment is 100% recommendation. I use it for my projects from photo editing with iPhoto to videos with Final Cut. Totally worth the $99.
For more details, check out my full review: http://www.pottymouthtours.com/shout-out-apples-one-one-100-recommendation/
You are at the mercy of store manager's whim.
I do not recommend One to One. I "bought" it last spring from Apple. I DID NOT purchase a computer at that time. I did a few workshops and was graced with a "special opportunity" to buy the program.
Booking sessions was almost impossible. Individual sessions were only available at 9:30 AM and during rush hour in the evening. I phoned the store for assistance with booking a one hour session. In a weak moment (SSL bug) I was going to downgrade my iPad mini to iOS 7.
The iPad mini was never synced to a computer. iCloud backup only. I had photos that I could not afford to lose. I wanted one hour to sit with a trainer and transfer photos to a computer.
The store employee on the phone was very rude. He insisted that I book a session different from what I wanted. I declined.
There are NO GROUP sessions at the Apple store near me. The two times I indicated for 30 minute individual sessions and the other option which I don't remember the name. The essence of that session is that a trainer is present while you work on a project. The trainer is not specifically available to you. Don't remember what they call that.
So for $99.00 I wanted one freaking hour of a trainer's time so I would not inadvertently erase my pics instead of transferring to a computer. Didn't happen. One to One expired.
Three days prior to the expiration date a trainer phoned me to renew. I told him I was not satisfied and why. He was not at all concerned about my lack of satisfaction or the rude treatment by the store employee who answered the phone when I asked for help with scheduling one session.
The trainer's only comment was that he was trying to help me renew for one more year.
Yep, Apple really thinks we are stupid. It's all about the numbers now. Customers are incidental.
This is one good reason I am running iOS 6 on the iPad mini. I only use the mini on my home network due to the lack of a patch for SSL bug other than downgrade to iOS 7.
Save your money. Pick up a used copy of Dummies for quick reference and Missing Manual for more comprehensive info. Better than One to One will ever be.
I do not recommend One to One. I "bought" it last spring from Apple. I DID NOT purchase a computer at that time. I did a few workshops and was graced with a "special opportunity" to buy the program.
Booking sessions was almost impossible. Individual sessions were only available at 9:30 AM and during rush hour in the evening. I phoned the store for assistance with booking a one hour session. In a weak moment (SSL bug) I was going to downgrade my iPad mini to iOS 7.
The iPad mini was never synced to a computer. iCloud backup only. I had photos that I could not afford to lose. I wanted one hour to sit with a trainer and transfer photos to a computer.
The store employee on the phone was very rude. He insisted that I book a session different from what I wanted. I declined.
There are NO GROUP sessions at the Apple store near me. The two times I indicated for 30 minute individual sessions and the other option which I don't remember the name. The essence of that session is that a trainer is present while you work on a project. The trainer is not specifically available to you. Don't remember what they call that.
So for $99.00 I wanted one freaking hour of a trainer's time so I would not inadvertently erase my pics instead of transferring to a computer. Didn't happen. One to One expired.
Three days prior to the expiration date a trainer phoned me to renew. I told him I was not satisfied and why. He was not at all concerned about my lack of satisfaction or the rude treatment by the store employee who answered the phone when I asked for help with scheduling one session.
The trainer's only comment was that he was trying to help me renew for one more year.
Yep, Apple really thinks we are stupid. It's all about the numbers now. Customers are incidental.
This is one good reason I am running iOS 6 on the iPad mini. I only use the mini on my home network due to the lack of a patch for SSL bug other than downgrade to iOS 7.
Save your money. Pick up a used copy of Dummies for quick reference and Missing Manual for more comprehensive info. Better than One to One will ever be.
Was a good purchase for me
A couple of years ago, I purchased my 80 year old mother a MBP and the One to One subscription. She went to the store twice a month for a year to learn how to use her computer. She now has the confidence to use email to stay in contact with friends, iphoto to download photos from her digital camera, and FaceTime to talk to her grandkids. I have little doubt that she drove some to the trainers crazy asking the same question many times so I hope that the fresh baked cookies she took with her each time helped them get throughout the day.
I should have renewed at the end of the year but she was ready for a break. I may sign her up again the next time I purchase a new Mac.
A couple of years ago, I purchased my 80 year old mother a MBP and the One to One subscription. She went to the store twice a month for a year to learn how to use her computer. She now has the confidence to use email to stay in contact with friends, iphoto to download photos from her digital camera, and FaceTime to talk to her grandkids. I have little doubt that she drove some to the trainers crazy asking the same question many times so I hope that the fresh baked cookies she took with her each time helped them get throughout the day.
I should have renewed at the end of the year but she was ready for a break. I may sign her up again the next time I purchase a new Mac.
We did it back when my daughter was nine and ten. There were small group classes that lasted a little over an hour, one on ones and actual classes. My daughter loved it and I got to attend with her. Can't leave the little one alone, right? She made friends with all the geniuses and really learned a lot about using a Mac.
She may have helped them sell a few Macs. While waiting for the genius sometimes she would talk to potential customers telling them how easy it was to use and showing them a few things
She may have helped them sell a few Macs. While waiting for the genius sometimes she would talk to potential customers telling them how easy it was to use and showing them a few things
Yes, customer service is very bad, compared to the past, and Apple has been changing the how One to One works every 6 months or so. With the new Senior VP of Retail now on board, hopefully things will be better. I remember the good old days when One to One and the customer service was great.