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Almost one year, time to extend Apple Care. But.

I

iamsen47

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 18, 2012
199
12
Kobe, Japan
There's always a but, isn't there?

When I was installing my SSD, I twisted one screw a wee bit too hard, i think it's the long, plastic one on the motherboard and the thing snapped off.

I'm away from Japan now where I bought this machine and there are no Apple stores in the country I'm currently in, nor in the surrounding region either. And because economics in 3rd world nations are dog eat dog, the resellers around here charge an exorbitant amount before they'd even lay an eye on the machine.

Should I still get the extended warranty?
 
I remember.....

an old thread (a year or something) about to what things are Apple entitled, depending where are you in the moment of a failure. Can be worthwhile, either as an info helpful or a info to be checked. I know the currently AppleCare follows the device, not the user, but still, you must get all the assurances you can, because buying an extended coverage not useful, can cost you more than $$...IMHO....:(.....:eek:



:):apple:
 
I wouldn't expect the AppleCare plan to do much for you if you've modified the machine.

From the T&C:

4. What is not Covered?
4.1 Hardware Service. The Plan does not apply to:
...
(ii) Damage caused by ... (d) service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not a representative of Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (“AASP”)
Click to expand...
 
Problem is that if you had any issues and went to the store to fix the machine, then it would be pretty obvious that you tampered with the internals, and Apple may not cover you.

I'd just save the money and put it towards your next computer. Thats what I've been doing, never bought applecare.
 
put it back

I think you will agree that it was a mistake to fool around with a perfectly good computer to modify it with a solid state drive...I would put back the conventional hard drive...Mac's are not like PC's where people build, modify, change...never has been. There is nothing wrong with the HD Apple provides.
I have a mini and have never had problems with the HD. These are engineered for this computer, trying to second guess them is always fatal. I would extend Apple Care and go back...back to the way it was.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It's okay to swap the hard disk with an SSD, but since you broke one of the internals doing this it's wasted money to buy apple care. Just keep in mind that if you take good care of your machine chances are big you won't need apple care.
 
palmharbor said:
Mac's are not like PC's where people build, modify, change...never has been.
Click to expand...
Mac Pros are very easy to modify and configure: PCI Expansion ports, hard drives, CPUs and GPUs can all be easily replaced and upgraded.

The Mac Pros are the successors to the old beige PowerMacs, the G3s, G4s and G5s, which were all designed with a similar modular architecture.

I built a "hybrid" PowerMac 7600 from a variety of different parts, including a 4Gb hard drive from a Compaq server. It just slotted right in.

There are plenty of sites showing you how to open up and modify even the most recent Macs. Companies like Sonnet have sold modified daughter-boards with enhanced CPUs for older models.

As to the OP: I don't think AppleCare covers you if you've gone inside and broken something. As it's only a plastic screw, I wouldn't bother. Machines generally fail early if they have some production fault. Otherwise, they tend to last you a reasonable amount of time.
 
First of all, installing a SSD will not void your warrantee. So you snapped a plastic screw... big deal, don't worry about it. That in no way will cause a failure. If your machine ever fails you could then remove the SSD and put back the original HDD and take it in for service.

Now is applecare worth it on a mac mini? I would tend to say no. Personally I don't have it on my 2012 mini and don't plan on getting it. But that is a personal decision all of us must make.

Here in the US you get a 1 year warrantee. Applecare only adds another 2 years to that warrantee. If it doesn't fail in 1 year I feel good about the chances of it lasting another 2. If it does fail it can only be one of the following:

memory // I can repair
HDD or SDD // I can repair
Power Supply
Mother Board
Fan

If I can buy a replacement PW, MB or fan I can install them myself. After all, anyone who added a HDD or SDD to their mini had to take the entire thing apart to do so and so, knows the drill.
 
xlii said:
Here in the US you get a 1 year warrantee. Applecare only adds another 2 years to that warrantee. If it doesn't fail in 1 year I feel good about the chances of it lasting another 2. If it does fail it can only be one of the following:

memory // I can repair
HDD or SDD // I can repair
Power Supply
Mother Board
Fan

If I can buy a replacement PW, MB or fan I can install them myself. After all, anyone who added a HDD or SDD to their mini had to take the entire thing apart to do so and so, knows the drill.
Click to expand...

Good & accurate analysis. However AppleCare may still be valuable. I have a 2012 Mini with Fusion, so my AppleCare covers the Mini, its HDD and SSD (with Fusion it has both), the keyboard & Magic Mouse purchased with the Mini, plus the Time Capsule & 3TB hard drive in it even though the Time Capsule was purchased later (but within the AplleCare coverage period). If one had a Thunderbolt Display it could cover that as well.

I would agree a HDD-only Mini without an AirPort or Time Capsule it's not as good a value and I'd take my chances in that circumstance.
 
xlii said:
First of all, installing a SSD will not void your warrantee. So you snapped a plastic screw... big deal, don't worry about it. That in no way will cause a failure. If your machine ever fails you could then remove the SSD and put back the original HDD and take it in for service.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure Apple does not consider the HDD in a Mini to be a user replaceable part, and agree with others that this would void the warranty & Apple might detect it. Only the RAM in present gen Minis is DIY. I had an AASP put in my SSD. Sorry!
 
aidanpendragon said:
Pretty sure Apple does not consider the HDD in a Mini to be a user replaceable part, and agree with others that this would void the warranty & Apple might detect it. Only the RAM in present gen Minis is DIY. I had an AASP put in my SSD. Sorry!
Click to expand...

It will not void the warrantee. Read this link: http://blog.macsales.com/18244-owc-diys-wont-void-your-macs-warranty

For some reason the "adding a X to my Apple product will void the Warrantee" just refuses to die. It's a true apple urban legend.
 
xlii said:
It will not void the warrantee. Read this link: http://blog.macsales.com/18244-owc-diys-wont-void-your-macs-warranty

For some reason the "adding a X to my Apple product will void the Warrantee" just refuses to die. It's a true apple urban legend.
Click to expand...

"However, the warranty doesn’t cover any damage incurred while installing upgrades."

-->Sorry, was imprecise earlier...meant that damage like the OP describes while installing non user serviceable part would be a problem.
 
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