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Applecare do I really need it?

coffey7

coffey7

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 12, 2006
516
0
If I buy a Macbook should I get the warranty? It is way to much money and will I ever need it. I have never bought any warrantys before and I have never had any problems(with anything). everyone tells me with laptops you need the applecare. why? Are laptops not made very well. My desktops are fine without it.
 
Definitely get AppleCare for a laptop.
The MacBook has a heat problem and it's questionable if all components will remain reliable in long term. (Remember the hardware failures of the Powerbook G3 Wallstreet?)
I have never bought AppleCare for my desktops.
I am still using a G3 Beige with G4 ZIF after 7 years...
 
ferretboy said:
Are laptops not made very well. My desktops are fine without it.
Click to expand...

I agree that with laptops, an extended warranty program is worthwhile, but not because the laptops are not well-constructed.
Rather, there are 2 other factors to consider:
1) The extra abuse your laptop compared to your desktop, as it will travel with you and be subject to extra wear-and-tear
2) With the miniaturization needed to get everything into your laptop, it makes repairs more costly compared to a desktop.

I think if you search the forums here, you will find people who swear by buying AppleCare for their laptops as well as those who say they have never bought it and are happy with that decision.
Ultimately, it is essentially an insurance policy - the question is whether you want to pay up front and cover your risk, or whether you believe the risk is low enough that you are willing to take the chance. The danger with the second approach is that if you are wrong, the amount of the repair bill will likely far exceed the cost of the AppleCare.
Lastly, the other benefit of AppleCare is the 3 years of phone support, compared to 90 days without (which I think is ridiculous BTW!).

Hope that helps - best wishes!
 
The way I look at it, it's better to assume it will break eventually. Because it will.

So I always buy AppleCare. If it doesn't break... how lucky! If it does, I paid the minimum amount for security and repairs.
 
I agree. I think Applecare is a must for laptops. If you can't afford it at the time you purchase the MacBook, I believe you are allowed to buy it up to one year from your original date of purchase and still be able to apply it to your laptop. Can anyone confirm this? I'm pretty sure you just need to be able to provide the Apple Store with the original reciept for your MacBook purchase. Either way, you should do it...:)
 
echo

Applecare for laptops- good idea

esp the 'new' kind
any system that hasn't been tested...etc

remember- u don't have to buy the apple care when u purchase the machine
u can wait up to a year (i think)

(unless u buy it bundled w/ a monitor you want covered)

so- wait a lil bit & see if u need it-

the thing about laptops- is it is a pain in the butt to fix things on ur own
a desktop- it is a bit easier to pull & fix parts...etc
plus laptop parts are pricy
destop componants are a bit cheaper to cover by yourself...etc

just my thoughts
 
I have had my logic board replaced twice, my SuperDrive replaced 3 times and my screen replaced once. All of this was after the 1 year warranty expired. AppleCare replaced all of these within 3 business days. Unless you can afford to get a new machine or spend big $$$ getting things fixed I highly recommend getting AppleCare on any laptop.
 
i've always had to get repairs done on my laptops after a year...on my original tibook and a 1GHz ibook...both were covered under applecare, thank goodness.

i recently had a battery and keyboard replaced on my ibook so it's "like new" again, even after 16+ months...so AC really does make sense...even if you don't ever use it, i like the safety net it provides...just makes me feel better about using my laptop, toting it around everywhere, etc...
 
Totally worth it, considering all the laptops I've owned, repairs have totaled over $1500 and all those repairs were covered because I had Applecare.

I plan on getting Applecare with my MacBook I'm purchasing this week also.
 
do you care about it?

it is somewhat expensive up front, but if you think of it over 3 years, it's nothing..
or, think of it as this: $300 applecare vs the expenditure of repairs, which can be costly or worse, the full cost of a new laptop?

imho, i wouldn't buy applecare for anything under $300...anything else is to get covered.

plus, as the other posts mentioned, there have been issues so why take the chance?
 
AppleCare is an insurance policy. I'm not necessarily opposed to buying insurance policies, but you might want to give some thought to the fact that Apple would not sell the AppleCare insurance if they lost money on the policies. All this means is, statistically, you're unlikely to get your money's worth from AppleCare, especially if it's a nearly 25% premium over the purchase price, as it would be for the entry-level MacBook. Just something else to consider.
 
Keebler said:
it is somewhat expensive up front, but if you think of it over 3 years, it's nothing..
Click to expand...
Just a minor point: you're only buying two years of coverage. I still think it's worth it for peace of mind, but it's no bargain.
 
Buy it with one of those credit cards that gives you an extra years protection, then at the end of the two years, sell your mac and buy another. You'll be further ahead.
 
aricher said:
I have had my logic board replaced twice, my SuperDrive replaced 3 times and my screen replaced once. All of this was after the 1 year warranty expired. AppleCare replaced all of these within 3 business days. Unless you can afford to get a new machine or spend big $$$ getting things fixed I highly recommend getting AppleCare on any laptop.
Click to expand...


such bad luck you've had!!

but if your case was typical.....or even common...... then whoever in their right mind would buy Apple products in the first place???

My advice to the OP;
wait until near the end of the first year and see how it goes. You can buy applecare anytime during that first year.....anyway the applecare extension only kicks in for the 2nd and 3rd year
 
I would recommend it, especially since you're buying a Rev A product. But consider even the Rev E PowerBooks had issues with the monitors. ;)

I will be buying AppleCare for mine after I finish upgrading everything :)
 
I don't have any first hand experience with this company but I've seen them recomended many times and when I do decide to purchase I think I will go with them. Its www.safeware.com Entering 1300 gets me a 72 dollar a year price to insure a portable laptop for accidents and thefts and such. I really think thats the path I'll take. I just thought I'd mention it as accidents are one of my biggest fears with a portable especially with a girlfriend who is a little bit accident prone.
 
I guess thats it. I will get it. Everyone here has more years with laptops than I have.I have never owned any laptops ever. Does applecare cover problems with software? Example:If my new laptop is having trouble connecting to a printer.
 
ferretboy said:
I guess thats it. I will get it. Everyone here has more years with laptops than I have.I have never owned any laptops ever. Does applecare cover problems with software? Example:If my new laptop is having trouble connecting to a printer.
Click to expand...
No. Software is not covered. However, unless you think you might sell the laptop within one year, definitely buy AppleCare. Just so you know, you have a year to buy AppleCare. You don't have to buy it at the time of purchase.
 
amin said:
No. Software is not covered. However, unless you think you might sell the laptop within one year, definitely buy AppleCare. Just so you know, you have a year to buy AppleCare. You don't have to buy it at the time of purchase.
Click to expand...

3rd party software isn't covered, but phone calls to Apple's tech support are. This means that if the problem can be solved by a call to Apple (like getting a supported printer to work), you won't need to pay for the call.
 
I bought Apple Care for both my PowerBook G4, iMac 20 inch, but not my, and wife's iPod. I'm about to get my 12 year old son an iPod, and I might get the AppleCare for his.
 
miniConvert said:
I haven't thought twice about getting AppleCare for everything Mac I have so far. Mac stuff isn't cheap, in most circumstances it will make sense to have the full, official Apple extended warranty.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I understand this statement. I've never bought AppleCare for any Apple product I've owned, and never wished that I had.
 
my question is "does applecare cover customer abuse?" I know that on my TV, if the lamp goes out that's covered, but if the damn yankees beat my bloved bosox and i throw a beer bottle at the TV cause i'm pissed, that's not covered. Does it cover drops, spilled beverages, etc?

I know my buddy dropped his iPod in the toilet (don't ask me how) and he had applecare, apple replaced it, not sure how old it was though.

If, in fact, it does cover customer 'abuse' the i will indeed purchase it with my new MPB next week, because it's cheaper through the education store, simply because its always in my backpack and going too and from school. On the other hand, my parents bought me a 12" PB w/o applecare and i've not had any problems, though i almost called once, but the forums answered my dilemma.
 
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