Applecare do I really need it?

[kerpow]

I still think I'll go with safeware though as it will cover it if I, or more likely my girlfriend, were to drop it or other wise damage it or even if it gets stolen somehow.

If you drop it, lose it or poor a pint of water of it I'm afraid Apple will not be able to help you. It is just a warranty, not insurance. If you want that covered speak to Geico or whoever is big on home insurance in your country.

 

[Macer]

Well if your local Apple store or repair centre is X amount of miles away, how much would it cost you to get there and back. With Applecare at least they will pick it up and drop it back off for you.

 

[IJ Reilly]

I don't think anyone was arguing that applecare wasn't a money maker for apple, they were just debating on wether it was worth it to a consumer to get it or not. Just because apple might make alot of money off of it doesn't mean its not the right idea for someone. Its peace of mind and in many cases worth it.

Sure, peace of mind is a good reason to buy insurance. But quite a few in this thread make it sound like AppleCare is a "must-have," as though you are likely to get more in services from it than you pay out in premiums. Just so we're all clear on the matter, this is not the case. Like most extended warranty programs, they are very profitable, AKA, a poor value to the consumer. This is why they are pushed so hard by Apple and everybody else who sells them. I think it's worth asking what price you're putting on your peace of mind.

 

[IJ Reilly]

If you drop it, lose it or poor a pint of water of it I'm afraid Apple will not be able to help you. It is just a warranty, not insurance. If you want that covered speak to Geico or whoever is big on home insurance in your country.

AppleCare is insurance, but limited in specific ways, like any other insurance policy. It just happens to exclude accidents.

 

[Arbiter]

One thing to note is that your home insurance may cover your computer to some extent.

 

[puckhead193]

well i just came back from apple and my ram slot is bent and applecare is going to cover it, if not i would be screwed, so yes its worth it...

 

[Macer]

It is also peace of mind.

 

[joebells]

If you drop it, lose it or poor a pint of water of it I'm afraid Apple will not be able to help you. It is just a warranty, not insurance. If you want that covered speak to Geico or whoever is big on home insurance in your country.

I still think I'll go with safeware though as it will cover it if I, or more likely my girlfriend, were to drop it or other wise damage it or even if it gets stolen somehow.

Thats why I said I think I will go with www.safeware.com when I get a laptop finally as their insurance covers accidental damage or even theft. For a 1200 dollar portable they quoted 72 dollars a year so thats pretty good I think. I have not used them myself yet so I can't vouch for them but I've seen them recommened several times in the past.

 

[Aperture]

Reply

I know this may not be an option in your case, but...
I really didn't want to spend the $149 on AppleCare so I looked into what my home owners insurance covers. I'm not sure if you have to have home owners with them or you can just signup for one of these so called "add-on" insurances. They have different "add-ons" you can obviously add on to your existing plan. One of these is a Computer Policy. I insured my iBook G4 for $1000 and it costs me $10/year. It covers all accidental damage, theft, or if the computer breaks down for no reason (and software). It's really a great thing as it costs MUCH less than AppleCare and it covers more. There are also no premiums, just the $10/year. BTW, I have StateFarm Insurance. The only downside is I have to wait for them to accept my claim before I can get it fixed as opposed to just taking it to the Apple Store. But in your case, unless you have anything like that available, I would go for AppleCare. It feels good knowing you have that as a safety net if something goes wrong. BUT, as previously stated I am sure there are better options elsewhere online.

Kevin

Edit: Actually I had it put on my parent's insurance