Do I need AppleCare? Are there other options?

[indig0blue]

Hi,

I am going to pick up a new MBP this week but am curious about AppleCare. Do I really need to buy that or is it safe to take my chances?

Also, I have read about credit card coverage or home owners insurance acting as a warranty for the laptop. Has anyone else done that?

Thanks in advance guys.

 

[chunkstyle]

I've typically gotten AppleCare on my last couple of Apple purchases. On one, I didn't need it at all. On another, I was very glad to have it for ease of repair when an optical drive failed.

IIRC, there's a basic one-year warranty, and AppleCare extends it to three and includes all kinds of support. My opinion is that if you can afford the $300, you should get it for peace of mind. Most Apple products are good, but there are plenty of stories from people who just had bad luck for whatever reason.

 

[aaronw1986]

Hi,

I am going to pick up a new MBP this week but am curious about AppleCare. Do I really need to buy that or is it safe to take my chances?

Also, I have read about credit card coverage or home owners insurance acting as a warranty for the laptop. Has anyone else done that?

Thanks in advance guys.

Keep in mind, you have a year to decide if you want AppleCare, you don't need it right away. Like you said, if you don't get it, you will be taking your chances. Depends on how long you want to get out of this comp. If you have a lemon, you will see problems right away. However, most components wouldn't show problems till after the first year if they have them. So, I will be getting Apple Care. I have a PC which needed a bunch of repairs about 14 months after purchasing, so the extended warranty worked out well for me. The choice is up to you. I'd say, better safe then sorry.

 

[munckee]

I'm a fan of AC personally. Figure one major issue after the 1-year mark, and you've paid for the applecare. Two, and you're ahead of the game. Given how often apple's logic boards like to give way (at least on the portables), it seems like a safe bet that it'll pay itself off. Plus it adds to the resale value if you decide not to keep it for the full 3 years.

 

[PDE]

I'm a fan of AC personally. Figure one major issue after the 1-year mark, and you've paid for the applecare. Two, and you're ahead of the game. Given how often apple's logic boards like to give way (at least on the portables), it seems like a safe bet that it'll pay itself off. Plus it adds to the resale value if you decide not to keep it for the full 3 years.

Whatever you do, buy it with a credit card so that if you decide you don't want applecare later, you at least will have that extra free year of warranty through the credit card. Personally,I hate when I take a computer in for major repair during the first year of ownership and the apple genius tells me how much it would cost if I were not covered and then tries to sell me extended applecare. I mean, they're basically telling you that 'our products are so poor that they break down all the time and will cost you a lot to repair - so hurry up an give us even more money". Why would I reward low quality?

 

[indig0blue]

The guy at the Apple Store said that I need to buy the AppleCare within the first 90 days or else I wouldn't have phone support. Does that sound right? I am new to macs but I dont think I need phone support on how to make movies. If there is a value to this though please let me know.

 

[aaronw1986]

The guy at the Apple Store said that I need to buy the AppleCare within the first 90 days or else I wouldn't have phone support. Does that sound right? I am new to macs but I dont think I need phone support on how to make movies. If there is a value to this though please let me know.

True, phone support is only 90 days, but the hardware warranty is 1 year.

 

[klymr]

As far at the 90 day thing, that is correct. If you call after that 90 days, they either won't answer questions, or they will try to get you to buy AC so they can answer those questions.

FWIW, I bought an iPod 3 years ago. Just after 90 days it froze and wouldn't work. I couldn't get it to do anything. I called and the chick at apple said it was past the free 90 day phone support and I could purchase AppleCare for it and she would be glad to help me out. I said forget it and ended up reformatting the thing and starting over. I lost about 500 songs (as I no longer had them on my PC) and I was devistated. Here we are, 3 years and 53.73GB later and I haven't had a problem (frantically searching for a wooden surface at work to knock on). I would REALLY hate to loose everything now!

I remember reading somewhere that it is alway wise to purchase AppleCare on a laptop purchase. On an iPod, probably not as much.

 

[Akira1980]

I have used Apple care on my last Powerbook TWICE. Once for hard drive crashing, and once more for broken super drive. I have my Powerbook for 3 years and I say it was worth every penny.

I just replaced my aging Powerbook with the new MacBook Pro and I got the apple care also, especialy with the new LED screens. Who knows what can happen with the new technology...

 

[Macky-Mac]

The guy at the Apple Store said that I need to buy the AppleCare within the first 90 days or else I wouldn't have phone support. Does that sound right? I am new to macs but I dont think I need phone support on how to make movies. If there is a value to this though please let me know.

the standard included phone support does end at 90 days but if you buy applecare after the 90 day period is over, then the phone becomes available again as part of the applecare package