how to test a new MBP for faults and other buying questions

[dpope]

I am going to ask someone else, living in a different country, to buy me a new MacBook Pro because he can get a much better price than I can. I would like to ask a few things in connection with this.

Becuase of all the problems I've heard of people having with their new C2D MBPs I would like him to test out the machine thoroughly before bringing it to me so I don't get a dud. Unfortunately, this will mean he'll have to run the machine and use it for a while and I presume OS X has some initialization stuff that he will have to do himself (picking a username, etc...). This is unfortunate because this will be my first Mac (since the old, old days) and I was looking forward to the feel of a brand new machine that hasn't been setup by someone else.


My questions are:

1. Is it easy to re-install OS X (with the software provided with the MBP) so that I can make it look like a fresh machine again so that I can go through the installation stuff myself? That is, is there a restore CD that essentially removes everything that was changed on the machine and returns it to factory defaults?

2. Can people post suggestions regarding a few things he could test to ensure the machine won't need to be returned as soon as I get it. I want to avoid inconveniencing him and also minimize the amount of stuff he does to the machine but I also want to make sure that the machine works well.

3. Is the Apple Protection plan different from country to country and is it easily transferable?

4. On a related note: is it definately worth it to get the Apple Protection Plan?


Many thanks for all the help.

 

[gr8tfly]

If I remember correctly, you have to setup a user account, but then are able to quit out of the setup assistant.

It can be completely restored to factory from the included CD/DVD's.

The only test app I've run at the store is Pixel Check. It might be awkward to check out every port and function in the store. I'm not too worried about the main board ports or superdrive. Testing the Airport should be easy, since most stores have an open wireless network. But, I'm not too worried about that either. Main thing (for me) is: "no dead pixels".

edit: AppleCare Protection Plan - It depends on how long you keep computers, or if you need phone support beyond 90 days. I haven't purchased it in the past, and haven't had any problems. I was going to purchase it for my 17" PowerBook before the end of the 1 year warranty. I missed by ONE day.

As I tend to keep machines for at least a couple years, I went ahead and bought APP for my new 17" C2D MBP. I don't want to decide on buying it at the last minute and miss the cut-off again.

It's transferrable, so if you sell your computer before 3 years it might add a bit to the sale price, or at least help sell it (over one that isn't under warranty).

 

[PDE]

If you have a good VISA credit card, buy it with that and you'll automatically get double the warranty for free. After the second year you can buy a great and quite inexpensive extended warranty from VISA that covers everything that applecare does, except tech support. It also has a no lemon policy.

 

[S2NINJA]

make sure the sound works! (it happned it me)

 

[dpope]

The only test app I've run at the store is Pixel Check. It might be awkward to check out every port and function in the store. I'm not too worried about the main board ports or superdrive. Testing the Airport should be easy, since most stores have an open wireless network. But, I'm not too worried about that either. Main thing (for me) is: "no dead pixels".

Thanks for the responses so far. I was thinking more of him buying it and then testing it at home and returning it to his local store if it has problems. So the testing doesn't have to be in-store. The no-dead pixels is a good suggestion. Other things would be battery life, suspend/resume functionality, temperature, choppy-expose in battery mode, etc... I'm trying to compile a list to give him because he's not a Mac person ;-> Any more suggestions quite welcome. Thanks.