I feel forced to buy AppleCare :(

[n8236]

Yes, it's another i-love-my-mbp, but-it's-a-being-a-pos-right-now thread.

To make a long story short, I've had my top panel replaced due to a dysfunctional trackpad button, battery replaced, and mobo replaced due to whine/heat. I think everything was cool.........until my "T" semi-died. So I just had the keyboard replaced and I find out the keyboard illumination pulsates like the sleep light on the latch release. That's not all folks, the fan underneath the Delete key also reqs replacing due to an obvious ticking noise.

The old keyboard's back lighting worked fine, but w/ a semi-working T key, it was difficult to work with. With the back lighting screwed up w/ the new keyboard assembly, it was logical to point to the replaced keyboard. But Apple Store didn't think so and felt it could be the sensors on the board, which I can understand as another suspect. They wouldn't take another keyboard to test to see if it was the board or keyboard, so it will have to make another trip to AppleCare in Texas

Gah, i'm just so frustrated that a fix of one problem springs up with another. I felt so compelled to buy AppleCare at the store today for the sake of having a safety net, but didn't. It just sucks so much @ss that my machine is having so many issues. I really had a lot of faith that my machine would be good and well after the mobo and battery replacement, but apparently not

 

[Egaas]

The price of AppleCare for what could potentially happen to your laptop is a steal.

 

[Veritas&Equitas]

The price of AppleCare for what could potentially happen to your laptop is a steal.

AppleCare is anything but a "steal." It's terribly overpriced for the amount you pay for such a premium machine. Apple should stand by their machines and quality more than trying to force people to buy AppleCare IMO.

 

[Lau]

AppleCare is anything but a "steal." It's terribly overpriced for the amount you pay for such a premium machine. Apple should stand by their machines and quality more than trying to force people to buy AppleCare IMO.

I agree with this — as far as I'm concerned, AppleCare implies their machines will only last a year. Not ideal.

It's a criticism I have of extended warranties in general though. We should be building and buying more sustainable products, in my opinion.

 

[TaylorB]

I've had my own experiences, declining AppleCare. It was hard leaving the store without purchasing AppleCare. Not because I didn't want it, but the sales represenative kept on telling me stories of how it saved him. I think if you have a certified Apple repair place near and you take care of your computer you are fine.

 

[furious]

if you need a good warranty buy a dell. they have amazing warranty support and a customer support system. apple could learn a lot.

then again the argument could be i feel i am forced to buy a dell <shudder> because of their warranty and customer support.

 

[yg17]

After my LCD backlight on my powerbook crapped out after it was a year old, I was glad I purchased AppleCare.

Yes, Apple should stand behind their products for more than a year, but they don't, so then you're pretty much stuck with buying AC or facing the possibility of a huge repair bill. Or buying a Dell, which is an even crappier idea.

 

[maycontainnutz]

i'm gonna hold off until my standard 1yr warranty is about to expire to get Apple Care... that's if i haven't bought a new Mac by then... kekekke

 

[YS2003]

If I going to buy a MB, I think I will skip the Applecare this time. I have 4 Macs and so far I have been lucky enough not to use Applecare one single time. Maybe I am pushing my luck; but, for my next Mac purchase for less than $2000, I will go without Applecare. If it breaks on the 366th day after the purchase, I know have the excuse (to myself) to buy a new one.

 

[animenick65]

Dell does have good warranties. I bought an axim PDA from them about a year ago and paid an extra $30 for the extended warranty which covered theft destruction. So...after a couple months I dropped the thing. They replaced it no questions asked. No deductible either! Best $30 i'd ever spent.

 

[redrabbit]

I have some questions about applecare.

If I use a third-party program that ups the fans spinning to reduce the laptop's temperature, and they eventually wear-and-tear and give out, will Apple fix that? If I rip and burn alot of DVDs and the drive eventually dies, will Apple take care of that as well? Also, what about using and recharging the battery alot?

Thanks for the help.

 

[JAT]

All laptops should have a long warranty. Figure it into the cost when shopping. Apple does have a nice discount on the warranty for students/teachers.

 

[IlluminatedSage]

most computer companies only have a 1 year warranty on the products.

It is industry standard and to be honest i wish it were longer also.
but it isnt. so i buy applecare.

if you can, but it at student pricing. it will help

 

[Hockeypuck]

I have some questions about applecare.

If I use a third-party program that ups the fans spinning to reduce the laptop's temperature, and they eventually wear-and-tear and give out, will Apple fix that? If I rip and burn alot of DVDs and the drive eventually dies, will Apple take care of that as well? Also, what about using and recharging the battery alot?

Thanks for the help.

If it doesn't look like the damage was accidental (i.e. Spills, saying you dropped it) they should replace it.

 

[minnesotamacman]

Long story short, I wouldn't own a laptop without the Applecare, or I would plan on selling it within 10 months to someone else so they could at least buy the Applecare before the warranty runs out.

 

[Dubba]

I think anyone using a MacBook/Pro with heavy travel/portability needs should get Apple Care. I had it on my 12" PowerBook which I travelled with on a flight 2-3 times weekly.

The iBook I purchased at the same time has just been at home, and has been fine for two years. Ditto for a 1.5 year old iBook I bought for my Dad.

All said and done, I think it is horses-for-courses, and it depends on everyone's personal circumstances, but if I was a regular traveller or using my MacBook/Pro on the move, I would definitely get it.

 

[Abstract]

I think anyone using a MacBook/Pro with heavy travel/portability needs should get Apple Care. I had it on my 12" PowerBook which I travelled with on a flight 2-3 times weekly.

The iBook I purchased at the same time has just been at home, and has been fine for two years. Ditto for a 1.5 year old iBook I bought for my Dad.

All said and done, I think it is horses-for-courses, and it depends on everyone's personal circumstances, but if I was a regular traveller or using my MacBook/Pro on the move, I would definitely get it.

What does travelling have to do with "manufacturer defect"? Apple doesn't cover damage. I guess there's a chance they'll replace your HD if it craps out due to it sustaining damage from shocks and such, but everything else is a crapshoot.

Get your laptop covered under home-owners insurance. That's the best thing you can do, and it's many times cheaper than AppleCare.

 

[OldSkoolNJ]

So its this one again. Well as ar as the oriinal poster my heart goes out to yo. YOu just got one of those ones. It happens welcome to computers. You have the same luck as I do. So I have alot of experience in Electronics retail for over many years and have seen alot of technology and technology changes. So I could tell you that a computer that does what they can do now adays lets say 3 years ago would have costed you $4000 if not more rather than $1000. So of course technology has changed which has reduced prices. However the industry does listen to the customers whcih say "We want more and we want it for a hell of alot less". SO not only does changing technology help them answer these needs but they have found other ways of lowering prices. Cheaper made parts (yes even in our apples), parts made by the lowest bidder and another big contributor is less service and support after the fact. Service and support is very very expensive for companies to have. SO you have them limiting their warranties, not covering certain parts, out-sourcing their support or other creative ways to shave some money off that price tag because we asked for it and expect it. YOu also have growing amounts of people who abuse warranties. Hell I see a story on this board twice a day about someone "sneaking" by their personal mishap to get it covered because they dont want to take responsibilty. So if they were to "satnd BY their Product" like you say they should we would have higher price points. Hell Pioneer does this. They have a car stereo line under the pioneer name and the Premeir line. For most models there is barely a difference except a longer warranty and the name badge that says Premier. SO before I blab on for too long. Do I buy it.. yes .. should you buy it .. I dont know .. make that judgement call... Do I think you should buy it? .. absolutely. It is infact a small cost for the service and support you get from them... especially if you should encounter a problem. They way I look at it is for example not a $1099 MB with another $250 to get more warranty... I look at the Mb as $1350 and for three years all the fees are taking care of save negligence and abuse. Works for me. I love my Apples and have a G3 iMac thats still running internet better than most PCs but I know they dont even make them like they used to.

Kevin

 

[sikkinixx]

^ woah dude, use paragraphs.


I will always buy Applecare if I buy another Apple product (looking less and less likely). I hate to do it because it feels like a waste of money and Apple SHOULD have products that last more than a few years without problems, but for me that has not been the case. My Macbook has been in 5 times and my beloved (yet I sold it....*sigh*) 12" pb had to go in 3 times. Eight warranty problems in under 2 years is pretty sad actually.

When you are spending thousands of dollars, do you wanna risk it because you don't wanna put up the extra 10% for Applecare? I haven't bought it for my Macbook yet but when the year is just about up I sure will.

 

[wako]

There seems to be an overall problem with your keyboard (which includes the trackpad)..

Have you asked about their lemon policy?

 

[miles01110]

AppleCare is anything but a "steal." It's terribly overpriced for the amount you pay for such a premium machine. Apple should stand by their machines and quality more than trying to force people to buy AppleCare IMO.

Last time I checked you weren't forced to buy anything from Apple.

 

[superwoman]

I paid with my credit card, which doubles the original warranty period free of charge. So in addition to the 1-year standard warranty covered by Apple, I get another year covered by my credit card.

My logic is that if the MacBook does not breakdown within the 2 years, then it's probably good for a few more years. If it does fail in the 2nd year, then I can still repair it at no cost to me, sell it off and upgrade to a new model.

 

[MisterMe]

Last time I checked you weren't forced to buy anything from Apple.

Agreed. My first AppleCare experience was with my first Mac, a Mac IIcx back in the early 1990's. My Sony-manufactured hard drive failed. I did not have AppleCare. The local Apple retailer replaced my hard drive for the price of an AppleCare subscription. My next experience came several years later when I had to replace my motherboard when a lightening strike fried the serial port of my PowerMac 9500. My other three catatrophic repairs were all for hard drive failures. Long story short is that Macs rarely fail. The components that fail are usually supplied by third-parties. AppleCare is a bargain.

 

[PowerMike G5]

I'd definitely get Applecare ... my old Dual G5's logic board and one of its processors literally died within days after the standard warranty on it ran out. Without the AppleCare, the invoice said the repair would've been $1200.

Better safe than sorry ...