Imac Failure Rates by Time Poll Please respond

[J&JPolangin]

...I haven't had a computer (yet) but ironically, my current ~10 yr old Dell 8100 P4 1.3 Ghz desktop killed 4 HDD's over the course of the 4 yr extended warranty...knock on wood, I've been running fine with the 5 HDD they installed before the warranty rant out ever since...

 

[kennyli]

In fairness, the guy has a point mate.

A defective Mighty Mouse does not indicate a problem with the iMac itself immediately. You rightly claimed it could be an issue with the USB port on the system, but then again anyone with common sense would immediately test the keyboard or another USB device, such as a USB pen drive, to test the port to rule out such a fault.

If it's just the mouse which is defective, then I'm afraid that's not a failure or defect on the part of the iMac, it's simply a defective peripheral.

OK, lets forget all about what's the TV commercial says about Apple's products. Forget how user friendly they are and forget how good their supports.

If your argument is right, than as long as the CPU & logic board of the iMac is working, the other parts such as Superdrive, Harddrive and etc are simply a defective peripheral?

PS: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/computer+peripheral

PSS: http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci212774,00.html

 

[BlackMax]

Still running. Purchased my Alu iMac August 2008.

 

[WeegieMac]

OK, lets forget all about what's the TV commercial says about Apple's products. Forget how user friendly they are and forget how good their supports.

If your argument is right, than as long as the CPU & logic board of the iMac is working, the other parts such as Superdrive, Harddrive and etc are simply a defective peripheral?

PS: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/computer+peripheral

PSS: http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci212774,00.html

There is nothing worse on a forum than someone who reads what you post but decides to translate it into completely different words in their own brain, honestly.

When did I mention the Television commercial, by which I presume you mean the "Lauren" one? Please, by all means quote me mentioning it in this thread, I implore you to do so ... I'll be here waiting, and I expect to be a long time.

To tackle your next point regarding peripherals, again you've just read something and your brain has came out with something utterly different. I pride myself on well constructed posts, but I hate having to explain myself twice.

You brought up the case of a defective mouse, and you rightly claimed that if the mouse does not work it could imply that there is a fault with one of the USB ports on the system. I then also said that any user with a hint of common sense would seek to eliminate doubt by trying another USB device in the port the mouse was plugged into. If the different device responds correctly, then you can deduct that the port is in working order and the error is with the mouse, which is merely a peripheral.

When did I call the SuperDrive or Hard Drive a peripheral. Again, quote me. I mentioned the mouse because you did, but had you actually bothered to read all the posts in the thread and not just those quoting you, you would have seen that a) I mentioned my previous Intel iMac has a faulty Matshita SuperDrive which died after approximately 2 years of use, although I blame my wife using damaged sitcom DVD's in some part, and b) I voted for the "after 2 years" option in the poll above.

Of course a SuperDrive, Hard Drive, or Logic Board is not a peripheral, do you honestly think I'm that stupid?

Those are integral parts of the INSIDE of the iMac and therefore are part of the system. If those fail, the system fails, and the system must be returned, repaired, scrapped, or whatever you want to do with it.

Again, you brought up the case of the mouse and I responded using that example, using nothing but plain, simple, facts. Let's go over it again:

Mouse does not work in USB port 1.

THEN: Try mouse in USB port 2 or 3, OR try different USB device in USB port 1.

IF: mouse works in USB ports 2 or 3, mouse is in working order, OR, USB device attached to USB port 1 does not respond, which means USB port 1 is suffering from a fault.

OR: mouse does not work in USB port 2 or 3, but USB device attached to USB port 1 responds as normal, you can deduct that the mouse is to blame and as a peripheral is separate from the system and can be detached and replaced with ease.

Try responding to what is said, not twisting what someone replies with and adding two heads to an existing monster.

 

[kennyli]

There is nothing worse on a forum than someone who reads what you post but decides to translate it into completely different words in their own brain, honestly.

When did I mention the Television commercial, by which I presume you mean the "Lauren" one? Please, by all means quote me mentioning it in this thread, I implore you to do so ... I'll be here waiting, and I expect to be a long time.

To tackle your next point regarding peripherals, again you've just read something and your brain has came out with something utterly different. I pride myself on well constructed posts, but I hate having to explain myself twice.

You brought up the case of a defective mouse, and you rightly claimed that if the mouse does not work it could imply that there is a fault with one of the USB ports on the system. I then also said that any user with a hint of common sense would seek to eliminate doubt by trying another USB device in the port the mouse was plugged into. If the different device responds correctly, then you can deduct that the port is in working order and the error is with the mouse, which is merely a peripheral.

When did I call the SuperDrive or Hard Drive a peripheral. Again, quote me. I mentioned the mouse because you did, but had you actually bothered to read all the posts in the thread and not just those quoting you, you would have seen that a) I mentioned my previous Intel iMac has a faulty Matshita SuperDrive which died after approximately 2 years of use, although I blame my wife using damaged sitcom DVD's in some part, and b) I voted for the "after 2 years" option in the poll above.

Of course a SuperDrive, Hard Drive, or Logic Board is not a peripheral, do you honestly think I'm that stupid?

Those are integral parts of the INSIDE of the iMac and therefore are part of the system. If those fail, the system fails, and the system must be returned, repaired, scrapped, or whatever you want to do with it.

Again, you brought up the case of the mouse and I responded using that example, using nothing but plain, simple, facts. Let's go over it again:

Mouse does not work in USB port 1.

THEN: Try mouse in USB port 2 or 3, OR try different USB device in USB port 1.

IF: mouse works in USB ports 2 or 3, mouse is in working order, OR, USB device attached to USB port 1 does not respond, which means USB port 1 is suffering from a fault.

OR: mouse does not work in USB port 2 or 3, but USB device attached to USB port 1 responds as normal, you can deduct that the mouse is to blame and as a peripheral is separate from the system and can be detached and replaced with ease.

Try responding to what is said, not twisting what someone replies with and adding two heads to an existing monster.

Please read again what I said and specially what did I quote about the definition of computer peripheral:

If your argument is right, than as long as the CPU & logic board of the iMac is working, the other parts such as Superdrive, Harddrive and etc are simply a defective peripheral?

PS: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/computer+peripheral

PSS: http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci212774,00.html

 

[WeegieMac]

Please read again what I said and specially what did I quote about the definition of computer peripheral:

If your argument is right, than as long as the CPU & logic board of the iMac is working, the other parts such as Superdrive, Harddrive and etc are simply a defective peripheral?

PS: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/computer+peripheral

PSS: http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci212774,00.html

No, you read what I posted again. I don't need you to send me sarcastic little links to "educate" me in what a computer peripheral is. A peripheral is an external device added to the computer such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, scanner, fax machine, internet telephone handset, etc.

You've somehow managed to think that me saying a defective mouse is nothing but a defective peripheral, which it IS, and hit out with some nonsense that "by my argument a faulty hard drive is nothing but a faulty peripheral.

No, YOU mentioned a faulty mouse and the possibility of it being a faulty USB port. It was ME who mentioned that if you a) test the mouse in another port or b) test another device in the same USB port, you would be able to deduct the real error, either a) a faulty PERIPHERAL, ie: the mouse, or b) faulty HARDWARE, in this case a USB port.

Honestly, you've read the entire thing wrong, which going by some of your previous posts could be a language issue. This crap about "if your arguement is correct, then a faulty hard drive is nothing but a faulty peripheral" is complete and utter nonsense on your part, because I simply said that by doing simple user checks, a faulty mouse (PERIPHERAL) can be identified, and a faulty peripheral does NOT indicate a faulty system when you have ruled out the system with the aforementioned checks.

Seriously, you've made enough of an arse of yourself as it is. Go away.

 

[kennyli]

Please read again what I said and specially what did I quote about the definition of computer peripheral:

If your argument is right, than as long as the CPU & logic board of the iMac is working, the other parts such as Superdrive, Harddrive and etc are simply a defective peripheral?

PS: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/computer+peripheral

PSS: http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci212774,00.html

Please allow me to make it even more simple for you. If someone said my iMac is not working, because the harddrive is dead, than according to your argument, the harddrive is only a peripheral and you can simply open the iMac and try to replace it yourself. A harddrive failure has nothing to do with the iMac, and your iMac is still working. Because a harddrive is only a peripheral!

Nothing personal. No offence. Have a nice day mate

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

kennyli, you're making no sense.

 

[Touchy]

I find the poll results interesting relative the need for Apple Care Plan. Most "failures" are in the first year when the unit is already covered! After that the chances of failure drop off dramatically. I can't decide if I would be willing to brave the small (but real) % in the second year without coverage. Any thoughts?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

So back on the subject, the poll indicates as with most electronic components, they usually fail within the 1st year or remain trouble free. Not too surprising.

 

[czachorski]

You could buy applecare...but that's my point. If your buying applecare you are waging on the probability that the computer is going to defect within a three year period.

I tell you the answer without a poll: statistically you are better off not buying it - the companies wouldn't sell it if they were not making money off it.

Some people, including me, know this, but will still buy it as an insurance policy on an expensive item. Plus, the iMac is difficult to user-service. Tech support is also a plus. But strictly from the financial "bet" you would be far better financially over the course of your consumer electronic buying life if you never ever bought warranties, and saved the money and just used it to replace anything that dies.

If your objective is to maximize your value, then you should buy a refurb or used iMac used and run it for a long time. Failure rates are very low after the first year of service and buying it used/refurb will save you some dough. But there is nothing like a brand new out of the box iMac.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I find the poll results interesting relative the need for Apple Care Plan. Most "failures" are in the first year when the unit is already covered! After that the chances of failure drop off dramatically. I can't decide if I would be willing to brave the small (but real) % in the second year without coverage. Any thoughts?

No, because it's basically a glorified laptop, you should still get Applecare. Yes, the chances of failure drop off dramatically, but if it does fail (~4%), it'd cost big time.

Edit: Alternatively, you can extend the warranty for another year if you purchase using a credit card that doubles the warranty, especially if you're resistant to warranties.

 

[kennyli]

kennyli, you're making no sense.

If you are kind enough, please tell me in what way I'm making no sense. If you think the word "peripheral" is mouse or keyboard only, please tell the website that with the definition of peripheral they are making no sense first.

In my understanding, as a customer, I don't care it is a mouse or logic board, if it is not working, it is Apple's responsibity to fix it. I will still call it a failure!

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

If you are kind enough, please tell me in what way I'm making no sense. If you think the word "peripheral" is mouse or keyboard only, please tell the website that with the definition of peripheral they are making no sense first.

I don't know about Hong Kong, but here in America, computer peripheral refers to mouse or keyboard only.

In my understanding, as a customer, I don't care it is a mouse or logic board, if it is not working, it is Apple's responsibity to fix it. I will still call it a failure!

Any company will get the customer to fix it first if it's easily resolvable over the phone. So you're saying you're refusing to turn the Mighty Mouse over and rub it on a sheet of paper to get the button to work (or test the USB port for that matter) and want Apple to do it?

 

[kennyli]

I don't know about Hong Kong, but here in America, computer peripheral refers to mouse or keyboard only.



Any company will get the customer to fix it first if it's easily resolvable over the phone. So you're saying you're refusing to turn the Mighty Mouse over and rub it on a sheet of paper to get the button to work (or test the USB port for that matter) and want Apple to do it?

I guess the website with definition that I am quoting have nothing to do with Hong Kong. They are from America too. Am I right?

One member said a mouse is only a peripheral and it has nothing to do whatsoever with the iMac and making this poll have biased! My argument is very simple.......... is a mouse failure have absolutely nothing to do with the iMac and it is NOT a iMac failure in gerenal?

This is a matter of macro view or micro view!

Than you said I am making no sense. But focusing on the way that how did I fix my mouse but missing the most important point that is a mouse failure really not a iMac failure?

Sorry, may be I have too much beer tonight. No oference

 

[Tudeski]

If your objective is to maximize your value, then you should buy a refurb or used iMac used and run it for a long time. Failure rates are very low after the first year of service and buying it used/refurb will save you some dough. But there is nothing like a brand new out of the box iMac.

If it is true that parts fail within the first year, and then after the first year they are lower, it would make perfect sense. However, I am finding alot of the issues that people have on this forum come from refurbished computers...or so it seems to me anyways...

Also, doesn't the shipping of the imac back and forth to customer and apple raise some question of overall reliability. That is a lot of miles to be putting on an imac, and shipping it, wherever it goes, has to play some role in overall life. Hard drives don't like vibrations, and shipping the imac back and forth has to take it's toll. So, in short, are you increasing your chances of specific parts failing in a refurbished, or are you saving money?

I don't know...that's why I posted this poll....

No concrete answers, i know....but a little foreshadowing is nice.

 

[czachorski]

If it is true that parts fail within the first year, and then after the first year they are lower, it would make perfect sense. However, I am finding alot of the issues that people have on this forum come from refurbished computers...or so it seems to me anyways...

Also, doesn't the shipping of the imac back and forth to customer and apple raise some question of overall reliability. That is a lot of miles to be putting on an imac, and shipping it, wherever it goes, has to play some role in overall life. Hard drives don't like vibrations, and shipping the imac back and forth has to take it's toll. So, in short, are you increasing your chances of specific parts failing in a refurbished, or are you saving money?

I don't know...that's why I posted this poll....

No concrete answers, i know....but a little foreshadowing is nice.

I know that the old adage that most component failures occur in the first year, and then drops off dramatically is a good general rule. But the shipping damage you point out is a good point, too. A refurb from Apple comes with a 1 year warranty, so it seems like anything damaged or loosened from shipping would fall under the old 1-year failure adage too.

Sure, refurbs may have issues too, but I am not so sure whether it would be at a higher failure rate than a brand new computer. There are arguments that could be made with it both ways.

If you are kind enough, please tell me in what way I'm making no sense. If you think the word "peripheral" is mouse or keyboard only, please tell the website that with the definition of peripheral they are making no sense first.

I think the biggest thing I personally see you saying that makes no sense to me is that my interest from such a poll would be to see the failure rates of the iMac, not the associated KB & Mouse. It is all in how the poll is worded, and what its intended use is.

If I buy an iMac, and the computer is fine, but the mouse is screwed up, I personally consider that a minor issue, and one that a 10 minute drive to the Apple store for a mouse exchange would fix. However, if the iMac has issues in the 1st year, is is a major pain to get it fixed, go without the computer, back-up and restore data, etc. For this reason, I would prefer to have data on the failure rate of the iMac only, and not have the survey be biased from including failures of what I consider to be minor, secondary items, like the mouse, KB or remote control.

I suspect that most people would concur, and not want the poll to report a bias by tracking mouse/KB issues as an iMac system failure. There are certainly others, like you apparently, who want the data together as a single failure statistic. I would suggest that you seek surveys or post your own poll of people who have had KB or mouse problems only, and then simply add the probabilities of the iMac computer only failure to the KB/mouse failure to determine your likelihood of getting an iMac system that experiences either an iMac computer failure or a KB/mouse failure.

 

[Tudeski]

...I haven't had a computer (yet) but ironically, my current ~10 yr old Dell 8100 P4 1.3 Ghz desktop killed 4 HDD's over the course of the 4 yr extended warranty...knock on wood, I've been running fine with the 5 HDD they installed before the warranty rant out ever since...

Seems to me that heat can be a major player in HDD failure.

 

[genmic]

Seems to me that heat can be a major player in HDD failure.

Yes there are a lot of factors that go into the failure of parts, not just the parts themselves. I don't know what these people are thinking saying that parts are parts and Apple can't be at fault. If you have an iMac that runs like an oven it's parts are going to have a shorter lifespan and that IS Apple's fault.

Trust me Apple's R & D is not looking for ways to improve iMac's longevity. Do I blame them? No because I'm one of the people that wants the thinner, prettier, faster iMac

 

[macmee]

Got this iMac in December. I love it to pieces. If it breaks, I'd cry!

 

[mschmitt]

My first iMac was a G5 Rev A. It died during it's third year of use when the logic board failed.

My second iMac, a Core Duo (early 2006) died two weeks ago. At first, we lost use of the OS X partition, even after reinstalling OS X, but the Windows XP partition still worked. My wife simply used it with Windows for about six months. Two weeks ago, it would no longer boot, so I tried booting from the Leopard DVD. When that worked, I just replaced the dead Seagate hard drive with a Western Digital.

The second iMac also has 17 vertical lines on the display, so we have it connected to an external display.

 

[Tudeski]

My first iMac was a G5 Rev A. It died during it's third year of use when the logic board failed.

My second iMac, a Core Duo (early 2006) died two weeks ago. At first, we lost use of the OS X partition, even after reinstalling OS X, but the Windows XP partition still worked. My wife simply used it with Windows for about six months. Two weeks ago, it would no longer boot, so I tried booting from the Leopard DVD. When that worked, I just replaced the dead Seagate hard drive with a Western Digital.

The second iMac also has 17 vertical lines on the display, so we have it connected to an external display.

Did you vote in the poll about those 2? Did you replace the hard drive yourself? That second imac that had the vertical lines in the display....how long did it take before they appeared?

 

[FoxHoundADAM]

Can't you just buy Applecare? I would even more interested to know what percentage of iMac's make it past 3 years.

You can, but really after spending $1,700 on new computer why do I have to feel obligated to spend another $150 for service to take care of it. For $1,700 it better not need service.

 

[trexbob]

iMac 20 Intel 2.16... late 2006 model, had a logic board replaced once after a few months, then another year or so later, a second logic board failure... I voted under two years, but it's more like within one year and then after another year. Why are logic boards so expensive anyways? Not buying any more macs here.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

You can, but really after spending $1,700 on new computer why do I have to feel obligated to spend another $150 for service to take care of it. For $1,700 it better not need service.

$1,700 is not a lot of money. Even the 20k Mac Pro doesn't come with 3-year Applecare.