ProCare. What's the deal?

[OldCorpse]

I just got an email invitation to buy into ProCare. I thought you had to buy your mac at an apple store or from the online applestore to be able to purchase ProCare. I bought mine from amazon. Anyone have any feedback on ProCare... is it something we should want? I know it's individual, but I don't see anything especially compelling right off the bat... what's the deal?

 

[eva01]

They revamped their procare service, that is why you got the email. I got it as well.

 

[jsw]

Yes. They've added the "wonderful" benefits of a yearly tune-up and service at any Apple Store (in the past, you could only go to where you'd bought the Mac). I didn't see anything else new.

Yawn.

Oh - BTW, you can buy ProCare at any Apple Store (and, I'm guessing, online now), regardless of where you bought the Mac.

 

[rdowns]

IMO, simply a way for Apple to have you part with another (very high margin) $100.

 

[jsw]

IMO, simply a way for Apple to have you part with another (very high margin) $100.

But... but... you can cut in line of other people at the Genius Bar. I mean, geez, isn't that worth $100/year?

I had it for a year because it was free to the first purchasers of PowerMac G5s. Back then, they promised discounts, etc. Never happened.

Worthless program, IMHO, unless perhaps you're a business owner with multiple Macs and you need priority repairs.

Also, as an indicator perhaps, the links in the email do not, currently, work for me.

 

[OldCorpse]

Also, as an indicator perhaps, the links in the email do not, currently, work for me.

Lollerskates ... indeed the "learn more" link and "restrictions and limitations" link don't work... which is why I posted my q... wanted to find out more, and Apple was too incompetent to come up with links that weren't broken.

Anywho, sounds like it's a lot of ado about nothing much at all. I think I'll keep my $100 (er, that is, spend it with Apple, but on something else ).

 

[iGary]

Lame - I bitched about it today to the guy at the Genius Bar (who thought I was some kind of idiot until I started talking Terminal to him). Lame, lame, lame.

I got the e-mail and quickly deleted it.

 

[jsw]

(who thought I was some kind of idiot until I started talking Terminal to him)

Then he knew you were? Just kidding!

How do you talk Terminal? Some Mac version of the Terminator?

"Ah'll be Mach!"

"Hasta la Windows Vista, baby!"

"Phased-plasma nano in the forty gigabyte range."

" I know now why you cry. But it's something I can never do. ...unless you can't fix my Mac."

 

[jsw]

The website is working again. Excellent. The grey card with an Apple on it makes me want to spent that $100... especially now that I know I can drag my half-ton PMG5 in annually so they can clean it.

 

[funkytastic]

IMO, simply a way for Apple to have you part with another (very high margin) $100.

Actually, for some people, ProCare is a great buy. Think about it. You get to schedule one-on-one training sessions, for up to an hour each, up to once a week for a year. That's as many as 52 hourlong lessons for $100, if you use it to its full potential.

This is really good for two types of people: those who are new to computers, and the elderly. Would I ever schedule a ProCare appointment? No. Like most of you, I like to roll up my sleeves and have fun experimenting and learning on my own. But I bought ProCare for my grandmother, who is going on 70, and she absolutely loves it. She called me to tell me how at her last ProCare the Mac Genius showed her step-by-step how to put a slideshow to music using iPhoto and iTunes. She's having a lot of fun with her new iMac, and she wouldn't even know how to do much with it if it wasn't for her ProCare. Now she goes every week for an hour. This same sort of thing applies to people who are using a home computer for the first time.

As far as I'm concerned, the "flash your card and get quick service" aspect is neat, but not at all the main attraction. It's a way to help beginners get to the next level in using their computer. And if you use it like my grandma does, at $100 for a year it's a steal.

 

[MUCKYFINGERS]

Actually, for some people, ProCare is a great buy. Think about it. You get to schedule one-on-one training sessions, for up to an hour each, up to once a week for a year. That's as many as 52 hourlong lessons for $100, if you use it to its full potential.

This is really good for two types of people: those who are new to computers, and the elderly. Would I ever schedule a ProCare appointment? No. Like most of you, I like to roll up my sleeves and have fun experimenting and learning on my own. But I bought ProCare for my grandmother, who is going on 70, and she absolutely loves it. She called me to tell me how at her last ProCare the Mac Genius showed her step-by-step how to put a slideshow to music using iPhoto and iTunes. She's having a lot of fun with her new iMac, and she wouldn't even know how to do much with it if it wasn't for her ProCare. Now she goes every week for an hour. This same sort of thing applies to people who are using a home computer for the first time.

As far as I'm concerned, the "flash your card and get quick service" aspect is neat, but not at all the main attraction. It's a way to help beginners get to the next level in using their computer. And if you use it like my grandma does, at $100 for a year it's a steal.

nevermind.

 

[jsw]

Actually, for some people, ProCare is a great buy. Think about it. You get to schedule one-on-one training sessions, for up to an hour each, up to once a week for a year. That's as many as 52 hourlong lessons for $100, if you use it to its full potential.
...

Thanks - that was a very interesting perspective, and it made me see how some people really could make use of the service.