Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Odds and ends
The case for AppleCare
With the holidays approaching, I know more than one family will be getting a new Mac. Many first time buyers whom I've guided through the purchase of their first Mac ask me, "is AppleCare worth it?"
For your new Mac, absolutely; I speak from first-hand experience. Now, I'm a pretty capable guy. I can fix application problems, recover data, and reinstall operating systems like a champ. I've replaced power supplies, installed memory, and upgraded hard disks. I thought I didn't need AppleCare. That is, until I bought my iMac G5 a few years ago.
It was a great computer, but it had some manufacturing defects that reared their ugly heads well after the standard one year warranty expired. Turns out I needed a new logic board (or motherboard, for our PC friends). Outside of the one year warranty, that was a $900 proposition.
Thankfully, my best buddy, an Apple Certified Repair Technician, found that there was a logic board replacement program for my iMac that had me covered even after the one year warranty expired. Even so, I knew I wouldn't be so lucky next time. I learned my lesson: AppleCare is worth every penny the day you need a part replaced.
For your iPhone and iPod, it depends. If you're hard on your devices -- throwing them in bags, on tables, and are generally rough with them -- AppleCare can cover some damage. (The same is true with coverage for a laptop, too, with the notable exception of liquid damage.) Also, AppleCare covers having your battery replaced if after a year or two it doesn't hold a charge anymore. If you plan on keeping your device around for a while, AppleCare is $60 well spent.
Now, I can't speak for third-party retailers' warranty programs (from places like Best Buy, CompUSA or Circuit City, for example), because it depends on whether the location near you has an Apple Certified Repair Technician on staff or on call. My best buddy worked at CompUSA, and he did an awesome job. Know, though, that AppleCare will cover you at any Apple Certified retailer, no matter where you take it.
It's an up-front cost, yes, but it can save you a lot of money down the road. If, like me, you buy a refurbished Mac, you can think of it as using the refurb discount to get AppleCare for free (or nearly so).
So, bottom line: Is AppleCare worth it? I think so.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
karkisuni said 3:37PM on 12-22-2008
90 days? Apple has a year warranty on everything now.
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Alexis1537 said 3:41PM on 12-22-2008
In fact, Apple's had a one year warranty for some years... 90 days is for phone support.
For what it's worth I say stick to the following rule:
- Yes for laptops, Mac Pros;
- no for anything else.
Tidings etc.
A
atheken said 9:06PM on 12-22-2008
I think it depends on what the item is, for battery-type stuff, I am not sure that the warranty is a full year.
Also, keep in mind that when you use certain credit cards, they often double the manufacturer's warranty, so you might be getting an extra year of warranty from that.
Next, keep in mind that the 3 year equation really only works if *you* keep the device that long, and you don't have faith in the products you're buying - if that's the case, you might want to think about some other device. I pretty much run machines through their paces is the first few months, and outside of physical negligence, they don't usually break after the first few months (there are always exceptions).
Finally, with $25bn in the bank, it seems like Apple is *able* to replace things and provide a better quality of service than any other company out there. This is exactly the reason you want to buy from a company that doesn't NEED your business, because then they can afford to do the *right* thing, even when it cuts into their short-term bottom line.
Fritz Laurel said 12:56PM on 12-23-2008
Yes, and because they have a 1-yr warranty, you have a whole year to wait until you really need to purchase AppleCare.
For some people, the extra $100-$300 (give or take) can make a big difference, so I often recommend waiting. Just make sure you don't let the deadline pass!
Libby said 1:34PM on 12-24-2008
apple care is a MUST! I had one of the first intel mac books, which was acting up this weekend. i had had a few issues with it, and my apple care always fixed it. this time, however, it would have taken 10 days to replace the logic board, which i didn't have since i was going out of town. what did apple do? they gave me one of the brand new aluminum cased green macs is what they did. a brand new computer from the $250 apple care? yeah, i'm down.
Timmay said 3:37PM on 12-22-2008
Wouldn't the warrenty on the hardware be 1 year? I thought the 90 day limit was on the phone support only.
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Robert Palmer said 3:57PM on 12-22-2008
You're right, it's one year. Sorry about that. I've fixed the story. The story is still true, though -- the iMac wasn't covered by the warranty, however long it was.
ItGuy said 4:21PM on 12-22-2008
from http://www.apple.com/imac
"Your iMac comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. "
The scary part is that this person writes for TUAW....
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Michael Rose said 5:13PM on 12-22-2008
It was an error, it was fixed.
scotty0101 said 3:44PM on 12-22-2008
The poster didn't do their homework. Apple warranties all hardware for 1 year. Phone support runs out after 90 days unless you purchase applecare which increases phone support to 3 years total and hardware to 3 years total as well.
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Bart said 3:45PM on 12-22-2008
Here in Europe, we have a one year warranty by law, no exceptions. And, depending on the country and how willing you are to actually go after it, you have two or even three years warranty for durable electronics, such as a Mac.
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Mike T said 3:46PM on 12-22-2008
While I agree that AppleCare is a worthwhile expense for portables and people who are uncomfortable or unable to make repairs themselves, the example you used is not applicable. The original Apple warrantee is for one year. 90 days is just for phone support. The problem you had was not taken care of because you had AppleCare, but because Apple realized they had a high failure rate caused by bad capacitors and put the logic board replacement program in place to take care of it.
How does your example justify AppleCare?
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Cam said 6:34PM on 12-22-2008
The post justifies AppleCare because, had the poster (Robert?) NOT been so lucky as to have been covered by Apple's Warranty Extension Program, he'd have had a $900 repair to consider. If he'd had AppleCare and the Extension Program NOT been in place, he'd have been covered.
I thought it was sickeningly clear.
And to Robert (can I call ya Bob?) - quit trying to help. We don't appreciate it. Unless you're accurate and precise about all of the minutia. Oh, and unless your post agrees with our opinions to begin with.
I hope all you trolls find lives or choke on your egos. Don't you have some darkness you could be cursing?!
senatorcongressman said 7:43AM on 12-23-2008
Another case for applecare...
I bought a 20" g5 imac without applecare. I also had my logic board replaced under the repair program around the 1yr mark. This prompted me to buy the applecare, which you can purchase ANY time during the first year. Then it failed again along with the power supply. The hard drive failed shortly after that, but I replaced it myself with a larger one. At about 2yr9mo the logic board (and possibly power supply) failed again. Because I had applecare, and 3 major repairs the apple store gave me a new intel imac. They even upgraded me to the current model with a MSRP $100 above the model I purchased nearly 3yr ago, the 24"er. They even pulled my hard drive and aftermarket ram and gave them to me to keep or sell on ebay.
Apple makes great machines, but they cram alot of tech into a small space, especially in the imac, mac mini and notebooks. Small space means heat buildup and failure potential. For those items applecare is a good idea, and you can purchase it later as long as your machine is still within its 1yr warranty period.
Beware with notebooks, any apparent physical damage is not covered, but should not void your warranty on the machine. (e.g. a cracked screen doesn't invalidate your warranty on the logic board.)
On ipods or iphones, I don't know if its worth it as new models come out frequently and are cheap enough that upgrades are quite attractive.
LuminousNerd said 2:18PM on 12-23-2008
The post doesn't justify AppleCare at all. The program was in place because Apple always covers manufacturer defects regardless of warranty status. "What if the program hadn't been in place" doesn't apply... If it hadn't been in place, it would be because there wasn't a problem and the iMac wouldn't have broken (or, if it did, it wouldn't be a manufacturer defect that caused it). Your logic is sentimental and therefore flawed.
You want to buy a warranty? You have to think like a professional gambler, because that's what you're doing: gambling. Sometimes it's worth it, but in the vast majority of situations it's just another way for a company to get your money.
However AppleCare is definitely worth it because it's essentially unlimited tech support at Apple Store or on the phone. They will answer just about any question you have, and that makes it well worth the cost. But not because of the warranty, which in fact would be an incredibly stupid reason to buy it (seeing as needing repairs on a Mac in the first 3 years but not in the first year is highly unlikely, and the likelihood that those repairs would exceed the cost of AppleCare is even smaller).
Howie Isaacks said 3:47PM on 12-22-2008
I used to be a Mac Genius at the Apple store at Willow Bend and before that, I used to be a Mac Specialist. Most of the holiday buyers did not buy AppleCare because they felt that the person they were buying for should by AppleCare themselves. I guess I can understand that but, here's another thought... What happens when the computer (God forbid) fails outside of the initial one year warranty? Do want to make sure that the computer/iPod/iPhone is covered under warranty so that your friend or loved one will appreciate the gift even more or, do you want them to think of you as a cheap bastard who bought them a gift that they are now having to pay to repair or replace? AppleCare is a worthwhile investment. I will say though that Apple needs improve the coverage -- possibly lengthen it. Other computer manufacturers have a longer warranty period on some of their products. I just bought an Asus wide screen DVI monitor a few days ago and it has a 3 year warranty right out of the box. I was amazed to see that.
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AppBeacon said 4:44PM on 12-22-2008
@Howie Ahh... WillowBend. I swear the Apple Store is the only thing that keeps that whole mall open. The place is like a ghost town. There are more people in the Apple Store than the entire rest of the mall put together.
As for AppleCare : DEFINITELY get it. With PCs, I've never bought extended warranties because I can fix most things myself. However, after paying the Apple Tax, you'd be crazy not to pay that little bit extra. The costs of replacement Mac parts are insane because you simply have no one else to buy them from.
Zimmie said 5:56PM on 12-22-2008
I remember going to that Apple Store for the 102 Minutes of Jaguar. That was *amazing*. The line went out of the store, around one food court, down a long hall, around another food court, then outside. My dad and I stood in it for ages, but it was totally worth the wait. We didn't even have any machines that could run 10.2 at the time, we just went to play with it.
And yeah, the warranty coverage is a bit anemic, especially considering how long people tend to keep their Macs. I was still using my PowerBook from 2003 until someone broke into my apartment and stole it a few months ago. For the kind of work I do, it would have lasted another four years or so.
The coverage should also be broader. My skin oils dissolve metal. That PowerBook I mentioned had enormous chemical burns on both wrist rests from my skin dissolving them. Apple told me it wouldn't be covered under the warranty. I think it should be, because it's not like I was abusing it.
roberto said 3:48PM on 12-22-2008
you don't have to buy it immediately with the new MB, MBP or MBA.
just be share to buy applecare BEFORE the existing 1 year warranty expires.
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Chris said 8:55PM on 12-23-2008
Everyone has the intention of buying it later, but in my experience working at an Apple Store, few people actually remembered to. I still think it's best to buy AppleCare at the same time as the computer. 1 year goes by fast, you get busy, and then the year is up and you can no longer buy the coverage.