Word of advice to those thinking about buying an Macintosh: Buy Applecare!

eSDee · 12-05-2003, 01:38 AM

So I have a 15 inch Titanium powerbook that my work got for me about a year and a half ago. When I purchased it, I purchased it along with a few other apple computers. I bought a bunch of applecare's with it(Apple's warranty program) but somehow the applecare that I purchased for my laptop turned out to be the applecare that you would buy for a Desktop machine rather than a laptop. I never realized the mixup and so by the time I figured it out it was too late. I was past the 1 year time limit.

Recently my screen developed a line of dead pixels right through the middle horizontally. I took it in for repair, and they told me it was going to cost $400 to replace the screen. I was like Doh! oh well that sucks but gotta fix it(my work picking up the tab of course). Then I get a call saying that the 400 bucks estimate was an estimate for computers with Applecare. For a computer that was not covered by Applecare the cost will be:

...

...

drumroll..

TWELVE HUNDRED BUCKS!!! AMERICAN!!! I could not believe that shiot. I could still get it repaired but I don't think it's worth it. I could get a faster powerbook for about 2 g's so it looks like I might have to turn this into a desktop machine with an external monitor. Bigtime bummer.

So, the moral of the story is don't be a cheapskate and spend $250 on the Applecare. $hit happens.

ribitch · 12-05-2003, 05:11 AM

apple repair prices are always high when they first tell you.

my fiance has an iBook. After a month of having it, she trips with a glass of water. The display was totally jacked. They estimated 750+, but later the estimated 250. We replaced it for just under 250.

if you bitch enough they may convert that applecare to a portable applecare. Just play dumb with them.

Jeffbx · 12-05-2003, 05:36 AM

I'd say the same is true for ANY laptop... buy the extended warranty, and if it's offered, buy the accidental damage insurance coverage as well!

InfiniteNothing · 12-05-2003, 10:27 AM

Lap tops are definatly the exception to the rule when it comes to warrentys. I agree with all the above. And I love how quick Apple is with repairs and how quick and easy their tech support is too.

eSDee · 12-31-2003, 03:55 PM

So I get my laptop back from the repair shop with the line still through the middle since I decided not to get it fixed. About a week later I get a call from the Apple liason here saying that Apple is still trying to charge them $370(the original estimate) for the repair even though they didn't do squat. The liason keeped calling trying to get this cost reversed, and it went up pretty high until it reached some kind of management. The manager said that for some reason, it was going to be too difficult to reverse the charge, so that if he just sent the powerbook back to Apple, they would fix it for the original estimate. I got a call telling me this, and I said that I would just keep my laptop the way it was.

..

..

..

YEAH RIGHT I SENT THAT BICH BACK TO APPLE!!!

I just got it back and its as good as new. I am stoked and glad that sometimes screw-ups can go your way once in a while

Happy New Years all.

seqiro · 12-31-2003, 04:25 PM

While I would never bother with an extended warranty on a PC desktop, for laptops and Macs that you plan on keeping longer than the original warranty it is essential.

ANY repair to a Powerbook in the first three years will cost more than you spent on AppleCare.

I bought AppleCare on my new 17" AlBook even though I fully plan to sell it the day the G5 'books are released.

LPMiller · 12-31-2003, 08:08 PM

Unless you get the parts off of ebay, and do it yourself. Then it's a lot cheaper.

But basically, anything you spend more on then you normally like to spend, get the extended warranty.

12-05-2003, 01:38 AM	#1
eSDee Old Skooler Numba 1 Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Diego Posts: 10,063	Word of advice to those thinking about buying an Macintosh: Buy Applecare! So I have a 15 inch Titanium powerbook that my work got for me about a year and a half ago. When I purchased it, I purchased it along with a few other apple computers. I bought a bunch of applecare's with it(Apple's warranty program) but somehow the applecare that I purchased for my laptop turned out to be the applecare that you would buy for a Desktop machine rather than a laptop. I never realized the mixup and so by the time I figured it out it was too late. I was past the 1 year time limit. Recently my screen developed a line of dead pixels right through the middle horizontally. I took it in for repair, and they told me it was going to cost $400 to replace the screen. I was like Doh! oh well that sucks but gotta fix it(my work picking up the tab of course). Then I get a call saying that the 400 bucks estimate was an estimate for computers with Applecare. For a computer that was not covered by Applecare the cost will be: ... ... drumroll.. TWELVE HUNDRED BUCKS!!! AMERICAN!!! I could not believe that shiot. I could still get it repaired but I don't think it's worth it. I could get a faster powerbook for about 2 g's so it looks like I might have to turn this into a desktop machine with an external monitor. Bigtime bummer. So, the moral of the story is don't be a cheapskate and spend $250 on the Applecare. $hit happens. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 days ~ Willie Nelson 3 days I dread to see arrive 3 days I hate to be alive 3 days filled with tears and sorrow yesterday today and tomorrow

12-05-2003, 05:11 AM	#2
ribitch Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,672	apple repair prices are always high when they first tell you. my fiance has an iBook. After a month of having it, she trips with a glass of water. The display was totally jacked. They estimated 750+, but later the estimated 250. We replaced it for just under 250. if you bitch enough they may convert that applecare to a portable applecare. Just play dumb with them. __________________ http://ribitch.com/ipod.html

12-05-2003, 10:27 AM	#4
InfiniteNothing Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: San Diego Posts: 10,086	Lap tops are definatly the exception to the rule when it comes to warrentys. I agree with all the above. And I love how quick Apple is with repairs and how quick and easy their tech support is too. __________________ As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.

12-31-2003, 03:55 PM	#5
eSDee Old Skooler Numba 1 Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Diego Posts: 10,063	Update! A Christmas Miracle! So I get my laptop back from the repair shop with the line still through the middle since I decided not to get it fixed. About a week later I get a call from the Apple liason here saying that Apple is still trying to charge them $370(the original estimate) for the repair even though they didn't do squat. The liason keeped calling trying to get this cost reversed, and it went up pretty high until it reached some kind of management. The manager said that for some reason, it was going to be too difficult to reverse the charge, so that if he just sent the powerbook back to Apple, they would fix it for the original estimate. I got a call telling me this, and I said that I would just keep my laptop the way it was. .. .. .. YEAH RIGHT I SENT THAT BICH BACK TO APPLE!!! I just got it back and its as good as new. I am stoked and glad that sometimes screw-ups can go your way once in a while Happy New Years all.

12-31-2003, 04:25 PM	#6
seqiro Commander Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western MA Posts: 1,183	While I would never bother with an extended warranty on a PC desktop, for laptops and Macs that you plan on keeping longer than the original warranty it is essential. ANY repair to a Powerbook in the first three years will cost more than you spent on AppleCare. I bought AppleCare on my new 17" AlBook even though I fully plan to sell it the day the G5 'books are released. __________________ Paul Beasi

12-05-2003, 05:36 AM	#3
Jeffbx Fleet Admiral Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,390	I'd say the same is true for ANY laptop... buy the extended warranty, and if it's offered, buy the accidental damage insurance coverage as well!

12-31-2003, 08:08 PM	#7
LPMiller Chief News Editor & Master of His Domain Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Minnesota Posts: 8,161	Unless you get the parts off of ebay, and do it yourself. Then it's a lot cheaper. But basically, anything you spend more on then you normally like to spend, get the extended warranty. __________________ lpmiller Chief News Editor Nobel Prize Nominee Reverend in the Universal Life Church Once Shot A Man For Snoring Too Loud Way Too Lazy To Change His Signature "The strength to change what I can, the inability to accept what I can't, and the incapacity to tell the difference." - Calvin and Hobbes

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