AppleCare Protection Plan (APP) -- necessary?

[vancenase]

Would you guys suggest getting an APP with the purchase of a new TiBook? I really want one I'm leaning towards the 17"er, but I'm anxioius to see if a 15"er comes out with specs comparable to that of the 17" in the near future.

edit: 'necessary' is a bad word ... is it 'worth' it?

[hschickel]

One repair to a laptop makes it worth it. I wouldn't leave home without it.

Hugh

ps - wait til just before your first year is up. If the book get's stolen or destroyed by you you won't have used up the warranty $.

[vancenase]

wait until i've had the tibook ~ 1yr then buy? is that possible?

[hschickel]

You can buy Applecare up to your one year aniversary of purchase. If you register your book Apple will be nice enough to call you about a month before your original warranty expires.

Hugh

[tlarkin]

Quote: Originally posted by hschickel You can buy Applecare up to your one year aniversary of purchase. If you register your book Apple will be nice enough to call you about a month before your original warranty expires. Hugh

I believe it has to have at least 90days of warranty left to purchase apple care. So I would check up on that. I know I cannot sell applecare to a customer via gsx unless the unit has 90days left of warranty on it. However, apple customer service is pretty good, and usually takes care of the customer in my personal experiences with them. And the first time you have your computer repaired out of its original warranty it will pay for itself. The only downside to apple care with laptops is apple care does not cover screens. Where other 3rd party warranty providers cover screen damage. I know this because I deal with extended warranty companies all the time, and believe me its not that fun.

[yubbie2]

mine has already paid for itself, mostly through minor stuff - definitely 110% worth buying it.

[petey]

i bought APP on my iBook 2 days before the 1 year anniversary.

i'd join the chorus and recommend APP on any laptop purchase.

[tlarkin]

okay that must be some kind of weird policy with my company and not apple then

[yellow]

Just to hear my own voice.. err.. read my own words, I'm going to chime and and totally reiterate what everyone has said:

For the relatively low price, it's completely worth it. Even if you never use it, because you'll want to kick your own @$$ for not buying it if you do need it.

[tlarkin]

Bottom line:

Apple care - you get over the phone tech support no additional charge, do not cover any kind of screen damage to laptops

other 3rd party extended warranty (warrantech, federal, etc)- no over the phone tech support, but they will cover screen damage, and they will have buy out options, ie cost of repair (parts + labor) exceeds 80% of actual cost of machine, they replace it

So you may want to look around at other warranty plans. For example you can buy screen protection (sperately w/ your extended warranty) which will cover the screen, warrantech does this. So basically you can drop your laptop and crack the screen (only if you have screen protection) and get it replaced. This is no joke, I have replaced several "abused" screens at the cost of warrantech not the customer. In general the cheapest screen I have ever got was $480 and the most expensive was $1400. So screens are a big chunck of getting repairs.

Also NO ONE covers software under warranty, so you will be charge if you have someone repair software issues.

[zeb]

While these are all good reasons to get the APP, or another warranty, I feel the other perspective is worth a mention. I have never purchased any additional protection plans in the 11 years I have been getting Macs (mostly due to lack of money ) and I have never had to call tech support, or get repairs. I think it all depends on how you expect to treat your equipment. I tend to be ultra-finicky when it comes to gear. (Don't be fooled by the RV - it's not indicative of lifestyle )

The fact that you are getting an TiBook, however does require some extra consideration (hence your question, I know). My most recent machine is a TiBook (1.5 years now), I carry it around frequently and there isn't a scratch on it. As long as you think you are the careful type (and if you get a nice bag - like one from Brenthaven) then I think you can get away without the AAP.

I have nothing against buying a warranty if you have the money, but personally I'd spend the extra money on an iPod!

[zeb]

Wait! Did I just say that? Murphey will be out to get my machine now!

[vancenase]

thanks for all the responses! i could use the APP $$ to buy an iPod, but apple is running a deal for students right now ... $300 rebate w/ purchase of TiBook & iPod (may apply to other systems as well)