Mac Protection Plans

[CrimsonTribe]

So I'm about to buy a 13" Macbook Pro (don't turn this into a Mac vs. PC thread, I've already made up my mind) and I was wondering from other Mac owners, how vital is it to purchase a protection plan?

[OrangeJerseys]

I would definitely get it. Especially on a MacBook or other larger mac purchase. The thing is, wait until the regular warranty is about to expire, then get the APP. I've had nothing but excellent customer service from Apple.

[CrimsonTribe]

I would definitely get it. Especially on a MacBook or other larger mac purchase. The thing is, wait until the regular warranty is about to expire, then get the APP. I've had nothing but excellent customer service from Apple.

How do I go about doing this? For instance, if I purchase the computer from MacMall or MacConnection or some other authorized reseller, can I go back to them or Apple after a year and extend my plan? Also, if I wait a year is it cheaper or am I just deferring the cost for a year?

Thanks

[OrangeJerseys]

How do I go about doing this? For instance, if I purchase the computer from MacMall or MacConnection or some other authorized reseller, can I go back to them or Apple after a year and extend my plan? Also, if I wait a year is it cheaper or am I just deferring the cost for a year?

Thanks

I'm pretty sure you don't have to get an APP at the time of your purchase.

Macrumors.com (http://www.macrumors.com/) is the OH of mac websites. The best way to search it is Mroogle (http://mroogle.edesignuk.com/).

The APP comes in it's own box and they are specific to each piece of merchandise Apple sells.

[McLovin]

What's the factory warranty term?

I do not believe in extended warranties - at all. If something is going to break, it usually breaks quickly. And if I get unlucky, I'll just buy a new one. It's a gamble, sure. But I could take all the money I've never spent on extended warranties and buy the sweetest macbook in town.

My G4 iBook is 6 years old, still going strong, just had to buy a $50 battery half way through.

[McNulty]

APP doesn't cover drops and spills. So I took a big pass.

[RShack]

Not sure exactly when, but Consumer Reports looked into extended warranties for consumer electronic stuff and took a dim view of them. Apparently, they are cash cows for whoever sells them and rip-offs for the consumers who get reamed because they want "peace of mind". Now, if something breaks at the right time, you just might be one of the few who gets their money's worth, but odds are you won't. With electronic stuff, chances are it's either gonna break soon or last for a long time. The break-soon scenario is covered by the standard warranty. The mechanical bits are mostly limited to drives and keyboards, and both of those can be replaced for not-much.

[TGO]

Not sure exactly when, but Consumer Reports looked into extended warranties for consumer electronic stuff and took a dim view of them. Apparently, they are cash cows for whoever sells them and rip-offs for the consumers who get reamed because they want "peace of mind". Now, if something breaks at the right time, you just might be one of the few who gets their money's worth, but odds are you won't. With electronic stuff, chances are it's either gonna break soon or last for a long time. The break-soon scenario is covered by the standard warranty. The mechanical bits are mostly limited to drives and keyboards, and both of those can be replaced for not-much.

Laptops are probably the only thing for which I've ever bought an extended warranty. The thing that makes me jumpy with laptops is the screen, which I think is the exception to your "it's gonna break soon or not at all" rule. My Thinkpad's fried after two years, and I had the three year warranty so it got replaced free within 48 hours (but of course not until after I spent at least 2 hours on the phone running diagnostics when I knew the screen was fried, but that's another story).

That is the reason I got the extended warranty on the MacBook I now have. Apple's screens are more expensive ($200+ vs. 100-130 for most PC models) and besides, how the hell am I going to replace the screen in a unibody frame? I'm sure there's a way since there are screws on the bottom, but I wouldn't have been able to deal with it. And I believe Apple charges $700-900 to do the replacement screen. At that point I'd be buying a new machine for 1k.

Now, if I sit back and think about it logically, what are the odds that the screen blows up on me after one year but before the point where I'm comfortable buying a new machine (let's say three years just for kicks)? Probably not that high. The probability likely made it dumb for me to buy the warranty. But I did it because at the time I was buying I really freaked myself out about the screen blowing up.

If I could do it again I guess I probably wouldn't buy the warranty, at least not right away. Oh well.

[PitchingWins]

So I'm about to buy a 13" Macbook Pro (don't turn this into a Mac vs. PC thread, I've already made up my mind) and I was wondering from other Mac owners, how vital is it to purchase a protection plan?

I have owned Apple products for 20 years. I have never had one fail, other than things I caused (I.E. getting drunk and stepping on it.). You can purchase the ACPP (apple care protection plan) later or at your purchase. It is the same cost. If you have not yet purchased your mac, I would suggest looking into the Refurbished products from Apple. They are the same models as the new ones. Yet you get about 20% off. You still get the full warranty, and you would never know they are refurbs. I have bought my past 4 that way. The only thing that I have ever had to replace is the battery on one of my Macbooks, though it did have over 500 cycles on it. If you have any questions about the refurb program shoot me a PM and I can help answer your questions.

[CrimsonTribe]

Thanks for all the help everyone. I ended up getting a protection plan, but that's because I got it for $190 as opposed to $250. I'm basically paying for piece of mind b/c I'm going to end up taking my laptop everywhere.

[sbauer]

That is the reason I got the extended warranty on the MacBook I now have. Apple's screens are more expensive ($200+ vs. 100-130 for most PC models) and besides, how the hell am I going to replace the screen in a unibody frame? I'm sure there's a way since there are screws on the bottom, but I wouldn't have been able to deal with it. And I believe Apple charges $700-900 to do the replacement screen. At that point I'd be buying a new machine for 1k.


I've never had a screen die within the timeframe of an extended warranty. I had one die a year after and it was because of the back light. Not a big deal.

Apple screens are also not more than $200. $115 (which includes shipping) will get you a 15" glossy screen. They're a little more expensive than one that I had to get for my sister's laptop ($80), but still not bad.

I just don't believe in warranties for computers. They don't make sense. I know some people buy a warranty for their laptop mainly because of the battery. Outside of anything like that, what on a laptop breaks that isn't your fault? Screen? Maybe, but I wouldn't bet $250 on it. Hard drive? $80 will get you a new one.

I've had my MacBook Pro for about a year. I haven't had any issues.

[CrimsonTribe]

So I got my Macbook yesterday (awesome!). What is the best way to move my files--mainly pics and music--to the Mac? I'm keeping the PC around for work use only.

[RShack]

So I got my Macbook yesterday (awesome!). What is the best way to move my files--mainly pics and music--to the Mac? I'm keeping the PC around for work use only.
IMO, it's best to have a USB external HD around for back-up purposes anyway. They're pretty cheap. So, if you have one anyway, you can use it for this purpose first. Then, you can clone your Mac HD to it, so if you're HD crashes you're covered without facing a major disaster.

[srock]

I bought a 15" MBP recently, aluminum with the dual video cards, and no I didn't drop $300 on a warranty. IMHO, which is far from gold, a laptop is kinda like a car. You will know if it's a lemon pretty quick, like in the first year.

Now, if your a fairly accident prone person and tend drop/spill stuff, then looking into some protection for that isn't a bad idea.

And for backup, and my opinion is gold on this subject, you should use something automatic and geographically redundant. I use Carbonite. I think Apple offers something if you have a .mac account. Or if you don't keep anything of significant value on your computer, then don't worry about a backup.

[srock]

So I got my Macbook yesterday (awesome!). What is the best way to move my files--mainly pics and music--to the Mac? I'm keeping the PC around for work use only.

It comes with a transfer tool. I have not used it with a PC, but it should copy everything for you over your network. You should plug both machines into the same router/switch with wires when you do it.

I used this tool to get all my stuff my old Mac Mini to my new MBP and it was flawless. The only thing I had to copy manually was a 10 GB file which was a virtual machine. Most people don't have 10 GB data files laying around so it shouldn't be a big issue for you.

[BRobinsonfan]

Not sure exactly when, but Consumer Reports looked into extended warranties for consumer electronic stuff and took a dim view of them. Apparently, they are cash cows for whoever sells them and rip-offs for the consumers who get reamed because they want "peace of mind". Now, if something breaks at the right time, you just might be one of the few who gets their money's worth, but odds are you won't. With electronic stuff, chances are it's either gonna break soon or last for a long time. The break-soon scenario is covered by the standard warranty. The mechanical bits are mostly limited to drives and keyboards, and both of those can be replaced for not-much.

What rshack said. I've had a mac lap top of one kind or another since they first came out - I've never had a problem except with Third Party RAM from MacMall. Plus - how long do you keep a lap top? I upgrade about every three years or so... not so old that I can't get some money out of it... while enabling me to get a better deal on the latest and the greatest.