should I buy apple care

Hi Thundersteak.

I am not a computer whiz and I don't own stock. I would and did. It's been useful, but fortunately I haven't needed it for anything important so far. Read more here:

http://www.apple.com/support/products/

If you'd like a more detailed explanation, it might be helpful to know your particular details. What product are you buying it for? Old? New? Concerns, etc.?

mwn 🙂

If your logic board goes dead the day after your 1 year warranty expires, as you going to have the ~$1000 to repair/replace it?

If not...then get AppleCare.

I believe Amazon sells Applecare for a few dollars less than Apple. Just make sure you order the right one for your macbook.

lenn

I always buy AppleCare for my laptops. I've let a couple of desktops slip by, though. If you're new to the Mac, free software support over the phone might be worth the expense. If you decide to sell your MacBook and get a newer Mac, you can sell the MacBook with the remaining AppleCare. That can be a selling point, the buyer will know they've still got some coverage.

You didn't tell us where you live, so we can't make a suggestion for the cheapest place for you to purchase it...

-Doug

AppleCare provides 2 benefits: 1) extends the warranty to 3 full years, 2) extends technical support for the computer and Apple software to 3 full years. Without AC, the warranty is 1 year and technical support is 90 days. If you are new to the Mac family the technical support alone is likely to be worth the price. I'm a 30 year vet of the computer biz and an IT specialist and I have always bought AC for my notebooks - not my desktops, just my notebooks. If the LCD, keyboard, or logic board goes down, that alone will pay for the AC.

I have always had AppleCare for all portable Apple products (iPods & Laptops). It has saved me more than twice it's price.

It depends on what you expect. I purchased Apple Care for my college daughters macbook. Two months into her use problems started. The online help didn't work, the Genius Bar didn't help so we sent it for work. They've had it two weeks and while the status check says its ready to ship - since 9-3, a phone call says they're waiting for parts - the manufacturer waiting for parts that one week after the computer was sent in had not arrived and are not expected until this Wednesday. After a "test period" they say they'll ship it out. So if waiting two weeks for a faulty computer to be repaired is what you expect then Apple Care is worth it. If having your college student without their computer because of a poor product construction or faulty QC is what you expect then Apple Care is okay.
I expected that real service was part of the deal I bought, I now know it is not part of Apple Care. - R17896577 - or at least not common practice at Apple.
I can only hope my iMac, black Mac Book, iPhone or iPod Touches(4 in the family) don't have the same reliability!

Message was edited by: Dchinnis