Apple Care?

Your AppleCare does entitle you to onsite support, and if you explain your situation and your distance from the nearest Apple store, I'm sure Apple will agree. However, you may live closer to an authorized Apple repair center, so you should look into that too. You can locate your nearest authorized service center here:

http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/service/

You should be aware, though, that even onsite repair doesn't necessarily mean that you will have your computer fixed that day. Sometimes parts need to be ordered, and this takes time. Unfortunately, repairs do mean that occasionally we must go without our computers for awhile. If you are self-employed and your livelihood depends on using a computer daily, you should consider perhaps investing in a second computer, maybe a notebook, to use as a backup.

I didn't know you were in the UK. The terms of AppleCare probably differ by country.

Apple's on-site repair seems to be very limited in the UK. I live in Sheffield and we never got them to come out, despite having AppleCare and it stating that they could! I would be wary of taking your machine to an authorised dealer - they are not as good at repairs as the Apple stores are. You might want to look into investing into a backup machine, a used Power Mac G5 or early MacBook Pro if you can finance it so that taking your primary machine into repair isn't so much of a hassle.

Download smcFanControl onto your iMac - it will tell you what speeds the fans are running at. And it lets you change the speed they run at as well.

In the US, the "on site" clause includes verbage that your home must be within 50 miles of an authorized service provider. I know that because I was asked for my address to determine the distance after I had requested in home service. I don't know if the UK agreement includes the same verbage, but it could explain why the service isn't offered in outlying areas (areas more than 50 mi from an authorized service provider, which - most likely - would only be in more populated areas). You might want to ask about the distance requirements.

Modern Macs are assembled by low-paid workers by Foxconn and other OEM manufacturers in countries like China, Taiwain and Singapore. Apple outsources to reduce costs, just like every other computer hardware company. And we could easily question the reliability of the components and parts they use. The Sony batteries Apple use in their laptops are prone to failure. And the Matshita slot-loading optical drives used in all the Macs are also very unreliable. I am confident in saying that the current machines are not built like the older models were. I have a collection of old and new Macs, and the 80s/early 90s models are the best they made in terms of build quality, in my opinion.

Well, if you've got in writing what you claim to have, you can expect that *you can force* Apple to live up to it. If not, you're just blowing smoke.

I'm not the one to advise you of your legal rights, especially since you're not here in the U.S. and apparently don't have the same AppleCare Plan that I have. But you do have rights that apply to the purchase of consumer electronics - do you not?

Read through more threads to find out how others in the UK have proceeded to get positive resolution to the problem you have, although I can't believe you haven't already read all the hundreds of threads about this from other UK'ers. I've read plenty of them, and I don't even have a horse in the race:))

+The fact that the warranty, Apple Care Protection, does not deliver what it states in black and white....+

Ok, so in just a few minutes, I went to the online UK Apple Store and downloaded the European version in English that applies to your UK location. The applicable sections are as follows:

"1. Repair Coverage

c. Service Options. Apple may provide service through one or more of the following options:

(ii) Onsite service is available for many desktop computers if the location of the Covered
Equipment is within 50 miles/80 kilometers radius of an Apple authorized onsite service
provider located in (the UK). Apple will dispatch a service technician to
the location of the Covered Equipment. Service will be performed at the location, or the service
technician will transport the Covered Equipment to an Apple Authorized Service Provider or
Apple repair service location for repair. If the Covered Equipment is repaired at an Apple
Authorized Service Provider or Apple repair service location, Apple will arrange for
transportation of the Covered Equipment to your location following service. If the service
technician is not granted access to the Covered Equipment at the appointed time, any further
onsite visits may be subject to an additional charge."

So? I don't see the part you said. What was that you posted in the original post? Oh, yes:

/Quote/
The Apple Care Protection Plan states:

"The plan includes expert telephone technical support, global repair, onsite repairs for desktop computers".

There is no rider clause stating that this service only exists if you live in a major city. So why can I not have onsite support as stated in a Apple Care plan?
/Unquote/

Message was edited by: myhighway

+In light of this, wouldn't you have bought the machine under the expectation that the Protection Plan entitled you to on-site repair?+

Hmmm. I believe the "Getting Started Guide" from which you quote was contained in the AppleCare package along with the "Terms and Conditions." You evidently read it after purchasing AppleCare, although that language *is similar* to Apple's online explanations of AppleCare, so same difference.

But, in answer to your question - perhaps eligible, depending on your location, assuming the Store person was familiar with your location, but not entitled, and certainly not if I already knew or suspected I lived outside the area eligible for on-site service. (Perhaps you need to confront the manager of the store where someone gave you that promise or advice - this *is only 6 months* afterwards.)

But also no, because I did finally read the Terms and Conditions online at the Apple website prior to my first purchase of AppleCare. In 2004, when it was first offered to me when I purchased my first Mac at an actual Apple Store, I refused to buy AppleCare because just on prinicple I never buy service plans - and because at that moment I didn't really comprehend what all was included in AppleCare Protection Plan coverage. I didn't receive any sales pitch, just an offer which I refused.

Once I looked it up online and understood that so much was included, I've never since failed to purchase AppleCare (and recommend it to others) - not only for in-store diagnosis and help, as well as the excellent phone support extended from 90 days to 3 years, but also for the extended coverage that applies to not only a Mac but to accessories such as AirPort Extreme and Express base stations, Time Capsule, keyboard and mouse. While I don't know anyone who's needed to use all these things, I do know some who've received far, far more value from their coverage than it cost them.

Nevertheless, it's also been clear to me that the onsite service *might be available* if an Apple tech lives in your area, not just if there is an AASP located in your area. I've always assumed this meant such a tech calls upon you on the way to or from their work or work route, or that they may be an independent tech working "on call" for AppleCare. You might want to concentrate some of your inquiry with AppleCare personnel on these angles.

Maybe I'm wrong, but in your case I think it's worth an additional phone call to AppleCare, a complete explanation of your work needs situation, and an appeal that the person with whom you're speaking try to find some extra bit of help for you. Since in your OP you stated: "They suggested that the noise I am experiencing is not normal." - it seems that you need to emphasize that it might be best that a tech reviews the situation on-site before removing the iMac from your use. While it may very well not take 10 days till you have it back, it just might. (I had a logic board replaced 2 years ago - was told "10 days" but it was 2 days.)

While you need to be as friendly about it as possible, in the event of a negative response you shouldn't hesitate to ask to speak to a supervisor so that you can make the same direct appeal to that individual as well.

That said, have you considered the working environment? If the back of your iMac is parallel to a wall, and too close (less than 15 inches), it may be that a reverberation effect has developed that is actually magnifying all sounds that are usually limited to being emitted from the reverse side of the iMac - making them just loud enough to be picked up on the front side after they reflect back and forth (wall to iMac case) a few times.

Just to be sure, you don't have it positioned so that it's enclosed in any way, right, as you must allow for air circulation.

These sounds might be countered by moving the iMac slightly further away from whatever is behind it or by angling the iMac a bit to break down any reflective effect that might have been accidentally created by its placement.

Also, have you tried rotating the iMac stand 180 degrees so that the back of it is in front of you - and then comparing the differences? This direct study of the noise may help you understand how to counteract or at least temporarily limit the noise.
Best of luck:)