Question about Apple One Care

I am looking at the new MBs and I had 3 main questions I wanted to pose to the masses about them.

1) I live in Houston, so I have access to 2 different Apple stores should I need assistance. I am a PC Technician for Staples (so I do a lot of repair work), however, so I feel fairly confident in my own abilities to solve any problems that arise even if it means doing some hunting for answers. My question is, for those that have used Apple One Care for hardware related repair, how was phone support and the whole repair process for you? While I am in Houston now, I may be moving to attend College somewhere else within the next year and that means possibly being without an Apple store to be able to go in and ask questions. Also, does the Apple One Care include accidental damage?

2) Also in regards to the Apple Care Protection, is that like other notebook manufacturer warranties in the fact that you can add it later after the initial sale? Other manufacturers like Dell, HP, etc. allow you to purchase extended coverage so long as you are within the first year. Yes, it runs for the date of original purchase so if you were to buy a 3 year with HP, for example, it would mean that you have already used whatever time since the original order. Apple only offers one extended option, however, so that makes a bit simpler. The reason I ask is I would prefer to get the higher end MB because the better processor and backlit keyboard really appeal to me, but that would be stretching my budget already. Add another $200 or so for the extended warranty and I couldn't afford it, so if I had to buy them at the same time, it means I would have to settle for the lower end model.

BBGus

 

Apple does not accidental coverage at all. You might want to look at the warranty guide. One option for you would be to take out a rider on your renters insurance or perhaps your parent's homeowner's insurance if either of those is an option. It would cover accidentals and things like theft, which an accidental policy would not. I want to say it's like $30-40 a year and you could of course end it at any time. Obviously consult your agent for more details.

 

if your getting the MB with student disscount then it will be allot cheaper getting it when you buy the laptop (well it is here in the UK) for us its like £40-50 with student disscount or like £150+ otherwise so find out about this as it might work out allot more cost effective to save a little bit longer and get it with the apple care

 

The apple care has been good for me (and friends) when it comes to repair, hardware and software. Apple will even talk to you even though a extended care has ended and help you fix the problem. I one case Apple gave a friend of mine a brand new computer, due to the fact they cold not locate and fix the problem in 3 tries. Then another friend of mine was having problem and they trouble shooted the problem free of charge at one of the Apple stores, even made an appointment so their was no waiting. To me it's worth the extra expense. I do not think you need to buy the apple care at the same time as the apple computer, but it does has a limit as to when you must purchase it. You will need to call apple to find out how much time you have.

 

You must activate apple care by day 364 after the initial purchase.

 

Your right rsd. I did some more digging on Apples website and found this:

As to everyone else, thanks for your input.

BBGus

 

eBay your apple care. You'll save enough to do the drive thru at Taco Bell for 3 months!!

 

Thought of another question even though it is off topic from the warranty questions I asked previously. (Hey its my topic thread, I can hijack it if I want! lol)

Anywho, since I have never owned an Mac, does Apple provide the OSX disc with the notebook or do you have to make a restore disc yourself. The reason I ask is one of the upgrades I plan for the future of any notebook I decide on will include an SSD and I want to know how Apple does things in regards to hard drive switch outs and O.S./File re-installs.

BBGus

 

Apple still provides a restore CD for the OS and a CD for all the apps (you can pick and choose which ones you want). You will need to pay extra to get the crapware install disc though.

 

I think I'll pass on the crapware, but thanks for asking .

BBGus