iPARC

For many first time Mac users who are about a year into their purchase of an Apple hardware, this question begs some long and hard decision making: Why should I buy an AppleCare?

I’ve got to be transparent and say that of the five Mac systems in our household, only one is with AppleCare, which was renewed fairly recently. It’s the most powerful unit of the bunch, one that we firmly believe should never go without the insurance now.

See, we almost didn’t get one for it.  We almost let the expiration of its first-year warranty pass, thinking it’s going to be a pretty useless expense. AppleCare costs anywhere between P12-16K, perhaps even more. For most Mac newbies like us (we just got acquainted with Apple for a little under three years) if you look at it from the angle of how much you have to shell out for extended warranty now, without actually ever getting the immediate benefit…then it does feel like it’s a waste of  money. It does feel like you’re being suckered into buying an invisible item that’s unbelievably expensive.

It’s a good thing we changed our mind.

So, what prompted the change?

While we’ve never had any real bad luck with our Macs (knock on wood!) it dawned on us that getting an AppleCare is actually just a matter of good common sense. And for the most part? Our peace of mind.

The decision to go with the warranty renewal mattered when we considered how this particular unit, a MacBook Pro Unibody, was used for. It was the total workhorse, one that needed to be carried around everywhere. And seeing that it was going to be everywhere, we figured, the risk was just too high. What if, while on a trip, something does happen to this unit? Mac parts aren’t sold for peanuts. Can we afford to immediately shell out $500, for example, if the processor breaks down?

On the other hand, if the unit is under warranty and this did happen? We could end up paying….ZERO.  Nada. Zilch. And that’s why the AppleCare is beneficial. Sure, it might feel like an invisible purchase that one time…but for the next two years? We’re pretty assured the Unibody is going to be okay.

In fact, here’s an actual scenario:

Just right after its renewal, we did already feel the purchase was worth it. The Unibody was sent in at Senco for repair. Its DVD drive was not working right. Apart from the great service Senco extended to us, we’re told this repair was going to be covered without expense, thanks to its AppleCare!

While there, we also had to ask about the condition of the unit I  personally use, a MacBook Air. Concerned about a slight problem (that was already turning to bothersome…bearable but bothersome), we asked the tech folks how much it would cost to have it serviced. Because the MBA was not covered  with the warranty anymore, I gasped when told this would cost somewhere along the regions of “too-expensive” and “cost-a-lot-of-money” (or about P40k!).

So, do the math. I could have shelled out 20% (or less) of that amount  for AppleCare and wouldn’t have to think about sending it in for repair for the next two years due to money constraints. I wouldn’t have to hesitate if this was under warranty.

We left Senco with me clutching my Macbook Air like it was the most precious thing in the world. I don’t feel so much safer with it warranty-less.

Can you see the big picture?

The Basics of an AppleCare (Source)
What Is AppleCare? Formally known as AppleCare Extended Service, AppleCare is, according to Apple, “an extended service plan similar to the one-year limited warranty coverage that came with your Apple product when you purchased it.” AppleCare kicks in when your original warranty expires, and offers the following:

* 100 percent parts and labor protection
* Unlimited repairs
* Service by authorized Apple-certified technicians
* Genuine Apple parts

Some clarification is necessary. Despite the first two bullet points above, AppleCare does not cover accidents like soda spills or dropped PowerBooks. It won’t reimburse you for repairs done by non-authorized dealers, nor will it pay for lost data or time. Insurance policies may cover accidents. Service by Apple-certified technicians means that the technicians have access to genuine Apple parts and are less likely to use bits cannibalized from other dead Macs.

You can look it up for more info here.

Newbie tip: AppleCare is coverage  to any of Apple’s products, not just the Mac. You can get one for your iPod and iPhone, too. Once you let the warranty expire, it will not get extended coverage. Think about it.