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.

Listed under Apple’s official website is this want-job ad for a software engineer who has at least the following qualifications:

-strong C / C++ / Objective-C / iPhone background preferred
-3-4 years of video game development experience, shipped at least one AAA title
-passionate gamer
-skills in audio systems, graphics pipeline, and network programming a plus
-ability to work in small dynamic team

Since the launch of the iPhone, Apple has released only one gaming application (Texas Hold’em, 2008). All the rest of the games available at the Apple store are from different, more established gaming publishers such as Electronic Arts and Konami. And these games have been growing in popularity, especially since the games are cheaper compared to those running on gadgets like DS and PSP.

While iPhone is, first and foremost, not a gaming platform, there is reason to assume the company is  really looking to capitalize on this direction as there seems to be a growing market for it.

Perhaps lying around their workstations are a handful of Apple products and parts which cannot be used anymore. Instead of throwing these away, these junk have been fashioned into earrings at $14.95 per pair.

This could be a start of a new fashion trend.

I would want a variety of designs though. I think these recycled buttons would look cute as dangling earrings, charm bracelets, or necklace pendant.

Where to get this: PowerBook Medic

This chip is rumored as the core that will help new generation Macbook Airs run.

The chip is quite powerful, specs below:

The Intel Core i5-430M runs at a clock speed of 2.26GHz, but with Intel’s Turbo Boost technology, it can run up to 2.53GHz for a single core. The Intel Core i3-350M also runs at 2.26GHz, but does not support Turbo Boost technology; Intel Core i3-330M runs at 2.13GHz and also does not support Turbo Boost technology.

Core i5 CPUs will feature a graphics clock that runs at a base speed of 500MHz but can also run at speeds up to 766MHz. The Core i3 also runs at 500MHz but can also run at speeds up to 667MHz. Both series support DDR3 memory up to 1066MHz and feature 3MB L3 Cache with a TDP of 35W.

The processor is particularly best for thinner and lighter netbooks, like the MacBoor Air.

What that means in layman’s terms, is that for these newer, smaller, thinner, next generation netbooks, there will be less power consumption, delivering more battery life.

Apple usually gets first dibs on many of Intel’s products, which means that we could also see the launch of the latest MBA as early as the first quarter of next year.

I am a techie at heart. I grew up tinkering with computers and I was learning more from doing this than by actually sitting in the formal confines of a classroom. My latest obsession has been to find quick fix and solutions to any Mac problems. Sometimes there aren’t even any problems but I always was able to challenge myself to learn about how stuff works.

This is what this blog is all about.

I will be providing regular news, updates, applications tweaks and tips about Mac and other Apple Products. And I can even venture into other gadgets I find interesting. Anything that has something to do with technology and how it works, I will try to cover it.

I also dabble in photography and have delivered workshops regarding this. You can view my gallery here or follow me on Flickr, or browse through my achievements as a photographer here.

If you would like me to cover and discuss something, or have any questions about applications, feel free to drop me an email.

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Thank you very much for visiting iPARC!