Applecare & Consumer Reports

ByMike Moffit

Here at Small Dog, we get a many inquiries about the value of Applecare. Personally, I always recommend buying Applecare – especially for laptops. This is because MacBook and MacBook Pro repairs tend to be notably more expensive than Mac mini, iMac or Mac Pro repairs. Also, laptops tend to get more use (and abuse) than desktop machines.

Several months ago, Consumer Reports (which typically recommends against extended warrantees) actually recommended buying Applecare:

“We also think it may be wise to get an extended warranty (which includes extended tech support) if you’re buying an Apple computer, because they come with only 90 days of phone tech support.”

The only other extended warranty Consumer Reports recommended are for rear-projection televisions, which are not only expensive to repair but also prone to breaking.

Macs are notably more reliable than other computer models. They do come with a one-year warranty. However, if you are the type of person who intends to keep a computer for up to three years, Applecare is definitely the way to go. Every week our technicians hear someone say “I wish I had bought Applecare” when presented with their repair bill. I admit, I’ve thought that myself – and that’s partly why I now recommend it.

We have all Applecare on sale for the holiday season, which you can see by clicking here.

Applecare can seem expensive, especially when you’re already buying a $2499 computer. It’s a service you hope to never use. However, it does bring a certain amount of peace of mind.

Similar Posts

  • Marine iPad and iPhone Solutions

    As a Small Dog Consultant, I implement Macintosh and iOS solutions for my clients, but I also do tech stuff for fun in…

  • Office for Mac 2011: What's the Difference?

    Yesterday, Microsoft released several different editions of their Office for Mac 2011 software suite. If the whirlwind of differing editions and licenses left…

  • Boot Camp in the Retail Store

    First it was the OnMac.net hack, now it’s up with Apple’s official Boot Camp! Stop by and see it in our Retail Showroom…

  • iTunes Match In-Depth

    Perhaps the most anticipated of Monday’s WWDC announcements, the positive response from attendees was palpable when Steve Jobs announced iTunes Match towards the…

  • Avoid Accidental Damage! Why Protection Is Important

    With many schools and colleges back in session, we are seeing the usual and predicable spike in accidental damage repairs in our service facilities. It’s very important to remember that a dropped computer, one with a broken screen, or one with any type of liquid damage–no matter how new–has no warranty coverage.

    Small Dog has a ton of products to protect your Mac or iPod from impact and liquid damage. Keep in mind, though, that you still should avoid dropping your laptop or drinking anything near it. Here are my favorite protective products for Apple laptops.

    “Speck cases”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=speck are hard shells that are form-fitted for a precise and tight fit to your laptop. Available in many colors and textures, they are the best-selling and best-performing protection against impact damage.

    The second part of protecting your laptop is a well-padded laptop bag like “those from Timbuk2.”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=Timbuk2 These messenger-style laptop bags have lots of storage, look good, and provide great protection. If you prefer a sleeve-style laptop case, know that they provide less protection, but are still better than carrying around a naked computer. My favorite is the new “Hammerhead line,”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=hammerhead named for CEO Don Mayer’s bulldog.

    Jeremiah Johnson, assistant manager of the South Burlington store, likes the Incipio Feather line of cases, and has a review a little later in this issue of Best in Showroom.

    The third element of a good protection plan is a keyboard cover. “KB Covers”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=kb+cover makes a line of form-fitting super-thin plastic covers that’ll save your bacon if you spill a small amount of liquid on your keyboard. It only takes a drop of water to make it through your keyboard and onto complex (and very expensive) circuitry below. If you must drink near your laptop, you owe it to yourself to get a keyboard cover.

    If, despite your best efforts to protect your machine (or if you didn’t protect it), your computer is dropped or spilled in, it is best to discontinue use immediately to prevent more damage. A dropped computer should have its hard drive preemptively replaced in most cases, and a computer that’s been spilled in should have a thorough inspection by a good technician. Our Technical Service team can often revive a damaged computer for hundreds, or even over $1,000 less than the same repair at an Apple store.