Buying a new iMac - AppleCare?

dubred

I am considering buying a new iMac in about 4-6 weeks time, I have more or less decided on the base model (3.06GHz, 4Gb memory, 500Gb disk, integrated video). The most commonly used applications would be web browser(s), iTunes and my basic digital camera software, I am looking to learn more in the photography (and web design) area so I would probably use Gimp as well. Occasionally I would want to use a DB, Apache/Tomcat, NetBeans and Apache Directory Studio for work purposes (I already use a 3 year old iMac in work).

Here is where I am undecided, should I get Applecare (e148) with it?

If I don't get Applecare, I could probably stretch to the next model up with a dedicated graphics card and a 1Tb disk (an extra e240), alternatively I could get another 6Gb memory for e150, or even a second 22 inch monitor for about e175.

What would you do?

drunkmonkey

it comes with 12mt warranty, you might pick up apple care cheaper off ebay than direct from apple, you don't need to buy it with the imac

ronnie3585

Speaking from experience, three replacement HDs and one replacement case in 18 months, Applecare well worth it.

The place that did the warranty work on my machine charges €95 just to have a look at it without doing any other work or god forbid ordering new parts. So the initial cost of Applecare pales in comparison to the potential cost of repair if something goes wrong outside of warranty.

Get it!

Sad Professor

Apple's profit margin on Applecare (as with all extended warranties) is huge. Legally if the machine fails within 3 years you have a very strong chance of success by going the small claims route. There's a lot of hassle involved in this though. So Applecare can be worth it just for the peace of mind. Apple generally take good care of their Applecare customers as well and often overlook little things.

I would always recommend it for notebooks, but iMacs practically are notebooks anyway. Still, if money is tight and you are only going for the base model it might be worth the risk. Remember, you don't have to buy it now. You can get it anytime within the first 12 months. So maybe see how it goes. Problem machines tend to show themselves early.

Applecare codes can be got very cheap on Ebay but there is some question mark over where these codes come from. Despite this most people have positive experiences, but there have been a few horror stories. Be very careful who you buy from.

whiterebel

Sad Professor wrote: »

Apple's profit margin on Applecare (as with all extended warranties) is huge. Legally if the machine fails within 3 years you have a very strong chance of success by going the small claims route. There's a lot of hassle involved in this though. So Applecare can be worth it just for the peace of mind. Apple generally take good care of their Applecare customers as well and often overlook little things.

I would always recommend it for notebooks, but iMacs practically are notebooks anyway. Still, if money is tight and you are only going for the base model it might be worth the risk. Remember, you don't have to buy it now. You can get it anytime within the first 12 months. So maybe see how it goes. Problem machines tend to show themselves early.

Applecare codes can be got very cheap on Ebay but there is some question mark over where these codes come from. Despite this most people have positive experiences, but there have been a few horror stories. Be very careful who you buy from.

Very good advice there, as usual from SP.

Elessar

As stated before, you're already covered under the sale of goods and supply of services act 1980. For a computer at that price, you'd be reasonable to expect it to last 3-4 years.

Applecare is basically giving Apple free money. It's a complete waste of money, technically speaking. You are already covered.

However it can be some hassle to get your rights enforced, and with Apple you may have to end up taking them to the small claims court to get anything repaired out of warranty. Applecare would definitely make everything easier. But if you are willing to stand up for yourself and don't mind the small bit of extra hassle involved, I would save that €150 and buy the upgraded model. I will not buy Applecare on principle.

It's up to you really.

I agree with the previous posters that you'd have a strong case if your machine failed.

However, if you value your time, then get Applecare. The additional hassle is just not worth it imo. Unless you delegate the case to someone else to take care of for you then feel free to not get applecare.

Personally, with eBay and how cheap applecare can be acquired for, just get it in my opinion. Plus, as Sad Professor says, get it towards the end of the first year and you pretty much have your machine covered fully and easily.

*Will be buying applecare towards the end of my first year i.e. 11 months or so...

dubred

Thanks for your responses, I think I will purchase the AppleCare cover at a later date, I am curious as to how people can sell valid AppleCare cover at less than half the cost that Apple sell it for (I saw it for €70 on eBay).

My aim in this is not to get the cheapest option, but to get value for whatever I do spend.

I have a couple of other questions now:

1. Are there any rumours of updated models in the near future? i.e. if I wait 3 months will there be a better model available, of course the flip side of this is that if I keep waiting I will never have an iMac at all:D

2. The iMac model with the dedicated graphics card and 1Tb disk is €225 extra - it seems a reasonable price for what you get but is there a noticeable benefit in the dedicated graphics card?

3. How easy/difficult is it to install additional memory in one of these? my current iMac (2Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo from 2007) doesn't appear to be accessible at all, and I remember having difficulty installing memory in one of the original iMacs (ca. 1997 I think)

Thanks Again

Sad Professor

dubred wrote: »

I am curious as to how people can sell valid AppleCare cover at less than half the cost that Apple sell it for (I saw it for €70 on eBay).

They claim they buy them in bulk and are passing the discount on to their buyers. It's who they are buying them from that is the problem. It ain't Apple.

The best explanation is that they are coming from Apple resellers (probably in Asia) who are furtively selling them off for practically nothing to a third-party in order to keep their Applecare sales quota looking good. Apple apparently force resellers to sell a certain quota of Applecare to keep their premium reseller status. This third-party then opens all the boxes, writes down the codes, and sells them to on to an Ebay seller.

What happens to the boxes? Who knows. And that's where you have the potential to get screwed.

1. Are there any rumours of updated models in the near future? i.e. if I wait 3 months will there be a better model available, of course the flip side of this is that if I keep waiting I will never have an iMac at all:D

Now is a good time to buy imo. Late summer at the earliest before the next iMac refresh.

2. The iMac model with the dedicated graphics card and 1Tb disk is €225 extra - it seems a reasonable price for what you get but is there a noticeable benefit in the dedicated graphics card?

Yeah, the ATI Radeon is worth the extra imo.

3. How easy/difficult is it to install additional memory in one of these? my current iMac (2Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo from 2007) doesn't appear to be accessible at all, and I remember having difficulty installing memory in one of the original iMacs (ca. 1997 I think)

It's very easy. As it should be your current machine (I've the same one) - the RAM door is at the bottom.

projectmayhem

Sad Professor wrote: »

Apple apparently force resellers to sell a certain quota of Applecare to keep their premium reseller status. This third-party then opens all the boxes, writes down the codes, and sells them to on to an Ebay seller.

Not sure on the resellers though I know it's true of Apple store employees. They must shift a certain amount of AppleCare out to customers. It's a huge KPI (key performance indicator) for them, and is a huge source of profit.

banquo

How does it work? As in, when you call do they pick it up from you or what?

Sad Professor

banquo wrote: »

How does it work? As in, when you call do they pick it up from you or what?

Yeah, or you can leave it into an Apple Authorised Service Provider, such as Typetec, Mactivate, etc.

whiterebel

projectmayhem wrote: »

Not sure on the resellers though I know it's true of Apple store employees. They must shift a certain amount of AppleCare out to customers. It's a huge KPI (key performance indicator) for them, and is a huge source of profit.

I don't know about that. Where do they get the revenue for the sale? They can'tt just hand them out and not get any money for them? Plus the APP is generated through the system and shipped physically from somewhere else, so that wouldn't work either?

dubred

one last question

has anyone used the new Apple Magic Mouse, any problems with it? should I get that or stick with the ordinary Apple Mouse?

projectmayhem

whiterebel wrote: »

I don't know about that. Where do they get the revenue for the sale? They can'tt just hand them out and not get any money for them? Plus the APP is generated through the system and shipped physically from somewhere else, so that wouldn't work either?

Not sure you understood. I mean in an actual Apple store, the employees are told to sell a certain number of AppleCare units against the number of hardware units they sell, so for every 5 Macbooks they must sell 2 AppleCare boxes, etc.

dubred wrote: »

one last question

has anyone used the new Apple Magic Mouse, any problems with it? should I get that or stick with the ordinary Apple Mouse?

I got a Magic Mouse and can't believe I went so long without it. Once you buy it, make sure you use BetterTouchTool. It's a small app that enhances the functionality of the Magic Mouse!

Type 17

You'll be glad you got Applecare when your machine is 2.5 years old and the screen backlighting starts to misbehave (happened to my 2007 iMac, would have cost €610 to fix, machine worth about €650 in perfect order).

My new 27" (same as the one you're considering in the first post above) is only 3.5 months old, and the HD and screen have already been replaced... I've been using Macs since 1990 and I've never had any hardware failures before, maybe the build-quality isn't what it used to be...

Type 17

dubred wrote: »

one last question

has anyone used the new Apple Magic Mouse, any problems with it? should I get that or stick with the ordinary Apple Mouse?

Magic Mouse is a lot nicer to use than the older Mighty Mouse, but eats batteries a lot faster. That's no big deal for me, as I use rechargables, but you do need to swap/recharge them more often than before.

It's worth it for the lack of a (clogged) trackwheel, though.

dubred

Type 17 wrote: »

Magic Mouse is a lot nicer to use than the older Mighty Mouse, but eats batteries a lot faster. That's no big deal for me, as I use rechargables, but you do need to swap/recharge them more often than before.

It's worth it for the lack of a (clogged) trackwheel, though.

I am on my third mouse with my current iMac, the first 2 were wired apple mouses/mice I now use a standard dell mouse from an old pc, both the apple ones stopped scrolling up.

I am going to get the 21.5" iMac with the magic moues, dedicated graphics card and 1tb disk, I will leave the applecare until later.

Thanks for all the advice