Is AppleCare Protection Plan Worth the Money?
Mac Extended Warranty for New Apple Computers
Jul 23, 2009
All new and Apple Certified Refurbished Mac computers come with a one-year limited warranty.
According to Apple’s website, this warranty includes “90 days of telephone technical support and one year of service coverage at an Apple-authorized repair center”.
Apple also offers customers the option of purchasing an extended warranty for their computer. This warranty is known as the AppleCare Protection Plan.
What is the AppleCare Protection Plan for Mac Computers?
Commonly referred to as “AppleCare”, the AppleCare Protection Plan is an extended warranty with comprehensive technical support and is available on all new Mac computer models except the Xserve and Mac OS X Server.
Depending on the model of the Mac computer, AppleCare costs anywhere from $149 to $349 USD. Once purchased, the user is entitled to three years of extended expert telephone tech support and three years of hardware repair coverage including onsite service for desktop computers and global repair coverage.
AppleCare will also cover most Mac peripherals used with the register Mac as well as up to one Apple display if the display was purchased at the same time as the computer. Apple also includes the TechTool Deluxe diagnostic utility with each AppleCare Protection Plan.
Although available when purchasing a new Mac, the AppleCare Protection Plan can be purchased up to a year from the computer’s purchase date. Considering that all new Apple computers come with a one-year warranty, there is no benefit to buying AppleCare right away. Generally, the user can postpone that purchase and save money in the meantime.
AppleCare warranties are also fully transferable if the computer is sold to a new owner inside the three year window. Furthermore, Apple also extends AppleCare eligibility to Apple Certified Refurbished Macs.
Is the Mac AppleCare Protection Plan Worth the Extra Money?
It is crucial to note that the AppleCare warranty will not cover any accidental damage or problems caused by “consumer abuse”. AppleCare is meant to cover the replacement of defective parts and allow users access to expert tech support. Any accidental damage or theft insurance must be purchased from a third-party insurance agent.
That caveat aside, AppleCare can save Mac users hundreds of dollars if there is a factory defect within the AppleCare-registered computer. However, if the user is qualified and comfortable with self-repairing any hardware problems, then AppleCare is an unnecessary expense because there are no labor charges to consider and the parts can be acquired elsewhere for less.
Less technically-inclined users may find comfort and peace of mind by purchasing the AppleCare Plan but should wait until the last week before the one-year warranty has expired before buying AppleCare.
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