AppleCare Protection Plan MA515LL/A for MacBook Pro (w/ or w/o display) Reviews

• amazon issue

  
  By A3V8EF5MFVW0A8 on 2007-05-12
  The product is very good because the apple people are very responsive.
  
  My issue is with Amazon: I bought my macbook pro on 4/4/07 and apple care sent me an ending date of jan/10 - which is about 3 months short of the 3 years I paid for.
  Upon contacting apple, they indicated that the start date for the apple care plan is the date when amazon purchased the computer and not when the amazon customer purchases the computer. Buyer beware - ask the question about the purchase date when you buy.
  
  

• Beware - This is not insurance . . .

  
  By A387M6O6HGUC0P on 2007-09-12
  Both of my children have MacBooks for school and have been told that AppleCare is void once there are any dents or other indications that the MacBook may have been dropped. My daughter brought her MacBook in for a drive problem and was told she would have to leave it there for several days so she decided to wait. Then, when she brought it back for the repair she was told it was not covered because it looked like the computer had been dropped. The service is fine for software problems, but the chance that a college student's laptop will be in pristine condition after a year is pretty low, so next time I'll save my money.
  
  

• Apple Care is a MUST

  
  By A1CT54WX5QTHPT on 2007-10-31
  I've been a Mac owner since 1992 and am still a completely satisfied customer. Apple is AWESOME when it comes to Apple Care usage. Back in 2001 I sent in my G4 Powerbook for a logic board fix due to the old "pixel flicker" problem, and not only got it back in 3 days, but also got a new top case (where you rest your hands/trackpad) and they replaced my missing feet for free and without request! (The feet cost about $50 a set, and the top case is roughly $250.)
  
  In 2006 I sent in the same G4 Powerbook for another logical board fix (5 years of heat abuse bent the logic board) I again received quick service and replacement feet.
  
  I've also used Apple Care to get new chargers for my laptops. (Mine tend to short out after a few years as I use my laptops 10+ hours a day, 7 days a week, and take them EVERYWHERE with me). I've also gotten brand new replacement iPods with my Apple Care if they've had any drive problems (e.g. from dropping them).
  
  The customer service people are friendly (for call center/customer service people), they have very quick shipping and the procedure as a whole is pretty effortless as far as tech support goes.
  
  Apple Care is ABSOLUTELY worth the money. If there are ANY bugs in your computer, Apple will fix them at no additional cost, with speedy service. If you buy a Mac, you MUST buy Apple Care. It can be a life saver!
  
  (Tips: 1) If you buy any 3rd party hardware for your computer, always take it OUT before taking it to a Mac Genius or sending it to Apple. They do not support 3rd party hardware. 2) ALWAYS back up your computer before you take it/send it in to avoid their backup fee.)
  
  

• Essential, yes... but good luck getting through...

  
  By A3RMZK8KIIJ6KY on 2007-11-16
  I agree that, although expensive, this is a great service to know you have three years of protection and phone support. Here's the problem. I've needed the support and have three times waited over 45 minutes on hold before finally hanging up in frustration. The one time I did get through I was told the issue needed to be handled by a higher level tech. Fair enough, but they just put me back into another loop -- another 35 minutes before I finally hung up. Get it together Apple, "it just works" is supposed to be your thing...
  
  

• Apple's List Price is Lower

  
  By A1E6O0G3S3U4I6 on 2006-12-05
  List at Apple: $349.00. List at Amazon ("..too low to disclose"): $349.99. I don't get it.
  
  Ulf
  
  
• Good Deal if You Get $49.00 Off the Regular Price
  By AXFTL2ID9Y2RY on 2007-12-08
  Amazon is the only place I have found where you can get a discount on the Apple extended warranty. So if you are interested in getting an extended warranty for your MacBook Pro, this is the best deal you will find.
  
  
• Not worth it for Tech-Support, maybe for parts
  By AITDAGXGMCSEZ on 2007-09-24
  It's possible that parts replacemnt is worth the price, assuming something major does go wrong, but I have two major issues with AppleCare:
  
  1) When your case is open, don't expect your engineer to ever call you back. I have never received a callback or e-mail from them---ever. I have an issue with my 17" Mac-Book Pro that has been an issue for six months! I have to keep opening new cases! my laptop also has an issue they can't solve, and won't even talk of replacing anything.
  
  2) AppleCare hours suck.
  
  So, get this: The iPhone was released in the U.S. at 5PM on a Friday evening. Isn't that close to the time AppleCare support closes for the weekend? Sneaky, hunh?
  
  So, what did I really pay for? Complete waste of money!
  
  
• Amazon Buyers Beware ..
  By AV3XTMK5I2AWI on 2008-05-02
  Normally rating a product, based on anything other that performance, quality etc.. is something I don't do. My One Star rating is strictly based on Amazon's delivery time. Until you actually receive the package and activate it. the product is worthless. Amazon's delayed delivery and my stupidity are equally at fault.
  
  I had been saving this in my cart for months. I purchased my laptop at the end of May 2007. Not wanting to put out $299 before I needed to, I decided to order it from Amazon a month before my original warranty expired, not realizing that it could take TWO MONTHS to receive and activate it. Of course that would be too late.
  
  I called Amazon the other day when I realized this, and asked if the warranty would be in effect as soon as I ordered it and was told that I would have to wait the two months or so to receive it and then and only then could I activate it. Bummer because I have been thinking of ordering it since I first bought my laptop last year. This one is $50 less than the cost at the Apple store. I thought that I had plenty of time ... that error cost me an additional $50. Fortunately the Apple Store is only about 20 minutes from my house. The early bird catches the $50 worm. Order in plenty of time, probably at least 3 months in advance, just to be sure.
  
  
• Already proven worthwhile...
  By A2OQ37IB8IVI16 on 2007-08-17
  I picked up the Applecare for the laptop based on the positive experience I had with my MacPro. I had a problem with the Airport card, they sent someone to the house who disassembled the machine, changed the card and reassembled the computer once again without leaving any spare hardware out! The computer's wireless has worked flawlessly since. Called on Thursday afternoon, computer was repaired on Monday. Seeing how this is how problems get handled, if you're going to spend for Apple, get the service contract. It's sooo worth it!
  
  
• Don't even THINK about not buying this
  By AUZBL4M68SG68 on 2007-08-29
  An absolute must for anyone who owns a Mac! Covers the Mac if it breaks, and gives you phone access to the folks at Apple for tech support. But shop around. I got my plan here on Amazon for $50 less than if I bought it direct from Apple.
  
  
• AppleCare Replaced my Powerbook G4 with a new MacBook Pro
  By A1GLGVL0Z60JXW on 2007-12-22
  The backlight sensor on my PB G4 (2.5 years old) became defective and I sent it to Apple to fix under AppleCare. The sensor was backordered and after several weeks I called to complain that it was taking too long to fix. I spoke with a Supervisor who said that since the sensor was backordered and they could not fix the PB G4 in a timely fashion they would give me a new MacBook Pro instead. They shipped me the MacBookPro several weeks ago (latest version and not refurbished) and then they sent me my PB G4 so I could transfer the files and then after deleting files I sent the PB G4 to Apple (all shipping was at Apple's expense). I must say that I was really impressed.
  
  
• Apple suppport is not the greatest.
  By ANOS1YUDXOHUY on 2007-07-22
  The support I received on various issues was mediocre. Only on one issue (establishing airport connection) the help was really useful, after trying first with a couple of other support personnel. The third person knew exactly how to solve the problem (putting in a 140-bit encryption hex password instead of the regular ascii WEP password). With some other issues, I had to get help from other sources (Apple is always eager to solve its own products and not quite willing to help with the other products that are already there, like Linksys.)
  
  They didn't give any help at all when I asked about the problems of accessing the MacBookpro from a Windows machine.
  
  With network printing problems, the story was not much better. One person said that I should set up Bonjour, which didn't work in my case, and the product manager couldn't help either; he didn't even mention Bonjour.
  
  There is still one unresolved issue (Wireless connection not being made to the preferred network upon fresh booting). I used the one of the Apple support pages, and I am not sure it is working, as the computer was taken on a trip and has just returned.
  
  Still, if a part is damaged or not working, I need this warranty to replace or repair.
  
  Although [...] price is lower than the list price of the Applecare, I realized I could have bought for an educational discount price of $[...] from an Apple store, instead of the $[...] I paid for at Amazon. I guess it's my fault not to shop more carefully.
  
  
  
  
• AppleCare always worth it to me
  By AF1G7BKC18JQ5 on 2007-10-18
  I've purchased AppleCare many times for my computers. It helps me with peace of mind, especially with my laptops.
  
  
• Don't even think of not buying this item!
  By A3AHZS36RX101F on 2007-10-31
  AppleCare has saved me on 2 occasions where major hassles would have caused big expenses, had I not bought AppleCare. It's worth every cent!
  
  
• Extends your warranty, but I'd like to see more options
  By A1MJATHII7YC5U on 2007-12-23
  Although this extends your warranty on a laptop to 3 years, it only covers parts that fail over the next few years. For $350, I'd like to seem them offer some accidental damage protection.
  
  
• Same as from Apple
  By A2IQMBBNQQREPT on 2008-02-08
  This is the same thing you get from Apple except a lot less expensive here
  
  
• Great Service
  By A7U7BND7LJKXZ on 2008-03-02
  This extra warranty helped save my powerbook! My powerbook had a broken trackpad after almost 3 years of working flawlessly. By purchasing this extra protection, I was able to fix the trackpad without any hassles. I highly recommend this for anyone who buys a laptop, since laptop repairs can become expensive. Fortunately, most cases, you will not ever have to use this since Apple products are pretty reliable.
  
  Pros: Service, Protection
  Cons: Sometimes steep price.
  
  
• Great
  By A11O88U1DKWW2G on 2007-06-07
  Great product. Actually I already used it :-)AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook Pro/Powerbook MA515LL/A 3 Years
  
  
• AppleCare for Macbook Pro
  By A1B4LXO2I6C1CB on 2007-07-12
  It is essential for every Macbook Pro owner, well worth the investment. It is like an insurance policy for 3 years.
  
  
• Good while it lasts
  By A19Z5DWI7LN1H2 on 2007-10-06
  Duing the extended warranty coverage Apple would repair my 12 powerbook g4. I had them replace the hard drive as it failed early. One year later, the extended coverage is lapsed and the hard drive fails again.
  
  I went out and purchased a Seagate momentus drive with a 5 year warranty. The OEM drives usually have only a one year warrant. I brougt it into the Apple Genius bar to see if they would replace it. I was willing to pay for its replacement. However, I was informed that Apple would not do so because I had purchased the drive. I guess they wanted me to purchase the drive from Apple at a premium.
  
  I have been an Apple computer owner since the MAC 128k was introduced. The Apple desk top computers that I have recently owned have been reliable. However over the last few years, the Apple laptops I have owned, the hard drives have been failing. I guess it is wise to sell your laptop close to when the extended warranty is up. I will keep my Apple desktop computers long after their warranty has expired.
  
  
• Great. I would recommend it for all laptop owners
  By A7ZLUK5TD2Z6Z on 2007-12-27
  This protection is a must because laptops are so vulnerable to things happening to them. In addition to physical repairs, you also get all your questions asked for three full years.
  
  
• Nice Plan
  By on 2008-04-05
  With apple stores and friendly employees, this is a nice plan. if you think you need it, get it.
  
  
• apple protection plan
  By A1J9RZHW6A8AF5 on 2008-04-07
  took a longer time than expected to recieve, but happy to be able to order this
  
  
• AppleCare Protection Plan MacBookPro
  By A2KKOO49O3ERWJ on 2008-05-12
  AppleCare Protection MacBookPro,
  This plan will give me security in knowing my new laptop will be covered past the original coverage provided with new equipment.
  
  
• A must have for laptops
  By A2F1IYNA2XS8LL on 2008-05-19
  I ma on my 3rd Apple laptop and AC has saved me more than what it costs with replaced Hard Drives, power supplies, disc drives and even a motherboard. I would never buy a laptop without AC.
  
  

• Apple MacBook Pro MB133LL/A 15.4-inch Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive)
• Apple MacBook Pro MB076LL/A 17-inch Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Glossy Display, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive)
• Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home & Student Edition
• VMware Fusion [OLD VERSION]
• Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac [OLD VERSION]