March 5, 2012

Is AppleCare worth the money?

QUESTION

Hi Kim. I really trust your expertise on all things tech. I have a question about extended warranties - specifically AppleCare for my iMac. I bought the computer almost a year ago and need to decide soon whether to buy AppleCare and extend the coverage for another two years. I've heard great things about the longevity of Apple products, so I'm on the fence. What do you think about AppleCare?
-Marsha of Lima, NY, listens to my national radio show on WHAM 1180 AM.

ANSWER

Thanks for the great question, Marsha, and for listening to the show. I don't blame you for being on the fence about AppleCare. It's a tough decision. Maybe that's why Apple gives customers up to a year to think about it!

I've been getting questions about AppleCare from others, so I'm going to cover protection plans for other Apple products as well. The iPhone, for example, has its very own plan called AppleCare+ that debuted with the introduction of the iPhone 4S. More on that later.

Here's the bottom line: If AppleCare will make you sleep better at night, go for it. Extended warranties are about risk tolerance, and risk tolerance is a very personal decision. But AppleCare doesn't seem to me to be a vital purchase, in most cases.

Let's backtrack a bit and start with the basics. As you know Marsha, all Apple hardware comes with a one-year warranty. You also receive free phone technical support for up to 90 days after buying a product. At any time before the one-year warranty expires, you can buy an AppleCare Protection Plan.

AppleCare provides an extra two years of hardware service and phone support for Macs and computer displays. The gadget plans provide an extra year of coverage for your iPod, iPhone, iPad or Apple TV.

Read on for more about the pros and cons of AppleCare for laptops, iPhones and other gadgets. >>

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