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LeeG · Sep 15, 2003, 09:18 PM

I am planning on buying a new powerbook if they are announced tomorrow, and I have noticed a lot of people recommending Applecare. While it is nice, I have also seen a number of people recommending www.safeware.com, which offers laptop insurance. It is cheaper (or in the ballpark) of Applecare, and it covers ACCIDENTAL damage as well as "in-warranty" repairs. Purely from a harware coverage perspective (ignoring the phone support that comes with Applecare - i think), why wouldn't one buy the safeware insurance instead (or other similar insurance policies)?

Lee

TheIceMan · Sep 15, 2003, 11:13 PM

LeeG: I would and did buy Safeware insurance. I also weighed the pros and cons like you did. From all the posts about AppleCare Tech support, I felt that it would be the best deal to get the SafeWare and come to MacNN for support. I also live about 40 minutes from 2 Apple stores so I figure that I could always swing by and get their help. With the PowerBook being "portable" and because I do take it with me, the chances of "accidental damage" or theft increases greatly. these were things that AppleCare did not cover. For $349 for PowerBook protection is way too high in my opinion. I have not regretted my decision to go with SafeWare. Lost, stolen, or damaged, I'll get a full replacement with $0 deductible. All that for $83 a year. Not bad at all.

LeeG · Sep 16, 2003, 04:07 PM

Just placed the order for the new 12" - I will get safeware, I am most worried about accidental damage and theft. Can't wait!

Thanks for help, I personally have found MacNN to be MUCH more helpful/knowledgeable than apple tech - bad memories of some guy on phone saying 'did you start up without extensions'!!

Can't wait for the new book-

Lee

Naz · Sep 16, 2003, 04:31 PM

I may get both by the time I get my new PB

TheIceMan · Sep 16, 2003, 04:34 PM

Originally posted by LeeG:
Just placed the order for the new 12" - I will get safeware, I am most worried about accidental damage and theft. Can't wait!

Thanks for help, I personally have found MacNN to be MUCH more helpful/knowledgeable than apple tech - bad memories of some guy on phone saying 'did you start up without extensions'!!

Can't wait for the new book-

Lee

You're welcome. Congrats on your new purchase. What are the specs on this new baby?

LeeG · Sep 16, 2003, 09:35 PM

1 GHz, 80Gb HD, Combo (have a super on my desktop), AE Card, 256 stock ram (I will add a 512 stick).

Oh, and I threw in the 10Gb Ipod for $69 ($269 edu - $200 rebate) - I have a second gen 20Gb, but I couldn't resist!! $69!!

Says on or before 9/25 - I Can't Wait!!

Lee

Synotic · Sep 16, 2003, 11:02 PM

Originally posted by LeeG:
Oh, and I threw in the 10Gb Ipod for $69 ($269 edu - $200 rebate) - I have a second gen 20Gb, but I couldn't resist!! $69!!

Says on or before 9/25 - I Can't Wait!!

Lee

200 dollar rebate?...

tvfollower · Sep 17, 2003, 01:22 AM

Educational pricing.

LeeG · Sep 17, 2003, 08:17 AM

EDU rebate - buy a powerbook and iPod by 9/27 and get $200 back -

Sa-weet deal!

Lee

JRT · Sep 17, 2003, 09:21 AM

Originally posted by TheIceMan:
LeeG: I would and did buy Safeware insurance. I also weighed the pros and cons like you did. From all the posts about AppleCare Tech support, I felt that it would be the best deal to get the SafeWare and come to MacNN for support. I also live about 40 minutes from 2 Apple stores so I figure that I could always swing by and get their help. With the PowerBook being "portable" and because I do take it with me, the chances of "accidental damage" or theft increases greatly. these were things that AppleCare did not cover. For $349 for PowerBook protection is way too high in my opinion. I have not regretted my decision to go with SafeWare. Lost, stolen, or damaged, I'll get a full replacement with $0 deductible. All that for $83 a year. Not bad at all.

Interesting thread. I was not even aware of SafeWare and can certainly see its value. I am not sure it is a replacement for AppleCare though. The SafeWare site says they do not cover mechanical breakdowns. Does that mean if my hard drive, logic board or screen just quits working it is not covered? It sounds like they offer different services and getting both would be just out of the question.

Has anyone ever had to make a claim with SafeWare? Sorry if you did but was it a good experience or not?

Thanks to everyone for the very helpful thread. I am waiting for my 1.25 AL to show up but it was ordered through my corporate purchasing so it coule be a while...

OldManMac · Sep 17, 2003, 10:05 AM

SafeWare is an insurance plan; not a service contract. There is a difference. A service contract (AppleCare) will repair your product if there is a manufacturer's defect (dead hard drive, burned out pixels, etc). Insurance covers your product in the event of damage or loss.

LeeG · Sep 17, 2003, 02:16 PM

I believe there is a 1 yr Apple Warranty. After that (and of course I am playing the odds here) I feel there is a much bigger chance of me damaging my laptop than a 1+ year old 'manufacturing' defect rearing its head. If my Hard drive stopped working at 18 months, I would assume it was due to me being too rough with the machine - thus accidental damage.

Who knows? I just know for sure that if I drop my 12", or my dog decides to nibble on the screen, Applecare does not cover it.

Lee

TheIceMan · Sep 17, 2003, 02:39 PM

Exactly.

JRT · Sep 17, 2003, 03:26 PM

Originally posted by LeeG:
I believe there is a 1 yr Apple Warranty. After that (and of course I am playing the odds here) I feel there is a much bigger chance of me damaging my laptop than a 1+ year old 'manufacturing' defect rearing its head. If my Hard drive stopped working at 18 months, I would assume it was due to me being too rough with the machine - thus accidental damage.

Lee

Makes sense to me. The real question is if that same argument would make sense to SafeWare...

I do agree that the likelyhood of accidental damage on a laptop is much higher than manufacturing defects.

Timo · Sep 17, 2003, 04:09 PM

Well, on the other hand, I bought applecare for my Pismo

� when my (graphite) Airport Base Station crapped out, they sent a new one (an extreme, no less) as the ABS was covered with the PowerBook
� when the Powerbook wouldn't boot tech support had some groovy single-user mode UNIX magic commands that saved the day
� when my screen grew pink in one corner, they replaced the screen
� when, last week, two verical lines appeared in the new display, they authorized shipment to fix either the display or the logic board. The applecare guy on the phone remarked, "aren't you glad you bought it?"

And, oddly, all of this happened after the year warranty was out.

OTOH, when a weak part of the top bezel of the Pismo broke (surrounding the keyboard), applecare wouldn't help -- no wear and tear replacements, even if, IMHO, the design contributed to the failure.

DanielPritchard · Sep 17, 2003, 04:28 PM

I'm with everyone here who says Safecare. After your warranty is up, it's probably going to be accidental damage that'll happen. AppleCare to me has little value because what I'm afraid of is that it'll get dropped, stolen, or otherwise injured, not that some freakish hardware defect will show up next year.

I'm getting SafeCare as soon as I get around to it. (Let's just hope I don't kill it before I insure it).