I am going to buy my first Mac next week, a combo drive iBook. I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts on weather I should buy apple care. I don't want to spend the extra money (College kid), but If it would happen to break down, I would like the security.

Let me know if you think it is worth the investment.

Definitely get AppleCare.
I had a RevA iBook and I didn't get AppleCare. Then something went wrong about a week after my year's warranty was over. It was going to cost me 600.00, so Apple said that since I was so close to end of warranty I could still get the AppleCare. 249 was a whole lot cheaper. It's worth it for your peace of mind...and your pocketbook.

I agree. Appleare is well worth the money. If anything even slightly major, goes wrong you'll pay more than the price of Applecare. Plus it covers Airport basestations.

Can you buy Applecare anytime during the 1 year warranty of a new Apple computer purchase?

Correct, you do not need to buy Apple Care right away. If you need the cash, hold off and just be sure to buy it sometime during your first year of ownership. In fact, I would recommend holding of for a while. You may find your iBook is an incredibly stout little piece of computing hardware and may not feel the need to purchase it (Apple Care) at all.

AppleCare also gives you free phone tech support, after the 90 days expires.

Do you have to buy the Airport at the same time as the computer (to have it included in the Apple Care warranty)?

Nope. You can buy Airport at anytime. If you have a problem with it, you call Apple, they ask for your computer model, then ask if you have Applecare, and then they help you however they can. If your basestation fails, they will replace it ($299). Same is true for the Airport card. I do not believe that Apple even asks when you bought the basestation, It could have been purchased before the computer with Applecare.

What if you pay with American Express (or any other credit card) that _doubles_ the warranty? (up to one year, and covers repairs up to $1000)???

Then it doesn't make sense buy Apple Care, since you get 2 year warranty!

BTW, this really works, when my stereo system broke down 23 month after I got it, they refunded my money, very fast and easy, in about one month. Just a repair estimate was enough. Now if you get something with 3 year warranty (like a monitor) they add one more year, not 3. ("Double, up to one year"). Also each repair can not exceed $1000. So maybe AppleCare makes sense for a TiBook, but not for iBook, right? Anyway, check with your credit card before you buy AppleCare!!!