MetaChat - RIP my laptop - should I try to ask Apple for a new one?

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

16 March 2010

RIP my laptop - should I try to ask Apple for a new one? →[More:]My laptop just lost it's third logic board. The replacement isn't covered because the last one was way back in '08. I've heard a rumor that Apple will replace your computer if the same component fails multiple times, but on the other hand, the computer is five years old (ancient in laptop years). I already tried hinting around with the technician, who was perfectly nice, but she didn't offer me any magical free stuff. Should I just accept that it's reached the end of its life and buy a new one?

post by: serazin at: 14:49 | 8 comments

Well if you go for a new one, they are refreshing, any day now (any day since January) so they will all bump down, slightly, in cost.

I am waiting for that so I can get my wife a MacBook.

(Is the logic board same as the motherboard, for PC's?)

posted by danf 16 March | 15:12

Yeah, same thing. Good idea to wait and buy a newly downgraded model.

posted by serazin 16 March | 16:19

Here I come to give you [false?] hope!

Apple fixed my old iBook a couple of years ago, after the LCD failed. I only learned of the replace-or-fix offer thanks to this AskMe, which links to an Apple page describing the problem and the offer. I don't know if the offer is still valid, but it might be worth calling to ask.

posted by Elsa 16 March | 17:08

I believe that it never hurts to ask, nicely. You never know. Maybe even if they don't replace it, they'll offer you a discount on a new one. Asking for help and being really polite, well, sometimes people feel generous and you might get lucky. Ask! You've got nothing to lose.

posted by Kangaroo 16 March | 17:09

And, by the way, no local Apple-approved technician or genius bar offered me free service or replacement or mentioned the replacement program to me; I called the number at the link, described the problem, gave the serial number, and they sent a pre-paid box to pick up the iBook. It. Was. Awesome.

posted by Elsa 16 March | 17:13

I've had great luck with out of warranty repairs/service on quality electronics. As in, month 15 of a 12 month warranty, 29 months on a two year, etc. Multiple failure of the same item on a Mac? Or the rarely used DVD on my pc laptop that dies anyway every year? Yeah, I'll feel 100% fine about making the call for the third time when it happens. Quality and service are why I pay more for tiered stuff anyway.

posted by buzzman 16 March | 19:07

No matter what, ask. Say it broke before under warranty, it's clearly defective, and you'd like it replaced or a comparable model issued. Don't hope they offer: they won't. It's a perfectly reasonable request, and the worst that could happen is that they say no.

posted by eamondaly 16 March | 22:21

Alright, I'm going to give asking more directly a shot. Then, if they say no, I'm going to call Apple and try again. Thanks for the encouragement!

posted by serazin 16 March | 23:27

← Today || Bunny! OMG! →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN