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Originally Posted by Lord Cadillac  I just realized that "logic board" means "mother board" in Apple World. Anyway, I have a backup drive that I use with Time Capsule. So if they send me a new machine or my old one back with nothing on it, that's fine. But how likely is that? I'd rather have my old hard drive back because there's a lot of information on it.
My Wife's Dell notebook needed a new motherboard. We called, they came the next day (with motherboard in hand) and fixed it. My computer never left my possession. If Apple had an option like that, I'd pay for it. I don't understand why they don't...
Oh and yes - I did all the tricks trying to get it started... I never install the updates without checking with the community at macrumors.com - to see if people are having problems. |
Unless you specifically excluded any areas of you hard drive, Time Machine does a complete backup of your entire drive... So once you restore a new drive, it will have all of your information there.
AppleCare has it's good points, it's bad points, and it's weird points.... but I certainly wouldn't put their service in the same league as their computers, despite the fact that they've actually improved over the years when it seems some other manufacturers have had a decrease in their level of service. The basic warranty that comes with the computer is pretty much on par with the rest of the industry.... If you buy the extended AppleCare plan, you get the warranty extended to 3 years and you get free phone support extended beyond the 90 days. AppleCare's extended warranties actually do offer on-site repairs (here's the weird) BUT only for their desktops and only in certain areas (usually higher population areas). Their logic with not providing on-site service for their notebooks has largely to do with the Apple Stores... they figure most problems can be solved easily at your "neighborhood" store... and if it can't be, they'll send it off to Apple.
I don't personally agree with that service model... mostly because I find Apple's "Geniuses" to be anything but - they say they're all Apple Certified, but I think it's a crock... So compound that with the fact that they don't really stock any parts in the stores and the whole model is worthless when it comes to a hardware malfunction. If it malfunctions within the first month, I believe they'll replace it at the store on the spot.
I've only had three personal experiences with AppleCare... one was with an old iPod that they simply replaced. Another was with my brother's iMac, which an authorized Apple repair subcontractor came out and replace the faulty component (the built-in iSight). And the other was a few years back with the wife's G3 iBook... some models of which were notorious for motherboard, or "logicboard" failures (so much that they actually issued an extended service contract on them)... we sent it off and a couple days later we received a brand new machine back. I've actually heard of some other people who've received a new machine back rather than their old one.
I'd say they do it depending on the severity of the problem because all of their "newer" laptops are a real bitch to get into and work on... they're nothing like my old "Pismo" PowerBook G3, which I can completely disassemble and reassemble in under an hour. So it might just make more sense for them to just send out a new one sometimes.
Unfortunately though... it sounds like you just ended up with a fluke, because from everything I've read... the Core2 Duo machines seem to be pretty solid. It can happen with any manufacturer... but the timing just really sucked seeing as how you're a recent switcher. Like I said though... I just hope that it hasn't tarnished your view of the Mac in any way.
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