<p>Getting ready to purchase soon to be freshman daughter a new Apple computer. We are investigating computer support. The closest Apple store is 40 minutes away by car. The Geek Squad of Best Buy is just a hop and a skip away. It seems that purchasing the Geek Squad computer support is rational and logical. Does anyone have any advice or thoughts involving Geek Squad vs. the Genius Bar (Apple Store Support)? Thanks for your help. Cheers.</p>
<p>will the Geek Squad actually fix it in-house? The only time we’ve worked with them, they sent it off (for supposedly 1 week, ended up being 3 weeks, with little feedback) and it came home with only one of the two issues fixed. I was seriously not impressed. This was not under a contract for support however. But I don’t think they have much “expertise” at Geek Squad.</p>
<p>The genius bar at the apple store is great and free - you won’t need to get support often - so 40 minutes should not be an issue. Don’t purchase Geek Squad - your warranty from apple should cover most everything you will need.</p>
<p>Apple warrantees their computers for one year and the warranty doesn’t cover accidental damage. Applecare extends the warranty from one year to three but the same goes - accidental damage isn’t covered. We’ve begun where I work offering an extended warranty from Safeware - <a href=“http://www.safeware.com/Individual/GetanInsuranceQuote.aspx”>http://www.safeware.com/Individual/GetanInsuranceQuote.aspx</a> It extends the warranty to four years and does cover accidental damage (we’re covered under the educational umbrella). We have a computer store on campus that’s Apple authorized and they recommend it and do the service for any safeware warranties. Also, be aware that some laptops need to be sent back to Apple - Apple’s rules - so you might check on that before purchasing. 40 minutes away is a long way for a college student. You’d hope she wouldn’t need it but you never know. Both my sons had computer problems and luckily an Apple store is close by to both of them. In both instances, the cable that connects the hard drive to the computer came loose so it was an easy fix, covered by Applecare, and no data were lost. I also recommend looking into a cloud-based backup that’s automatic because I’m pretty sure no college - not even MY little darlings - take the time to plug an external hard drive in for backups. Good luck - and congratulations on your Apple purchase. They’re wonderful computers.</p>
<p>Don’t get Geek Squad coverage…they send out for complicated repairs and their technical expertise is such several tech writers have wondered whether they even check for computer proficiency/knowledge. </p>
<p>As for Apple Geniuses, they can range from highly proficient to barely. If the latter, sometimes they can go so far as to blame the end user for issues that wasn’t their fault or weren’t the issue in the first place. </p>
<p>Water damage is a favorite blame tactic of theirs…without seeming to care that the sensors Apple uses to determine that can be so sensitive humid weather could set them off. </p>
<p>If you’re anticipating rough usage or college student accidents, consider squaretrade’s accidental extended warranties which cover accidents…including liquid damage. </p>
<p>Does her college have apple repair on-site or nearby? D’s college had an authorized apple repair facility right on campus, and they were able to handle warranty work on the spot. It was great, because they also helped with tech issues like getting the right software configurations set up for the university’s networking and applications.</p>
<p>For many problems, Mac owners can rely on Apple care telephone support (which is excellent). There really aren’t many instances of total failure where you need to bring the laptop in. I would also check to see if the college offers tech support for Apple products. </p>
<p>Even though Happykid’s Applecare is long expired, she’s had terrific support at the Apple Store for the various issues that have arisen. She can’t come up with anything negative about them.</p>
<p>Another vote for purchasing the additional two years of Apple Care. While most of my family’s computers have not needed to use Apple Care, I have had my desktop replaced at 14 months (kernel failure) and then that brand new computer suffered a hard drive failure ten months later.</p>
<p>We used the phone support more in our early years of ownership, but my very tech-savvy boys have been able to research most issues on their own, so that when we do bring the computer in, it truly needs Genius or beyond level of assistance. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that like apple’s standard 1 year warranty, Applecare doesn’t cover accidental damages like water damage or damaged LCD panel. </p>
<p>Worse, any signs of water damage as ascertained by their dubious water damage sensors and the warranty/applecare is voided automatically. </p>
<p>They can cover accidental, it is up to the genius I believe.( I also get out of speeding tickets)
Applecare is always worth getting.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The problem is it isn’t guaranteed as it is not their official policy. Read the fine print of the warranty and applecare. </p>
<p>For every person who gets a waiver, many others are told to get a new mac or pay $800+ for parts and repairs. This seems to be an increasing trend within the past year from what I’ve gathered from several people who have had mac issues. </p>
<p>Some LCD damages are covered.</p>
<p>for water and accident damage buy student insurance each year (very inexpensive and they cover iphone, computer, and video games) </p>
<p>We are a family of Mac owners. When I got mine 6 years ago, S insisted I get Applecare. I think S is on his 3rd Mac now (he keeps an old one for music storage) I only used Applecare once during the three years of warranty for a repair, to get a new mouse. I think I got a phone “fix” another time. My machine is still going strong. D and S have both had their laptops repaired because the cases had begun to warp around the edge and they fixed the issue without question. I agree with everyone else recommending the Applecare. I live 2 hours away from an Apple store, but will buy it again whenever I get a new machine.</p>
<p>I guess I haven’t had that much"accidental" damage. Generally my problems were for things that were covered completely or cost $100 or less.
Part of owning expensive electronics is taking care of them.</p>
<p>*AppleCare+ provides repair or replacement coverage, both parts and labor, from Apple-authorized technicians. Coverage includes the following</p>
<p>Your iPhone
Battery1
Included earphones and accessories
Coverage for up to two incidents of accidental damage,2 each subject to a $79 service fee plus applicable tax*</p>
<p>I had a faculty who purchased Applecare and accidently spilled water on his new MacBook Pro (retina display) and it wasn’t covered - to the tune of a $1200 repair. He ended up buying a new computer - I wanted to cry for him. Agreeing with Cobrat - you may get a genius who will cover a repair but you can’t count on it. And I’m guessing if you go to the Geek Squad, they’ll be a lot stricter about what they can cover. I’m not a fan of Applecare given it doesn’t cover accidents (drops, water, etc.) and have liked Safeware. @kiddie - what accidental insurance do you recommend?</p>
<p>I have used this - <a href=“http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com”>http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com</a> - did not file any claims so I don’t know how they handle them - but they do include water damage to electronics. It is exclusively for college students.</p>
<p>AppleCare is not insurance. Apple is quite clear about that. Having said that, the two year AppleCare Plus (I think that’s what they call it) is the way to go. We are a family of Aplple users and older D is a Genius. She’s one of the good ones 
I also suggest some type of insurance to cover those other circumstances. </p>
<p>You absolutely need to get insurance. That’s far more important than a warranty because, bluntly, an Apple laptop shouldn’t need much warranty work. (Last buggy Mac laptops were about 8 years ago - involved a software problem with the fan that led to over-heating.) As noted, a warranty doesn’t cover when you or someone else breaks it.</p>
<p>kiddie mentioned one company. We used NSSI. Covers every kind of damage and theft and not just for the computer. They paid for a new laptop screen no problems at all. Get replacement cost coverage for the extra few bucks. The cost of the one claim was more than the cost of coverage for 4 years.</p>