3 ms·
Another factor of this is that Apple has a global servicing network in its Apple stores that is kinda astounding. With a sony laptop, you would have to mail it
by nirvana 14y ago
Another factor of this is that Apple has a global servicing network in its Apple stores that is kinda astounding. With a sony laptop, you would have to mail it off to their national service center, wait a few weeks and get it mailed back to you for warranty repair.[1]
The same repair can often be accomplished in an Apple store very quickly.
For example. I bought a Macbook Pro in the USA. I was in the UK and had a problem. I went to the UK apple store, and they fixed it- replacing parts-- in 30 minutes. It doesn't matter that I bought the machine in another country (something that would be a hassle with other manufacturers) and I didn't have to send it off-- I was without my computer for all of the time it took to eat lunch, not a couple weeks.
Apple has radically changed the service/support situation for their machines, and thus they are designing machines to be highly serviceable by APPLE, not by users. These aren't made to be modded, but for apple to be able to quickly service.
I think iFixit is looking at these machines in the context of other players in the industry. You have to service your Dell laptop because getting service from Dell may well be a pain in the butt or simply not possible. That's not the case with Apple-- provided there's an Apple store reasonably close (and if not ,they have pretty efficient mail in service.)
My experiences with PC makers, with consumer electronics makers of all types, and even big companies like Intel have never been anywhere close to this level of service and convenience in the service.
[1] Between me and my cofounders we've had this experience with Sony, Dell and HP. The results we got with Apple astounded one of my cofounders because their experience was that things just didn't work that way-- and in their experience it took several multi-week trips to the repair shop to get their name brand PC repaired, leaving them effectively without a computer for months-- because the maker saved money by outsourcing repair to some random third party repair agency. Apple gets things right by owning the store that does the repairs and can impose quality checks on them.
- timc3 14y agoDo you have Applecare? Or is this just service that you have gotten?
- mgkimsal 14y agoFWIW, I didn't have applecare, bought a used macbook from craigslist, then had the case crack in the UK. Apple store on Regent Street (IIRC) fixed it in about 3 hours - they had to hunt for a US-style keyboard part. No applecare, no major hassle. I will say initially they told me to drop it off and I'd have it back in 3-5 days. I said that was unacceptable, then they said 'leave it here and we'll call you'. Got a call 3 hours later.
- sveiss 14y agoI had my UK MacBook with a cracked case repaired twice now, once while in the US. I did have to wait a few days that time, but I think it's a little more reasonable for US keyboards to be in stock in the flagship London store, vs UK keyboards available in a random corner of Arizona. Both times, it's been a much better experience than getting other equipment repaired/replaced.
- jarek 14y agoIt's not a global service network. You don't even have to go to the 'third world' with unreliable electricity to see that - there are no official Apple Stores in Poland [1] or Trinidad and Tobago [2], off the top of my head. Also, getting warranty service in TT is much easier with a Dell than with an Apple. [1] http://www.apple.com/pl/buy/locator/map.html?tySearch=1&viaProduct=2&viaSpecial=-1&strCountry=POL&q=gdynia&c3=1 http://www.apple.com/pl/buy/locator/map.html?tySearch=1&... - one "Premium Reseller" in a metropolitan area of about a million people. Redoing the search ("Szukaj" button) shows a number of general electronics stores carrying some products [2] http://www.apple.com/lae/buy/locator/index.php?ctry=TT http://www.apple.com/lae/buy/locator/index.php?ctry=TT - speaks for itself really
- Dobbs 14y agoThere are parts of the US where you have to travel several hours to get to an Apple Store.
- greedo 14y ago"I think iFixit is looking at these machines in the context of other players in the industry." I think iFixit might also have a conflict of interest in that it sells repair parts for Apple equipment...