Apple Care

Apple provides you with 1 year of warranty and support when you purchase a new Mac. However, if a problem arises, you may need to check and see if you are still covered. Also, if you plan on buying the Apple Care plan, you can check and see if you are still eligible. You just need the serial number of your computer and an internet connection.

Here is how to do it:

1. Apple menu -> About this Mac
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If your Macintosh is covered under an Apple Care agreement, you qualify for a free copy of Tech Tools Deluxe, from Micromat. READ MORE »

I had some dealings with Apple Care this morning (read here), and it prompted me to tell you a few things to make your calls go as smooth and efficient as mine.

1. Always have the serial number ready. If you don't see the serial number on your product, it's probably available via software. On a Mac, you can go to the Apple menu -> About this mac -> More Info -> Hardware. It will be at the bottom, under the 'Hardware Overview.

iPod users have it on the back of their iPod. You can also retrieve your serial # under the 'Extra Settings -> About' menu. Other methods to find serial numbers can be found here.

2. Take that product serial number and go to the Support page and type it in. You can find out exactly how many days you have left on your warranty, and decide if it's even worth a call.

3. Before you call, check around the Apple support documents, Google, and MacFixit.com. Find out if other people are having a similar problem, and find out what solutions Apple care has taken care of for them.

Occasionally, Apple doesn't 'fess up immediately to widespread problems, and will only address them when you use a special 'buzzword' or describe a specific problem with 'key' words. Unfortunately, this is ostensibly how things are done, so before you call, be up to speed on specific terms that the rep may be looking for. READ MORE »