My iMac died today

[dugnsuz]

My 24" iMac which has been a fantastic workhorse for my imaging over the past 3 years died today!

Wouldn't boot up so I took it into the Apple tech this morning - got a call in the afternoon to tell me that the problem was a dodgy logic board.
Replacement cost $1074!!!

Sorry old son but you're 'Not For Resus' I thought...Damn!!!!!!!

So now I've got a very expensive light box as the thing hangs on an evenly illuminated grey screen! So not all bad then!!:sadeyes:

Moral: If you're going to buy a Mac, go for the Apple Care extended warranty!!!

[blindman]

Sorry to hear that, I did get extended Apple care, but one would think they are made better.
On my Mac mini hdmi port died and they asked for $550 for the same.In desparation tried mini dvi and it worked well...?
Happened just after warranty expired!!!
Nev

[Kevnool]

Things aint that cheap in Mac world then Doug.

[Omaroo]

Sad news Doug. Like I said to Houghy, they're all just machines, and like any other will die from time to time. I've owned many Macs over the years and I've had a couple go too - but far less than you'd think as a percentage of the total number. I've never had AppleCare, as the cost of what has broken over the years would come nowhere near the cost of the insurance paid over that time. I'm talking about dozens of Macs though, not just one. For an individual, it makes sense on new gear.

I agree that replacement parts are probably too expensive, but when you think about it, the unibody design of these systems means that 60% of the machine's total value is held in its logic board. They're not generic (Gigabyte-type) boards either - they're purpose designed and built, so they can never be cheap.

Bugger! You could try these guys: http://www.powerbookmedic.com/wordpress/2010/05/03/imac-logic-board-repair-service

Shipping costs back and forth aren't all that much. There are others too. DHL to the States and back is quick too..

[AG Hybrid]

People pay a fortune for apple products thinking they are getting something special over the competition in regards to quality. Sometimes this is true, but at the end of the day they are still made in China like the rest.
I'm sending this from my iPad right now, which I bought knowing full well this.
Interestingly, the production cost of one of these is about $250au to build but I paid nearly $700.
Shows you how much money they make. I can't help but wonder if people who spend massive amounts on apple computers arn't being taken for a bit of a ride?

[CraigS]

Don't like the price ? .. Then don't buy one … the choice is still yours.

The price is what it really takes to obtain a consistently stable, reliable platform. The components all have common sources regardless of the logo the product bears … the country of assembly is not what determines the quality of the product … quality processes do. These can be applied anywhere .. by any appropriately trained personnel.

Cheers

[Omaroo]

$250 covers building that piece of hardware, maybe - but once it has been developed at great cost. Do you think that they value this development at zero? LOL. Dream on :) It's part of the cost of sale, as is a profit. Profits ensure longevity, and I don't do business with companies or people that don't make decent profit - because they'll not be around in the future when I need them.

When I buy Apple I buy into a an incredibly well-connected system, not merely a single machine. I certainly don't mind paying a little more, and who's paying a fortune? My current laptop, a MacBook Air cost $1,099 - no more than a similarly high-end up-specced Windows name brand.

[traveller]

Sad to hear the news Doug, but on the brighter side, a new machine is always a welcome addition.Bo

[Keltik]

Had only one Mac breakdown in 16 years, and that was an eMac, and then it was just the CRT blowing up after years of switching on and off half a dozen times a day. Currently use a new iMac, and bought a Macbook Pro for the daughter's photography course, and an iPad2 for the wife's birthday.
For my own use, there is one program that beats all hell out of anything Windows can offer: GarageBand.
I also like the service at our usual Apple store ( Beyond the Box, in Moonee Ponds- disclaimer: no links to them personally!) My wife left her iPod on the roof of the car and drove away. I found it in the front yard with a decently cracked LCD screen. She took it in to see if she could get them to transfer her songs and they did so, and replaced the iPod without charge. I couldn't believe it, we didn't have it under warranty or anything. Nice guys.

[DavidTrap]

Agreed!

I used to have fun getting PCs to work. I'm over that now. I like stability.

Sorry to hear of your problems Doug. I usually buy the extended warranty - I know I probably get ripped in the long run, but I've had some excelent assistance over the phone from AppleCare and parts replaced on two occasions.

Chris makes some good points too about business practices in general.

My only gripe about Apple products is they last so well that I can't justify an upgrade - bit worried about how my 4yo laptop & 3yo desktop will handle the files from a 36MP camera (if Nikon ever release the D800!)

DT

[dugnsuz]

Thanks for the thoughts all - interesting thoughts they are too.

This is the only Mac product I've owned from LC series in the 90's which has caused me to give such a dramatic financially motivated gasp!

Ironically if I had taken out Apple Care at time of purchase I would have been within warranty - now that would have been a nice feeling!

I still feel that iMacs and Mac products in general represent the perfect storm in terms of aesthetics (Physical looks and GUI) and function.
Just do an A/B with an iPad and an Android tablet.

I just think the blow is harder due to the financial outlay incurred in a Mac drama compared with a $200 PC graphics card malfunction.

God help me, I looked lovingly at the 27" iMac while clutching my dead one as I left the store!

[TrevorW]

You can buy a completely new Windows PC based system with 27" screen quad 4 CPU, 8 gb ram, 1 tb HDD Blueray DVD etc for nearly the cost of the board

So why would you invest over $2000 in a new Apple

[cjpops]

Sorry to hear about your iMac :(

You should be able to get some cash back for your current iMac as spare parts on ebay towards your new machine.

Keep an eye out for Apple refurbished iMac's - they are like brand new and much cheaper (from memory the 21" iMac was something like $999) - they pop up daily - free delivery too.

Dick Smith also usually have a 10% discount on Apple from time to time.

[Octane]

Doug,

The 27" is a work of art, eh. I will get one next year.

H

[dugnsuz]

See above

[DavidTrap]

Trevor, it's an Apple thing, you wouldn't understand. ;)

DT

[Omaroo]

Just doesn't get it.

Trevor - they're not the same thing. I'd throw away three of those units you mention before I gave up my 27" iMac.

[bobson]

Trevor,

I am with you in this. They just don't get it :D

[dugnsuz]

My wallet does Bob!:(

[TrevorW]

Ok I get it now :thanx: it's like paying for a Ferrari when a Holden would do :confused2::screwy: cheaper to run, cheaper to fix and cheaper to replace but it's still not a Ferrari

I like the look of Apples too and the screens are great but my wallet rules

PS

I do have a 10 year old PC running WinXP and it's still going well

[Omaroo]

The main thing I love about my Apple network is only evident when you amass several Macs and other Apple devices - and watch them all just talk to each other seamlessly. They're designed with a centralised communication ability that just makes them such a pleasure to use in a larger home or smaller business environment. Finding and buying safe applications and managing their updates from the Mac App Store is brilliant. Windows based machines just don't offer this to any where near the same degree.

[bobson]

Chris,

Makes you wonder why there is no more users of Apple in the world than there is at the moment?

cheers

bob

[Omaroo]

No it doesn't. Same could be asked of Sun Microsystems. They're both niche market dwellers. Still doesn't mean that PCs could fill their places - because they really can't.

The real reason? Most people don't have a reason to have to decide between either platforms, and just go with the flow. :question: Money, undoubtedly a key factor here. Chinese PC/Windows clones are stupidly cheap - and that is reason enough. Most people are satisfied with cheap speed and power at the expense of integration and longevity. It goes back to Trevor's comment - if you are satisfied with a Holden, why would you buy a Ferrari or Bugatti? All three go from A to B given ideal situations, but that's not the point...

People look for different things in equipment, so please don't go dragging us all back into the old PC/Mac debate. Both camps get what they need out of their respective choices, and after revisiting Windows 7 for the past few weeks at work, I'm very happy to go home to my Macs. Doesn't mean that I'm going to give my employees Macs though... PCs are good enough, and they're used to them because that's what they have at home. Why are the numbers so lop-sided? I think I just told you. ;) in this circumstance I'm not going to waste company funds on premium gear when cheap will do the job. most businesses think the same - except for a few academics, high-end ad agencies and publishers/printers/tradeshops.

I also have a large shelf at work that is full of dead PC's - some of them only three years old... and just about every Mac we've ever bought is still in service. Go figure... but that's just my experience.

[dugnsuz]

Update: Went crazy and bought a new 27" 3.1GHz Quad Core iMac on which I'm talking to you now!!

Just been playing around with Photoshop 4 and some old images - this machine has a very nice bit of grunt for processing...SWEET
And having fun with the new Magic Mouse
Doug

[CraigS]

Way to go Doug ! Good one !

What's going to happen to the dead iMac ?

It might be worthwhile pulling it apart to see if there's anything obviously repairable. (I'm always a little skeptical of repair centre diagnoses when the conclusion is the main board). It just seems like a very unusual failure for the 3-4 year mark.

Cheers

[dugnsuz]

Hi Craig,
The little I do know about computers does suggest a serious hardware malfunction so I reckon their assessment was pretty accurate.
The old 24" iMac has a reformated HD and 4Gb of RAM as well as a very good unmarked screen. EBay and/or IIS trade for spare parts might be the way to go.
Doug

[Omaroo]

Good move Doug. Enjoy your 27 incher - I love mine. :thumbsup: It's like going from a previously-enormous 64cm TV to a 42 inch unit. It takes a little wile to get used to the extra real estate.

[TrevorW]

Nice one Doug enjoy they do have great screens

[Octane]

Doug,

You are a bad influence. Must. Stay. Strong.

Congrats!

H

[dugnsuz]

I bought it from (of all places...) Dick Smith for $2069 - they were doing 10% off all iMacs - the 2.7GHz model was $1745. That's an unheard of price reduction in the Mac world!!
Offer ends today I think...still got time H.

[Octane]

I know, I was looking at JB Hi-Fi, earlier. :S

I won't do it. I'll wait until next year. :)

H