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+--- Thread: Repair a MacBook or Not? (/showthread.php?tid=147330)
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Repair a MacBook or Not? - magicmikey - 01-16-2013
My son's white MacBook apparently needs a logic board and I'm trying to decide if it's worth repairing or if I would be better off selling it for parts. It's a 2.0 gHz Intel Core 2 Duo model with 2GB of RAM and a 120 MB hard drive. It was purchased about 3 1/2 years from Apple as a refurbished model. Earlier this year, the display went out and we replaced it at a cost of around $250. Now, the Apple Store said they would do a flat rate repair that would fix anything they find wrong with it for $288 (plus tax.) They're pretty sure the logic board is what needs replacing.
I am not enthusiastic about putting a total of $500 in repairing this MacBook in a six-month period but I'm also not in a position to purchase a new or refurbished MacBook Pro. On top of that, my son has been bugging me for a while to replace the MacBook with a PC laptop. (He likes to play games and there several that aren't Mac compatible.)
My options are:
a.) Repair the MacBook and have him keep using it.
b.) Repair the MacBook and then sell it so that I can buy him a cheap PC laptop.
c.) Sell the MacBook for parts and buy a cheap PC laptop
I have to be honest. I'm not thrilled about the problems with his MacBook. I've been using my White MacBook for more than 4 years and my display had to be replaced, too. Fortunately, it happened while still under the Best Buy Extended warranty. This makes me wonder how reliable it will be.
I''m not enthusiastic about buying him a PC laptop but I know enough about them to keep it running right (I think.)
Any opinions?
Thanks.
Re: Repair a MacBook or Not? - Speedy - 01-16-2013
Cut your losses and sell for parts.
Re: Repair a MacBook or Not? - rgG - 01-16-2013
I think, and I can't believe I would say this, but I think C is probably the best course of action.
Re: Repair a MacBook or Not? - sekker - 01-16-2013
How old is your son?
What other purpose will the laptop be used for?
If it's just games, etc., then $500 gross (minus whatever you get for selling the Macbook for parts) gets you a lot. Just check out the flash sale on today's 1saleaday site.
If it's for mobility and school, then a refurb MBA can be puchased for $800 gross (which you can then reduce total cost from parts).
We have about 10 of those MacBooks, and the only screen failure was after being dropped, and the only motherboard failure was a year 4+ machine that had seen hard use. The worst problem were are having now are bulging batteries.
Re: Repair a MacBook or Not? - magicmikey - 01-16-2013
My son is almost 15 years old. It will be used for school work, watching movies, playing games, email, etc. I would prefer not buying a PC laptop but that's what he wants.
Re: Repair a MacBook or Not? - space-time - 01-16-2013
magicmikey wrote:
... I would prefer not buying a PC laptop but that's what he wants.
teach him to keep Pandora's box closed.
Re: Repair a MacBook or Not? - NewtonMP2100 - 01-16-2013
have no opinion on this but just wanted to say that I really enjoyed your movie.......
Re: Repair a MacBook or Not? - magicmikey - 01-16-2013
NewtonMP2100 wrote:
have no opinion on this but just wanted to say that I really enjoyed your movie.......
LOL!
Re: Repair a MacBook or Not? - sekker - 01-16-2013
magicmikey wrote:
My son is almost 15 years old. It will be used for school work, watching movies, playing games, email, etc. I would prefer not buying a PC laptop but that's what he wants.
I had this kind of battle with a good friend of the family.
Sounds like the real reason he wants to go PC is to play games.
My recommendation is to really assess his school needs and find good technolog for that. A MBA is likely better for him. Heck, even a $250 chromebook would be enough.
He can save up from getting a job to pay for a gaming computer.
It's up to you about how much of a battle you want to make out of this. But if he's getting the pressure our family friend felt from his peers to play games, then maybe just getting the PC is the way to go.
Re: Repair a MacBook or Not? - magicmikey - 01-16-2013
sekker wrote:
[quote=magicmikey]
My son is almost 15 years old. It will be used for school work, watching movies, playing games, email, etc. I would prefer not buying a PC laptop but that's what he wants.
I had this kind of battle with a good friend of the family.
Sounds like the real reason he wants to go PC is to play games.
My recommendation is to really assess his school needs and find good technolog for that. A MBA is likely better for him. Heck, even a $250 chromebook would be enough.
He can save up from getting a job to pay for a gaming computer.
It's up to you about how much of a battle you want to make out of this. But if he's getting the pressure our family friend felt from his peers to play games, then maybe just getting the PC is the way to go.
I can probably live with the PC but I'm struggling with what to do with the MacBook. I wish I could get it repaired for $200 and then sell it but the repair is going to be around just over $300 with tax. I hate selling a laptop for parts. I did that with an iBook with a logic board issue and got lucky in finding someone that wanted the whole thing.