Goodbye Macs. Sigh.......
Not yet two years old, my flirtation with Macs is over. I've enjoyed the experience, never a thought about anti-virus, probably two crashes in the whole time. All those who argue that Macs are not overpriced given the integrated software they arrive with are right; there are fabulous suites included, and to option up a PC to similar specs would theoretically cost even more.
But.
I've already had a quiet whinge on this forum about the attitude to service by Apple: four months old? you have a problem and you expect free phone service? You jest of course!
So my music playback on iTunes starts distorting, as though there are interruptions on the internet connection. Not just streaming, but CD music as well. Please fix, I go on holiday, I back in two weeks. Sounds strange, haven't heard of this one, we fix.
Arrive back, presented with a bill for $55. Que? $55, I ask suspiciously, knowing that is the going price for walking through the door? That's all, says woman.
Err, could I see the service docket? Certainly.
Test Imac for sound problem.
Tried running iMac on external HDD; problem persisted. (err, I already did that.)
Tried with known working RAM. (???)
Tried on archive install but still didn't fix the problem.
Result: Logic board is faulty causing sound distortion; cost to replace is: $1029: Cost to fit: $132. Total cost for a poorly designed or faulty part (ok, I put that bit in): $1161.
Me: So I gather it's not actually fixed?
Woman: Hang on and I'll check.
Me: ???
Woman: (reappearing from bowels of service dept): It needs a new logic board.
Me: So I'm paying you $55 to tell me that it's going to cost me $1161 to replace one component of a $1700 computer?
I will spare you the rest of the conversation because there wasn't any until I went out the door, unsellable computer in my arms, and closed the sliding door rather unhappily, uttering quiet expletives when I got outside.
Woman then had nerve to open door and tell me not to slam the door. I suggested (very diplomatically of course) that as the sole Apple agent in my place of residence she was the frontline for unhappy customers, of which she could now count me as one, and she had a bloody cheek to complain about the treatment of her precious door considering she was going to let me walk out of it without specifically telling me my computer was still fecked.
Back to Windows for me. Free software available everywhere, including the antivirus so necessary. And if the whole thing falls apart I can buy a brand new clone computer for less than the price of the precious Apple "logic board".
If anyone wants a 18 month old iMac in perfect condition unless you want to listen to music, feel free to call me before I take it to the tip.
A sour taste left in the mouth of this Apple "convert".