Jonathan Peter Zschau - Buying and Owning a Mac: Secrets Apple Doesnt Want You to Know

< Buying and Owning a Mac >

Copyright 2011 by Jonathan Zschau and Cultomedia Corp.

ISBN 978-0-9831070-0-2

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The author has endeavored to comply with all known legal and ethical requirements in writing and publishing this book. The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice or a substitute for legal counsel. The accuracy and completeness of information provided in this book and opinions stated herein are not guaranteed or warranted to produce any particular results, and the advice and strategies, contained herein may not be suitable for every individual.

The author will not be liable for any loss incurred as a consequence of the use and application, directly or indirectly, of any information presented in this work. The author has used reasonable efforts in preparing this book and it is designed to provide reasonably accurate information about the covered subjects. This book is presented with the understanding that the author is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. As legal advice must be tailored to the specific facts and circumstances of each case, nothing provided herein should be used as a substitute for advice of competent legal counsel. Nothing in this book is intended as, or may be considered or interpreted as, constituting the practice of law or the rendering of legal services, or the providing of legal advice . If you have legal questions, contact an attorney who is licensed to practice law within your jurisdiction.

We are providing the links contained in this book only as a convenience to you. Sites referenced or listed as hypertext links herein are not under our control. This book does not incorporate any materials appearing in such linked sites by reference. The primary purpose of the links is to help the reader understand the breadth of information freely available on the Internet and, therefore to encourage the free use of the Internet as a research aid. We can make no representation concerning the quality, safety or suitability of the content of these sites nor can the fact that we have included any such link serve as an endorsement or approval by us of any of those sites.

I would like to thank my friends and family who assisted with the creation of this book. I would like to give special thanks to Leander Kahney for his unyielding support throughout the entire process. I would also like to give special thanks to Kristin Winchell, Ryan Winchell, and Jeremy Zschau for their tremendous contributions to the artwork contained in this book.

Thanks To:

Leander Kahney

Kristin Winchell

Ryan Winchell

Jeremy Zschau

Nicholas Chandler

Dan Draper

Nicole Martinelli

Brendan McWalters

Alexander Park

Ryan Zschau

Jonathan Zschau

Last year, I had an old MacBook replaced with a newer, faster model -free of charge.

My old MacBook starting cracking near the keyboard. I took it to my local Apple Store and had its cracked parts replaced thanks to Apples one-year warranty. But the cracks came back a couple months later and kept coming back. Over the course of the next year I brought my MacBook back to my local Apple Store for service four times. Each time Apple returned it in pristine condition. The fifth time these cracks appeared I decided that enough was enough - this Apple was a lemon and I wanted a permanent fix. I knew my rights - Im an attorney, after all.

I spent the next evening preparing for battle. I sat down and researched my MacBooks defect online. I gathered articles, photos, and personal accounts of the defect. I reviewed my service receipts along with the dates and times of each transaction; I even reviewed the business cards of each Apple Store Genius I had interacted with on this subject. I researched the state and federal laws, which were on point. The facts said that I had a lemon and the law said that Apple had to give me a replacement or refund. The attorney in me expected conflict and I was ready to fight.

The next morning I called Apple. Within five minutes I was on the phone with Dave, an Apple representative. I started to explain my situation; I described my MacBooks defect; I pointed to the number of past repairs; I explained the inconvenience. Dave listened intently and sympathetically. When I finished, he asked if he could put me on hold. Here it comes, I thought to myself, let the battle begin.

After about three minutes Dave returned. Wed like to replace your MacBook, he continued, but, unfortunately, your MacBook model is no longer in production, he paused, so we would like to replace it with one of the newer models.

I was ecstatic. Within twenty minutes I was on my way to my local Apple Store to exchange my MacBook for a new model. Dave even scheduled the Genius Bar appointment for me. I felt as if I had gotten away with some sort of crime. After all, I owned and used my MacBook for over a year and here I was exchanging it for a newer, faster, better model.

Upon reflection I came to realize that all that happened here was that I had owned a truly defective MacBook, I asserted my rights, and Apple stood behind its product. I began to wonder why more people didnt take better advantage of their Macs warranties - Apple seemed to make it so easy. Through my conversations with others I soon discovered that many people were simply unaware of how to best protect their rights and interests when they become an Apple customer.

So I set out to write something to help the average Mac owner. A short article turned into a long article; a long article turned into a series of articles. At some point along the way I had something that could be made into a book. Here it is: Buying and Owning a Mac: Secrets Apple Doesnt Want You to Know. This book surveys some of the most common issues that relate to owning Macs. Its written for you - not Apple. I hope it both informs and empowers you to better understand your interests and rights as a consumer and saves you time and money over the life of each and every Mac you ever own.

In the last decade, Apple Computer has established itself as the quintessential producer of todays most cutting-edge, aesthetically appealing and sought-after consumer electronics. Apple has become a household name and its Macs coveted by technophiles around the globe. Macs are phenomenal machines, but they are also expensive. Part of what makes them so expensive is the simple fact that every Mac comes bundled with some of the most comprehensive support, service and warranty protection money can buy. If you are smart, you can easily recoup some, if not all, of that extra cost by taking advantage of the relevant information, laws, policies, and procedures applicable throughout your Macs lifecycle.