[Macpartners] repair of broken powerbook hinges

[Helen Rose]

At 15:33 -0400 2004-07-27, Susan Midlarsky wrote:
>>Unfortunatly, apparently there is some stuff they can't repair on site. I
>>brought in my G3 iBook -- problem is that when the display is 
>>tipped back more
>>than about 95 degrees, it goes dark. I checked the serial numbers and my G3
>>doesn't qualify for the extended warranty offered on faulty G3 displays. PC
>>Services told me that the manufacturer won't permit them to work on the
>>displays and it would have to go to Apple. Minimum cost would likely be
>>something like $400,
>
>It's actually cheaper to take something like this to an Apple retail 
>store. You can save about $100.

Apple retail stores aren't bad. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy 
having one in walking distance of campus. But the techs at the 
"genius bar" are often not real geniuses. At least half of the time I 
know more than they do (and end up answering the questions of others 
waiting to talk to somebody). Probably a quarter of the time when the 
tech hears what I do for a living they ask if I'm hiring.

I also find myself having to wait at the genius bar, sometimes for a 
LONG time, to talk to a tech. Their check in/check out process can be 
arduous. On the other hand, I've walked into PC Service and been out 
the door in less than two minutes (if I haven't filled out the form, 
even!). I don't have to pester them to find out if it's returned from 
Apple (unlike at the retail store).

The only unit I currently take to the Apple store is my iPod. If 
anything else needs TLC, it goes to W20 (soon to N42).