Meet Abby, My new AirBook

or, Why I love Apple.

I’m sure she was thinking to herself while shaking her head, “I have to convince this woman to take a free computer? Is she nuts?”

The tale doesn’t start out so nicely. In 17 months since I bought my first Mac, an AirBook, I had a love/hate relationship with her. I adjust to the Apple way of doing things easily enough. But that little laptop was more lemon-y than apple-y. I had not one, but TWO hard drive failures. Then, over Thanksgiving, I noticed that the hinge was broken; a little research showed this to be a manufacturing defect.

We made an appointment at the Genius Bar. At Lenox Mall. In December. I loathe the mall in general, especially near Christmas. But we made it into a fun time by riding the Pink Pig before our appointment.

We walked into the Apple Store ready to argue that they should fix this problem for free, despite the fact that the machine was out of warranty. We had the webpages ready to show them. We were set for a showdown. The associate at the Genius Bar looked at the reservation, looked at the computer, ran some diagnostics and said that Apple would fix it gratis as it was a manufacturing defect. It would take a week for the part to come in and a week to fix it. Did I want to take the computer and bring it back or leave it? as the hinge had gotten worse while we were there, I chose to leave it, quickly copying some last minute files onto my SD card.

A week goes by. The external backup drive appears to be corrupted (fingers crossed that Apple doesn’t lose my data). The MacBook Pro I’m using gives up the ghost. I moan and groan about having to use the desktop down in the basement. I start using the girls’ latop — now my files are scattered like flotsam and jetsam on our network.

Friday afternoon, 8 days after having dropped off my computer, I get a voicemail from Apple telling me that the clamshell is backordered. Backordered?? How much longer was I going to have to be wandering from machine to machine, computerless?

The next day I got another call from Apple. The associate at the other end said, “I’m calling about your Airbook. The clamshell is backordered, so I have a proposal for you. I know how frustrating it must be to be without your computer.”

I think she’s going to 1) offer to let me come get my machine until the backordered part comes in or 2) let me borrow some refurbished machine until mine can be fixed.

What she said next floored me. “I’d like to replace your machine with a brand new AirBook.” I was sure my ears were deceiving me.

I didn’t say “Great!” I tried to find the catch. “refurbished machine?” No. Wa it going to be better than the old one? Yes, Apple had learned from its mistakes. She started to compare the specs and realized the one she was offering me was not enough better than my old one and upgraded me then and there.

Finally, I was convinced to take a brand new machine, free of charge. I then explained about my hard drive and asked if she could be sure all my data would be transfered safely. She said they would be careful, but that it would take some time and she’d call me back on Sunday. Then she apologized again.

Sunday afternoon, after a day of pins and needles and fighting with the Windows laptop, I finally got the call and headed over to the mall. On a Sunday. In December. I was greeted as I walked in to the store. The associate took my id and brought out a brand new machine, loaded with all my applications, files and data. Wow. We signed some forms and talked about the new features. Like the SD card slot. And the TWO USB slots. And the solid state memory. As this new computer has no warranty, is a new model, and srevice has been so great, I paid for AppleCare for 3 years (discount for being a homeschooler!).

I walked out, computer in hand (I didn’t get a box or bag?), happy as a clam. Clamshell and all.