To have had it up to here with Apple!

[AlecOrAlonzo]

Just back from the Apple Store where a bearded, loafer wearing, tattooed youth has informed me that not only is my less-than-2-year-old MacBook totally goosed but also as the OS is wiped my chances of selling it on are probably nil. £800+ to fix he said without so much as a blush. He was unsympathetic to my squawk of horror.

Also, the iPad mini I have is so old I have to start it up with a crank handle and it just puts wee black squares for emoticons because they hadn't been invented when I bought it. A new one is £400! What the hell?! I've owned cheaper cars! What will it do for £400? I'd want it cleaning the loo and making my tea for that money. I only use it for pricking about on here and listening to The Archers.

Also, the iPhone I have is second hand and old - 5 possibly? - and in danger of giving up the ghost.

What's the score? What do I replace my aging tech with that isn't going to put money in the pockets of these robber barons? I'm not going to held to ransom by these fuckers. There's no way their stuff is that much better, is there? Surely there's good, reasonably priced tech out there?

Apple is expensive brand name tatt, you could easily get a laptop and probably 2 replacements brand new when they break for that 800. Go PC world and try a few out.

Honestly, they're overpriced for what they are. I ditched my iPhone and old iPad last year and it was fine.

Usually they quote high repair costs because they know it will be covered mostly by people's home insurance (ours was mostly covered by insurance and we topped it up to cover the deductible). I would not get such expensive products without insurance coverage. The other option you have is trying to see if someone else would repair it, maybe there's an independent repair shop on your high street or you could try Curry's KnowHow.

Depends what you need it for? We have an iPad 1 that still does the job of web searching etc - apps don't work as developers don't support them but basic stuff should still be fine.

The battery on the brand new iPhone I bought for Ds died after 18 months. He still has 6 months to go on the contract. Apple said it was nothing I had done. I think apple are overpriced shite and Carphone warehouse shouldn't be allowed to sell them with 24 month contracts if they will only give you a 12 month warranty.
I will never buy another apple phone - all fur coat and no knickers imo!

Whilst Apple does have some advantages, such as running (limited) software better than Windows, they are mainly about the aesthetic and not about the longevity of their products.

I work in design and I get along fine without a Mac. There are also plenty if decent mp3s on Amazon. Have a look at what both Amazon and John Lewis have to offer, they at least know how to look after their customers.

Sell your Apple products on MusicMagpie, they buy even broken items.

They’re still miles better than android. I rather not have a phone than have that

My IT DH says that if the drive is still there then it is possible to put OS back on.

He also given me this link which might be able to help you get things sorted.

support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201314

So DS has infuriatingly forgotten his pass code. Also infuriatingly he didn't keep the software up to date on it. So I cannot restore it to factory settings using iTunes and as it is offline can not wipe it using iCloud find my iPhone either. = one useless iPhone. Totally ridiculous.

Sorry OP you've made my day. Did you tell him he should be wearing a mask and carrying a bag that said SWAG?

I know. You just can't keep up with them can you. I'm scoffed at for my SE. DS4 uses my DDad's ancient outcast ipad but it's giving up the ghost. Had a look at getting another the other day. Bloody hell! Not for a 4 year old to watch Steve and sodding Maggie on. I couldn't get on with an iMac though - much prefer my normal laptop that was a quarter of the price.

My Samsung S6 lasted 4 years of constant use before it started playing up. That's tons better than the 18 months for the iPhone.
I've got a Huawei now - not top brand model but it was cheap (as these things go) and so far does everything I want. I think Apple used to be better but now their phones really aren't. A Mac is still s thing of beauty though if the cost doesn't make you pass out.

Well, clearly I'm a luddite - still using the 4s as is my partner. The laptop was off ebay (refurb) works fab!
Partner and son do have Ipads, and to be fair they have been ultra reliable, but both are handled (cradled!!) with such gentleness I swear they'll still be working when we leave the EU!

Don't get me started on Apple. My daughter's first month at Uni, brand new MacBook. She spilt juice on it - totally her fault, I accept that. However, even having paid over £100 for Apple care it still took 10 days and almost £700 to fix it. When we got it home they had left out an intregal part so the Wifi didn't work. Had to take it back in to the store - another 5 days to fix THEIR mistake (no apologies) then my daughter discovered that the expensive apps that had come pre-installed (she paid extra for this) had been wiped off and she was told she'd have to buy them again for £100. This is where I lost it with Apple, and after a rather unpleasant scene with me screaming like a banshee (polite requests had got me nowhere) it was finally rectified. Will never buy nor recommend an Apple product ever again.

I was in the shop - sorry, "store" - and I just wanted to go round each of the big fancy tables whispering "Dinnae dae it! They're at it! They're robbing you!" Customer service was completely useless. Aye, they're pleasant enough but a) the smuggery and b) the helpless, glaikit look they give you when you express a modicum of surprise that a phenomenally expensive item is effed 18 months after purchase.

Laptop

What like is Lenovo? Decent enough? Is the camera on the laptop reasonable? I use video conference a fair bit. Recently discovered Google Hangout. Quite like that. Have photos to upload also. Most of my docs are stored on the (not Apple shaped) cloud.

Tablet

What will do BBC Sounds, Kindle app, Mumsnet, a bit of scrolling through rubbish/watching high speed videos of people cooking or making Japanese teapots or "hacks"? Flipping love a hack video. I once had a Nexus but it was so shit it drove me into the arms of Apple.

Phone

I need it for photos, Whatsapp, phoning my ma. What else do phones do these days?

Screw you, Apple! I'll be in your thrall no longer! Knowledge is power!

@Greyhound22

Aye! So I should have! Cheeky wee shite!

What about the EU legislation about how long you can reasonably expect a electrical product to last?

Use that to get them to repair/replace?

Weve got a really old ipad that still works albeit a bit slow and grunty, but i just ckean it out every now and again and reboot restore etc

I have a perfectly serviceable Samsung tablet that was £100 new.

I have never bought an Apple product in my life and never will! They stop supporting their stuff far too quickly.

As for phones, do be aware that a cheap one (like a Samsung A or J something as opposed to S flagship models) generally have no battery longevity by the time your contract is up. I'm having this issue with a Sony. Great camera, shite battery.

I'd go to a small local repair shop. We have one nearby and it's very good. Still not cheap but not as expensive as the Apple store.
I don't normally take out extended warranties on anything but I'm glad I did on my iPad as it has been replaced two or three times.

IWannaSeeHowItEnds I managed to get a new iPhone when mine died after 18 months on a 24 month contract under the sale of goods act (or whatever it was replaced with). I had to go to apple and get them to provide a service report saying the phone was buggered and it was a hardware issue not caused by me. Took a bit of backwards and forwarding with them but got there eventually!

Yes, they are wankers. Especially for stupid, unwanted upgrades that mean that you can't put the old USB cords in new machines and have to spend yet more money on new adaptors. I'm stuck with them because my university leases mine, but I hate them more and more with each passing year.

We have several first generation Minis at work and they all work fine. They use emojis and similar in messages, should they need too.
They no longer have iOS updates so don't run some of the newer apps.

Mind we also have one Kindle tablet from the same age and its the same in terms of not being as responsive and not running the newest apps.

I do have an original first generation iPad at work too, the one with no camera. I am still surprised that still works at all tbh. Obviously it can't run many apps these days as most need camera and photograph access.

Had similar bother with Apple.

iPhone 6, kept until end of contract, unlocked it and gave to a friend to use when I upgraded. It lost all phone signal. Took it into 02 and was told it had essentially been cut off

iPhone 7, updated to the latest iOS system and lost the ability to make or receive calls or record any sound. Because it was out of warranty it was going to cost £360 to repair.
Luckily I had taken out a separate insurance for it and they replaced in 48hrs.

So DS has infuriatingly forgotten his pass code. Also infuriatingly he didn't keep the software up to date on it. So I cannot restore it to factory settings using iTunes and as it is offline can not wipe it using iCloud find my iPhone either. = one useless iPhone. Totally ridiculous.

The strict security like is a reason why some people choose Apple. I agree that Apple are very expensive but your son forgetting his passcode and not keeping his device up to date isn't Apple's fault.

It being useless without the passcode and iCloud password is what makes people feel safer should it be lost or stolen. The scenario you describe is user fault rather than an Apple fault.