Remember how in Rants and Revelations: My iPod is dead… I mentioned how I had to call Apple Care because their stupid web site wouldn’t accept my serial number? Well, either because I actually talked to somebody or because Apple are a bunch of theiving low-lives, I got an invoice today for $49 for a one day Apple Care.
This was over and above the cost for the actual repair, which as explained on The Apple Web Site cost $249 plus tax plus $6.95 shipping. Do you see anywhere on that web site where they mention an additional $49 charge? Fucking assholes.
Anyway, I phoned and complained, and that’s when I got the lame-o excuse that they needed to open an Apple Care case to diagnose the problem. Ok, pick it up, see that it rattles when you move it, realize that the only possible explanation is that something broke off inside, and order the replacement. Yeah, that’s worth $49. Anyway, I yelled at the guy for a bit, he put me on hold for 15 minutes, and he says he’s refunded the money. I’ll believe it when I see it.
Aren’t you glad Microsoft have confined their hardware ambitions to peripherals?
IBM: were the Evil Empire.
Microsoft: are the Evil Empire.
Apple: want to be the Evil Empire.
Sony: will be the Evil Empire.
Discuss.
The strange thing is that Microsoft, for such an evil company that makes such awful software, actually does an ok job on the hardware. I liked the original Natural keyboard (but not the new Natural Pro). I like their new optical mice. Heck, I even remember their CP/M card for Apple ][ as being a decent piece of hardware.