Re: Apple may hate me after this, but...

Zane,

Is your friend an idiot, retarted or dishonest? Honest PC shops do not repair a broken USB ports or even a broken IDE ports on the MOBO. Why? It would be cheaper to replace the MOBO. If they can fix it for less than $45.00 they will. Like I said people that are ignorant about computers and printers can get ripped off real easy. You were one of those people but now you know better. Would you pay $250.00 to fix a $200.00 multi function printer or would you buy a new $200.00 dollar mulitfuntion printer? Only a fool would pay $600.00 to fix a MOBO. I admit it could easily cost $250.00 to actualy fix a multi function printer because of the labor ($45.00-$50.00 per hour) but most honest technician will tell you to buy a new one. I do not doubt that Apple would charge $1900.00 dollars to fix a $1600.00 computer but you must be wise enough to know you can fix it for $1600.00 yourself just by buying a new one. What you pay for repairs and what it should actualy cost are two different prices.

Most shops only charge $40.00 to install hardrives (compUSA did it free)becuase it is easy. MOBO might be about $70.00 and CPU instals are about $50-$60. These instal only take 10-30 minutes. Don't let Apple rip you off again.