Apple today internally announced it is launching a new pilot program that will permit Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers to continue offering repair service for 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMac models released in mid 2011, despite the fact they will be classified as vintage starting next month.
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The pilot program will be available in the United States only between March 1, 2018 and August 31, 2018, subject to parts availability from Apple, according to the company's internal memo obtained by MacRumors. After the pilot ends, repairs will only be available in California and Turkey, as required by law.
Apple and Authorized Service Providers can usually repair an iMac's display and hinge, logic board, graphics card, hard drive or SSD, power supply, and other components, although the exact availability of replacement parts remains to be seen. It's unclear if RAM and storage upgrades will continue to be offered.
Apple typically offers repairs and replacement parts for a Mac until five years after it is no longer manufactured. Mid 2011 iMac models are now approaching this cutoff, as the last education-only configuration was discontinued in March 2013, but these machines will now remain eligible for service for an additional six months.
Apple didn't specify if the pilot program will eventually expand to other vintage products, or whether it will be available outside of the United States.
Top Rated Comments
Apple finally wised up and laminated the glass to the LCD in subsequent revisions like on their phones and some tablets, but damn, what a nightmare.
These are still great and very capable machines, especially when they are upgraded with an SSD.
Mine is. And upgraded with High Sierra.Runs like Max Verstappen.
I have upgraded the RAM to 16GB and put an SSD as primary disk while keeping the HDD as second, removing the dvd. I think I'll use it for at least another couple of years, then I my get a 5K or a Mac mini with an external monitor if they'll ever make a new model.
When they had the GPU replacement/repair program running these past couple years, my GPU was fine (of course life works this way), but recently I've been seeing crashes and it's probably from thermal issues. I see random artifacts, but I don't want to shell out for a logic board replacement on such an old machine.
Still my baby though. Got her back when she came out (7th year now) and still running as fast (if not faster) today aside from this occasionally artifact issue. Have had an SSD and RAM maxed out since 5 years ago.
Will keep this Mac going until it literally breaks down or until I have disposable income.