As per a recent conversation with Apple tech support, and later semi-confirmed on MacFixIt, the "return all laptops to depot for repair" policy has ended. AASP's are allowed to repair laptops in house, assuming they can get the parts necessary to repair them.
However... Apple said that repairing laptops is at the AASP's discretion. If they don't want to - they don't have to. At which point, back to Apple for a week to two weeks it goes.
I'll be finding out first hand, soon - my Titanium PowerBook G4 has developed cracks in the plastic - so off it goes to get repaired. Luckily - still under warranty. If the warranty covers it, which it should.
What it seems everyone here has forgotten is one key factor: IT'S NOT YOUR STUFF! It's not your computer, and even if you choose to bring in your own computer, it's not your network, and you are bringing it into a building that is not yours and probably working on it during time that is not yours. When you own the company, then you can do what you want to the computer.
I work as a computer technician. We were forced to add a disclaimer every time someone started up that they would have to acknowlege in order to get into their computer. This disclaimer stated clearly that the computer that they were accessing was not their propery, and that any unauthorized modifications could be considered damaging company property and could result in termination.
You may think that Linux (or MacOS, or NT, or BeOS, or Amiga, or whatever non-standard OS you choose to use) is the coolest thing since sliced bread and will help your productivity. But have you considered how that OS you just installed on your desk affects the computer down the hall, or the server on 3rd floor? What happens when the head office deploys that software that suddenly doesn't work on your computer? What happens when the IT person comes out to do an upgrade on your computer - and suddenly can't get into it to do his work?
I'm sorry to rant, but this is among my pet peeves. IT has established company standards for a reason - they have a view of the big picture - and in the end they'll have to support it sometime.
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As per a recent conversation with Apple tech support, and later semi-confirmed on MacFixIt, the "return all laptops to depot for repair" policy has ended. AASP's are allowed to repair laptops in house, assuming they can get the parts necessary to repair them.
However... Apple said that repairing laptops is at the AASP's discretion. If they don't want to - they don't have to. At which point, back to Apple for a week to two weeks it goes.
I'll be finding out first hand, soon - my Titanium PowerBook G4 has developed cracks in the plastic - so off it goes to get repaired. Luckily - still under warranty. If the warranty covers it, which it should.
What it seems everyone here has forgotten is one key factor: IT'S NOT YOUR STUFF! It's not your computer, and even if you choose to bring in your own computer, it's not your network, and you are bringing it into a building that is not yours and probably working on it during time that is not yours. When you own the company, then you can do what you want to the computer.
I work as a computer technician. We were forced to add a disclaimer every time someone started up that they would have to acknowlege in order to get into their computer. This disclaimer stated clearly that the computer that they were accessing was not their propery, and that any unauthorized modifications could be considered damaging company property and could result in termination.
You may think that Linux (or MacOS, or NT, or BeOS, or Amiga, or whatever non-standard OS you choose to use) is the coolest thing since sliced bread and will help your productivity. But have you considered how that OS you just installed on your desk affects the computer down the hall, or the server on 3rd floor? What happens when the head office deploys that software that suddenly doesn't work on your computer? What happens when the IT person comes out to do an upgrade on your computer - and suddenly can't get into it to do his work?
I'm sorry to rant, but this is among my pet peeves. IT has established company standards for a reason - they have a view of the big picture - and in the end they'll have to support it sometime.