Kirk McElhearn, for Macworld:

If you live in an area like me, AppleCare is a worthwhile investment. If you’re near an AppleStore, however, and you use your Mac at home, spending an extra $150 or more may not seem worthwhile. You can always drop into the Apple Store and get a diagnosis or repair (if it’s still the first year).

I’m asked regularly by friends who are new to the Apple ecosystem if buying AppleCare is worth the money. I recommend it – in fact, I’ve rarely not used it, especially on work gear that gets used a lot, like my laptops.

There’s certainly a case to be made against buying AppleCare for iPhones, iPods and iPads, as they’re lower-cost items with fewer moving parts that are a bit better designed to be durable (arguably).