Pre-activated MacBooks have appeared for sale in Russia. This is a new trend that is generating interest among consumers, as well as questions about its consequences.
Activated MacBooks are supplied to Russia in small batches. These are mainly new models purchased in the USA immediately after the start of sales. This method avoids suspicion from regulators, as it enters the country as a device for \"personal use.\"
However, there are also disadvantages. The main one is the reduction in the warranty period. The warranty for such devices begins to be calculated from the moment of activation, and not from the moment when the final buyer purchases and turns on the device. But here, too, the situation can be viewed from a different angle.
The start date of the warranty period is counted from the activation date only in the Apple database. This is convenient because you can simply go to an authorized service center without a receipt, and they will check the term themselves. But, firstly, Apple manually extended this period if a receipt with a later date of sale was presented. Secondly, Apple's ASCs in Russia are closing down from May this year. Apple equipment buyers in Russia will turn to sellers in case of breakdowns, and in any case, their warranty period is counted from the date of sale according to the receipt or the database of regular customers.
Activated MacBooks offer the same functions and features as their non-activated counterparts, but the box with the device is not opened by the buyer himself. This allows the retailer to engrave the device with a foreign keyboard with Cyrillic characters. Apple itself also accepts orders for the necessary keyboards, but such devices will take longer to reach the buyer.
Activating equipment abroad also helps to circumvent the law on mandatory pre-installation of Russian software. This is because such devices do not fall under the scope of this law. But it is worth remembering that even in this case, the seller in Russia is obliged to provide a guarantee for the device imported through parallel imports. Thus, if technical problems are discovered after purchasing an activated MacBook, the buyer will be able to return the device under the warranty provided by the retailer.
However, there are also pitfalls when buying pre-activated MacBooks. As Eldar Murtazin from Mobile Research Group emphasized in a comment to Izvestia, the buyer cannot be sure that nothing has been done with the computer after its activation. As a result, the buyer purchases a laptop that has already been unpacked and possibly used. This can lead to certain problems, especially if unauthorized changes have been made to the device.
It is important to remember that when buying an already activated MacBook, it is always worth checking it for hidden surprises, such as pre-installed third-party programs or modified settings.