Geniuses? (A Rant)

At the risk of sounding conceited, I'm fairly certain that I know more about computers than the people who do Apple's chat for the online Apple Store. I asked them a question about the transfer rate of the SATA drives in the MacBook. I was answered with "If it's not in the Tech Specs page online, I cannot find that information for you". She then tried to up-sell me from the $999 white MacBook to a desktop Mac Pro (several thousands of dollars!), just so I could change the hard drive. Um, what? I said I needed a laptop, and was on a tight budget. They answered that I could pay them $250 to put in a 320GB hard drive. I said I wanted to do it myself to save the money (500GB for $99 on Newegg.com). She tells me that would void my warranty, to which I mention that I've seen several places online that say the hard drive and RAM are user-serviceable, but that I really don't care about the warranty anyway (knock on wood). She then again tells me that if I want to do my own hard drive installation, a Mac Pro would be good for me. All this because I was curious if the MacBook's SATA speed was 1.5GB/s or 3.0GB/s.

Then I make my second mistake. I ask if the Mini-DVI to Video (S-Video and Composite out to connect to a TV) will work with the white MacBook. I have the cable left over from the PowerBook G4 I had, and I'd like to connect to a TV. She responds that she doesn't think it will connect to the MacBook because the MacBook has a Mini-DisplayPort. I inform her that the white MacBook still has a Mini-DVI port. She responds that if I get a Mini-DisplayPort to DVI, and then a DVI to Video cord, I could connect the aluminum MacBook to a TV. Again, I say I'm getting the white MacBook. She then tells me that the Mini-DVI port does not support S-Video. I ask her if it will support the Composite out, to which she says she doesn't know. Now, I understand that this particular adapter is not selectable when you order the white MacBook, but it is still made by Apple. They should know what their own stuff does. I have a sneaking suspicion that it will work (why would it not when it's the same connector?), so we'll see when the MacBook gets here.

I'm convinced that the "Geniuses" online are little more than sales lackeys that have no clue how to answer a question that they can't find in a handbook. She had no clue what a transfer rate was, kept forgetting that I want a laptop, and then flat out couldn't answer another question. Oh! And then she tried to sell me on AppleCare, stating that I would have 24/7 access to the same expert technical advice that I recieved tonight for 3 years after my purchase. I ended the conversation that I was not going to spend extra money to talk to someone who knew less about computers than myself, ESPECIALLY when I'm going to void my warranty by installing a bigger hard drive. lol And no, I did not purchase tonight. I was just probing for some answers.

I plan on putting a 500GB hard drive in, but it's 3.0GB/s. I suspect that the white MacBook is 1.5GB/s, and if I'm correct in my understanding, it will step down the transfer rate from 3.0GB/s to 1.5GB/s. I'm putting that in, along with 4GB RAM, getting a 1TB external FireWire drive, and a 21.5" 1080p monitor. I'm also getting a calibrator for the monitor (I'm really getting tired of prints not looking like what I have on the screen) and a replacement pen for my 6x8 Intuos2 WACOM tablet. I already have a wireless Mighty Mouse (I love the 360 degree scrolling) and thin aluminum keyboard. This will give me something that's easily portable (not as small as a netbook, but infinitely more functional) while still giving me a good desktop experience. Not to mention, Mac OS natively, which I need for Aperture and iWeb.

While I've never had the need to talk to a Genius in an Apple Store, I hope they're better trained than the ones online!