I wonder what they would do if it were from burning sage, candles, or medical marijuana?

“but it seems clear that damage from cigarette smoke can be enough to void your AppleCare warranty.”

Well two techs refused to work on tobacco tainted Macs, but is that general policy or the agenda of antismoking advocates? However, we don’t have details of the events, maybe the two Macs were very gummed up.

is that general policy or the agenda of antismoking advocates?

That’s my question. Is this truly an “Apple” policy or a local decision because they didn’t want to work on stinking computers.

I wonder what they would do if it were from burning sage, candles, or medical marijuana?

Not very many people chain smudge with sage or or illuminate their workstation with candles. Medical marijuana probably isn’t something done while working on a Mac.

That’s my question. Is this truly an “Apple” policy or a local decision because they didn’t want to work on stinking computers.

I looked at my Mac warranty and found this “damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, flood, fire, earthquake or other external causes”

Is smoking tobacco near your Mac misuse, particularly in a room with little ventilation? My father’s office had quite a layer of tobacco wax (for lack of a better word). What is in cigarette tobacco ash that could cause problems if it fell into a keyboard. I did a search and found this study of magnetic material in cigarette ash I also saw references to ash containing quartz, silica and other minerals.

A few years ago I worked on a Mac IIc (OK quite a few years ago) that was overheating. I pulled the cover and the inside was literally stuffed with hair. The owners had two long hair cats and several Lhasa Apso dogs and the thing was completely full of their hair. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anyone refusing to work on a computer due to pet hair. I guess because I’m allergic to pet dander I could have called it a ‘biohazard”.

Tar is a carcinogen and nicotine is an addictive and dangerous narcotic.

Would you expect these techs to work on machines covered in asbestos and laced with cocaine?

It’s been shown that 1 particle of smoke is enough to cause a head crash in a hard drive. Smoking near a computer can be considered abuse, IMO. And I say this as a former smoker who (many years ago) smoked near his Mac.

These cases seem to be judgement calls as of now, but I’d love to see Apple’s official policy on this.

I’m a bit surprised that TMO is only reporting this now. The Consumerist published their story on Friday, I first heard about it on Saturday. Granted, TMO is closed on weekends, but still… it’s Tuesday.

Nicotine is not a narcotic.

I suppose now Apple is going to have to require their employees to wear clean suits when handling any computer.  After all, every computer that has been typed on could be a biohazard. For that matter, every person that walks in the store is a ‘biohazard’.

Nicotine is not a narcotic.

Neither is asbestos, cyanide, plutonium, or Flash, but that doesn’t mean that they are benign.

> that doesn’t mean that they are benign.

Didn’t say it was benign. Just that it’s not a narcotic.

Neither is asbestos, cyanide, plutonium, or Flash, but that doesn’t mean that they are benign.

It’s my guess there’s more danger from the lead in the solder then from touching tobacco residue, unless you lick it clean I’ve never seen so much fear being propagated before. I’m not just talking about tobacco smoke.

It’s nuts! Get lives people!

I have to agree. I don’t know what these guys rational for refusing to work on the systems was but this sounds like an excuse.

I’m glad Apple is taking a hard stance against smokers. It appears that smokers are also responsible for new iMacs that arrive DOA or with cracked screens.

I’m glad Apple is taking a hard stance against smokers. It appears that smokers are also responsible for new iMacs that arrive DOA or with cracked screens.

LOL

@Quandar - Modern macs have no lead as they are assembled using lead-free solder. It’s been the law in the EU for many years now. Look Up RoHS.

Also, when fixing an ash filled computer, your goal is to remove the ash and soot so that parts don’t overheat. To remove it, you have to disturb it and generally that makes it go airborne and uh-oh, it’s a hazard. Any bad chemicals in solder stays there until you disturb the solder. Most computer repair involves cleaning and swapping of parts. Very little soldering.

“...due to health risks of second hand smoke,” from tar build up, good one.

Guess I should have mentioned my taste for macadamias when I swapped a keyboard, guy on the other end could have had nut-allergies. That said, Apple swapped my new kb for a refurb so maybe I’ll get Toxic Shock Syndrome at some point.

I can’t believe I’m even commenting on this, but you people must live pretty boring lives, to sit and write about about such a ignorant topic. Get a life and live ! You don’t have very long no matter what you breath or eat.

I can’t believe I’m even commenting on this, but you people must live pretty boring lives, to sit and write about about such a ignorant topic. Get a life and live ! You don’t have very long no matter what you breath or eat.

My life is my business