Good morning, Thanks for all your replies. The mixed response seems to suggest that there is no right or wrong answer. I guess Marmora Man put their finger on it by saying it's parenthood, but in this case what does parenthood mean? the tough love of teaching them to take responsibilty for their own clumsiness/bad luck or perpetually bailing them out when they get in a fix. Or, maybe, as Huguenot says, tell them to live with it ? get them to learn that life isn't perfect. Anyway, the dilemma was unexpectedly avoided last night. She went to The Apple Store who initially said a replacement would be ?140. When she hesitated they knocked the prices down to ?70. The when she agreed their system went down and they were unable to process it so gave her a free replacement anyway. Conclusion? if you have a Mac problem don't go to your heart-like-a-stone parents, go to apple in Covent Garden and start sobbing.