laptop question

[Toothpick]

Hey
I'm about to buy a new laptop but I was wondering if I should buy one of those warrenties (< spelling??) that generally come with a new laptop. The one that costs about $300.00 so that if just about anything happens to your lapyop AND screen the laptop would be repaired or changed out.

The reason that I ask is I bought a laptop about 2 1/2 yrs. ago and nothing ever went wrong with it, plus the laptop is one very durable computer. The one I have my beady little eye on in is a Compaq or HP brand with a DVD/burner combo.

And I think I'll get the Duron version...so what do you think ??

 

[Pariah]

It's always a good idea to get extended warranties with laptops and problems are generally not user fixable like a desktop system. Screen coverage is often seperate from the standard extended warranty, so make sure you read the fine print to see if the screen coverage is standard, extra, or not available at all.

 

[Burnt]

Yeah...if you're buying from a retail store, be sure to read the fine print because CompUSA told my friend that they would replace his LCD if it cracked or if anything happened to it. But he read the brochure and it said that they DO NOT cover the screen so he returned it (he was going to return it anyway)...salesmen lie their a$$es off.

 

[Toothpick]

Yeah...if you're buying from a retail store, be sure to read the fine print because CompUSA told my friend that they would replace his LCD if it cracked or if anything happened to it. But he read the brochure and it said that they DO NOT cover the screen so he returned it (he was going to return it anyway)...salesmen lie their a$$es off.

Yeah, thanks guys. Infact I was gonna buy it from CompUSA and they did tell me that same thing...that if anything did happen to the screen that they would replace it no matter what.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Toothpick, I never purchase extended warranties for anything, except laptops. After spending a sizable amount on a laptop, and the fact that they are not easy to find parts for and/or replace anything that goes wrong, I say go for the warranty. If you purchase the laptop from your local retailer, like everyone else here mentioned, read the fine print to find out what's covered and what's not. It's better to know now than later. Hope my opinion helps.

 

[Pariah]

Burnt, screen coverage is extra at CompUSA, I doubt the salesman knowingly lied to your friend about something like that when the customer can read it for himself in the brochure he was just handed. That's also a perfect example of why you read the fine print before you buy the product. I don't think Bestbuy or Circuit City even have optional screen coverage.

 

[Burnt]

The guy pretty much told him whatever he wanted to hear...3 of us were standing there while my other friend was trying to haggle the price down with the salesman.

 

[Toothpick]

Burnt, screen coverage is extra at CompUSA
How much extra?

 

[Pariah]

I don't know, I think in the $200-300 range. I'm not sure if it varies depending on the screen characteristics. That may sound like a lot, but if you crack your screen you will be paying a 4 figure fee to get the screen replaced. I believe Sony charges $1400-1500 for screen replacements, not sure about the other manufacturers.

 

[Toothpick]

I believe Sony charges $1400-1500 for screen replacements

Shssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssh !!

 

[jschuk]

I would recommend the extended warranty, but I would only go with the manufacturers warranty. I have had many customers bring their broken/malfunctioning laptop in saying they have warranty on it, but the warranty is through Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, etc.. So they take the laptop there only to find out that it isn't covered under warranty (they quite often find a reason not to cover it), and the customer brings the machine back to us to fix it for a price. Of course the customer could have saved time and frustration by buying the manufacturers warranty which would have been honored.
For example, Toshiba sells a systemguard warranty that covers everything but loss or theft. You could drive over the laptop and it would be covered under the systemguard warranty.