> Notebooks and warranty help...

[InGearX]

I never owned a notebook so before I buy one I'm wondering about their durability... and warranty I should get?

My experience:
Thank God my PC never broke although it's been modified with add-on and upgrades to it's limit and is on 24/7...
Of course it just safely stands in one place rarely in any direct contact, unlike a laptop...

What I'm getting and it's use:
So if I'm going to use my new laptop quiet alot - It's going to be my desktop replacement, only mobile.
I plan on taking it almost everywhere I go... (But I do plan to be very careful with it as I usually am with things...)
(I plan in getting something like [A HREF="http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/offers/specials_m_inspn8200.htm"]Dell - Inspiron 8200[/A])

Questions:
I'm asking in all seriousness because I never used a warranty for any electronic thing I owned and laying out $300/$400 for something I might never use is worth considering and discussing...

1) Should I really lay out the extra $ for a warranty I may never use?
Could you please explain why... do laptops really do have problems more often then PCs? And they might break regardless of your care with them?

2) I'm thinking the older it gets the more problems are bounded to happen and I plan on using it for about three years, dose that mean it's a rule to get a three year warranty? How long of a warranty should I get? 1/2/3/4 year?

3) What kind of problems could I anticipate? Tips on preventing them?

Any additional info and suggestions is much appreciated...

Thank you...

 

[MrBond]

Normally RossMAN would chime in with this, but since I don't think he gets to this forum much, I'll speak for him

When you buy most devices with a premium mastercard/visa, you can usually get an additional year tacked on to the warranty. Check with your credit card company to see if thats the case with your particular card.

Battery going bad is usually an issue, but I'm not sure what the life of current batteries is. The warranty may not cover that either, so you'll have to check with Dell. You could also end up with stuck pixels, but some places won't replace a laptop for that (ie: X number of stuck pixels is considered fine and if it's under that, they won't replace it). That's something that you'd notice right away anyway.

 

[bigshooter]

If you are going to keep it for 3 years, get nextday onsite warranty. If this is your only computer, you will need it back up as soon as possible. If you are taking it around with you i would get the complete care that covers everything. Maybe if they have a 2 year warranty you can get that to save some money, then get the credit card to double it.

 

[InGearX]

The CC deal...
i.e. "get the credit card to double"

I'm completely clueless to this CC & warranty deal!

I have about five credit cards I'm sure I could cook something up if you could please explain the concept.

Thank you...

 

[fr]

The card doesn't double the warranty in that case, it adds an additional year max.

Check your cardholder agreement or try to look up it's features online. If it's a Platinum Mastercard or Visa, it most likely has some purchase protection that includes a built-in extended warranty. Some American Express cards have it as well.

 

[Derango]

Originally posted by: MrBond

Battery going bad is usually an issue, but I'm not sure what the life of current batteries is. The warranty may not cover that either, so you'll have to check with Dell.

The dell warranty on the batteries is 1 year. After that, if they die, its your problem

 

[bacillus]

Originally posted by: Derango

Originally posted by: MrBond

Battery going bad is usually an issue, but I'm not sure what the life of current batteries is. The warranty may not cover that either, so you'll have to check with Dell.

The dell warranty on the batteries is 1 year. After that, if they die, its your problem

and that's even if you have a 3 year extended warrantee!

 

[RossMAN]

What's your laptop budget?

Since durability and warranty are of a major concern to you, here's what I would consider:

1) Consider buying an Apple iBook or PowerBook, they're some of the best built laptops ever. Their reputation is only matched by the other leader, IBM. DO NOT buy an Apple if you're going to use mostly Windows applications, don't even consider Windows emulation it's just too friggin' slow and a decent Apple PowerBook will cost you around $2,500

2) If you want the most bang for your buck and are a Windows/Linux user then consider buying a Dell Inspiron/Latitude or IBM ThinkPad laptop. Although I think IBM's have a slight edge over the Dell, but the Dell offers the most warranty choices and in the end is usually cheaper than an IBM. Here are Dell's warranties. Since laptop parts and labor aren't easy to fix and isn't cheap I would get at least the 3 year Year Mail-In Service. Oh yeah if you buy Dell get the Inspiron 4150 which is reasonably light weight but still packed with some power. If you go IBM, I would seriously consider buying one from their eBay store, these are brand new sold directly by IBM. The models you should consider are the T, R and X series. Here are my personal favorites, T series for $1,499 (includes 3 year warranty), X series for $1,099 (XP Pro, WiFi equipped, look at that price!), and the incredibly light weight X series for $1,025 (3.7 pounds, WiFi equipped and 3 year warranty).

3) Last but not least buy a laptop with a premium credit card which offers a FREE 1 year extended warranty. Originally I had assumed that ALL VISA, MasterCard and Amex cards qualify for this service but I was wrong. I had called VISA and asked if my Bank of America/Alaska Airlines offered this feature? Nope. However my CitiBank Dividends Platinum Select VISA cc does, so I buy all my electronics/computer equipment using my CitiBank. I couldn't find MC's link but here's info for VISA and Amex. Again make sure to call VISA, MasterCard or Amex and verify that your cc qualifies for this feature.

 

[RossMAN]

Bump for good info.

 

[InGearX]

Thank you!

"Again make sure to call VISA, MasterCard or Amex and verify that your cc qualifies for this feature."

So I just call up my CC and ask if they offer 1 year of extended warranty on electronics if I purchase with their CC?

How dose the warranty work? Manufacturer gives me 1 year and then 2nd year will be covered by the CC? If something breaks I contact my CC?

Thank you!

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: InGearX
Thank you!

"Again make sure to call VISA, MasterCard or Amex and verify that your cc qualifies for this feature."

So I just call up my CC and ask if they offer 1 year of extended warranty on electronics if I purchase with their CC?

How dose the warranty work? Manufacturer gives me 1 year and then 2nd year will be covered by the CC? If something breaks I contact my CC?

Thank you!

Have you called VISA and asked them yet?