Where to buy a new laptop? And what about extended warranties?

[Fun Guy]

So the laptop I want to get is available at all of the major retailers (Fry's, Best Buy, etc.), so I am wondering where would be the best place to purchase it. Any suggestions?

I am considering getting an extended warranty. Fry's has on-site service, Best Buy has Geek Squad, and places like B&H have 3rd Party vendors like "Square Trade." I like the idea that if they can't fix it, they replace it.

What do you guys think?

Moved from General Hardware.

mfenn
General Hardware Moderator

 

[Commodus]

Who's the laptop manufacturer? What kind of support can you get from them online?

That, to me, is the big deal. I'm frequently wary of big-box stores' service, since they charge an arm and a leg and are really intermediaries. On-site helps, but you can frequently get that from vendors like Dell.

I personally use Apple gear in part because of the support options. It'll diagnose your system at a retail store for free, and some issues are fixable on the spot. And North American support is both local and well-trained, so you're less likely to run into language barriers or find someone who's merely reading from a script.

Oh, on extended warranties: it depends on how long you plan to keep the system, and the kind of abuse you're likely to subject it to. I'm a chronic upgrader that both replaces systems every 2-3 years and babies his systems, so it doesn't usually make sense. If you plan to keep your laptop for longer, know that it'll face some abuse or simply can't afford to deal with an out-of-warranty fix, then go for the extended warranty. I prefer the manufacturer's warranty over third parties.

 

[Blain]

Lenovo Outlet

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Personally? Computers aren't made to be worth fixing. If you do your own repairs and get a laptop with standard-ish parts, don't bother with the extended warranty. (You still get a year anyways.)

If you get some everything-soldered-to-the-motherboard mess like a Macbook, where some of the parts can cost more than the original machine, and snagging an SD card on the arm of the couch can tear a hole in your motherboard, it's probably worth buying the warranty for peace-of-mind.

 

[corkyg]

I never buy extended warranties. I've owned 7 laptops since 1996, and have never needed one. I personally believe in being self-insured. Extended warranties are very profitable for the vendor - ergo, maybe not profitable for me. If I add up the cost of extended warranties over all those years, I think they may have paid for my last Thinkpad.

 

[Necrolezbeast]

I think some Credit Cards offer different warranties for these purchases... Possibly a good idea to check those and and make the purchase on a CC.