Not sure if this is the place for it....It's kind of like an accessory..

Well I'm finally getting one of these bad boys that people call laptops. I should have the Asus G1S in my hands in a week or so and I will be very happy.

This is concerning my needs to have this laptop protected from whatever will be thrown at me starting in three weeks when I leave for UIUC. The notebook already comes with a 2 year standard warranty that I believe covers major defects and problems such as motherboard failing, faulty screen or keyboard, that kind of stuff right?

I talked to my State Farm insurance agent and was recommended a Personal Articles Policy that will cover the notebook against theft, accidental damage, and also covers full replacement cost with no depreciation. I was told it will cost no more than $40 per year for this policy so I'm pretty happy with that. However, should I wait a year/year and a half before I get this? How long does it usually take before you find out if your laptop will last or it's time to get it fixed? When do the major problems come up?

I have also read the free extension of warranties if purchased with a credit card (debit card should work too...i presume) and figure that's a nice little bonus to complement what I already have. With these three things, I am pretty much covered on all facets of my notebook, correct? If something does happen to go wrong, I can get it fixed or replaced at not extra charge to me?

I'm asking if this is overkill or if it's the smart thing to do? I've read that insurance companies try to weasel out of the policy to not pay for the repairs and such. Is this a really common thing or do I actually stand a chance of being covered? What are the chances that my laptop craps out after two years and if I don't get the policy that I'm out of $1800 plus?

In case you haven't already noticed some things about me, I like to write long posts and ask lots of questions and really cautious about making decisions involving money. Thanks for reading. Ignore me as you please, doesn't hurt my feelings.

 

I cant choose for you, but a thief-accident coverage is a smart thing to do especialy when we talk about mobile électronic. The asus waranty wont cover if your notebook get stolen or break after it get off a table...
I will receive my g1s in 1 week, and the first thing il do is to get a full coverage at my parent insurance.
Anyway, I think 40$ a year is small for the security that it will bring. Remember that your g1s is prety flashy, so it's a tentation to steal it
VersuSqc

 

It's not the $40 that I'm concerned about, it's making sure that I actually get covered no matter what. I would really hate it if the insurance agent finds some technicality to get out of paying. I'm asking if anyone has ever done this and what your experiences were like?

 

Does not work with a debit card. Visa, AMEX etc. offer it as a service. Unless your bank offers the same, your debit card will not give you the extension.

 

riffjaff, this sounds like something you are going to have research further with the insurance company, read all the fine print, no matter what kind of ridiculous magnifying glass or microscope you will probably need.

And, Lt.Glare, are you sure? Because I have debit card that is issued through my bank but has the visa logo on it, works as a visa check card, uses verified by visa and is eligible for visa rewards. Is this something you know from experience? Looks like I'm going to have to research this one, never thought about it before, never really expected it to be honest but it would be nice.

 

Never heard of a debit card with a visa logo on it. Admittedly, I help people with computer questions, not in depth financial information . Just phone visa and they can probably tell you within 5 minutes. Every time I've had to talk to them they've been superb.

If only some phone companies were the same way... after all, its phone support, for phone services, so you'd think they have over-the-phone support knocked. But, I guess it's kinda like asking why it takes less time for the pizza delivery dude to get to my door before an ambulance.

 

I think all check cards have either a Visa or MasterCard logo, but this isn't the same as a regular debit card. Check cards are taken almost everywhere; debit cards are taken in much less places. I'm not sure how the branding affects whether or not you can extend the warranty.

 

Well, it is a check card from TCF Bank and it does have the Visa logo on the card. I'll have to call Visa and my bank to confirm this. I also need to stop by my insurance agent to carefully look over the fine print before I start the policy. Thanks for the heads up jmhal.

It's just that I haven't heard of a lot of people buying the extra coverage with the insurance company so I don't know how to gauge whether it's worth the hassle or not. My main reason for getting the coverage is accidental coverage and theft protection. It sure seems like it would be worth it being in on a college campus and with a flashy looking beast like the G1S.

 

Just a quick question: Can you guys recommend a car charger for ASUS G1 ? Not G1S. I'll be on the road a lot in the next couple of weeks so keeping my lappy on is a must but I don't know what brand to buy and where to buy them. Thanks for the help