What warranty to get?

Which warranty is sufficient?

 

Personally, I wouldn't go with anything more than 2 years. The warranties are very limited on what they cover, but there are some other options. There are some suggestions in a thread we had in hardware about warranties:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=9486&highlight=extended+warranty

SG

 

Only upgrade the warranty if you have extra money to spend.

If anything is going to go wrong with the machine, it will most likely happen within the first six months. So, there really isn't a point to getting it over one year. However, if it makes you feel more secure to go with two, then do so.

 

If you use certain credit cards upon purchase, your manufacturer warranty will be doubled for up to an additional 1 year. So 1 yr standard = 2 yr.

And yes, 2 years should be sufficient as most issues will occur within the first 6 - 12months. However, if you are clumsy (and there must be such people because these warranties sell) then you can opt for the 3-year Complete Care. There isn't really any point to getting the 3 year return-to-depot service.

 

I see no reason to waste money on anything over a year. If something goes wrong after that year, I guess it sucks to be me!!

 

I would get nothing over 2 years. You would probaly get another computer in 2 years or 3 anyways.

 

That isn't always the case for everyone. Especially students.

 

Momo i didnt say every one. A lot of people get a new computer every 2 years, some three or 4. Its average.

 

I chatted with a dell rep and asked about their warranties. I needed to know about upgrades and one said that memory upgrade would be okay if i did it from a newegg, but any hardware problem from that area of the laptop would be void. Then another person said that i couldn't unless it was memory from dell. Then I quoted the other rep and then he said it would be okay, but that that part of the laptop would not be covered if installation damage were to occur there.
Dell is too darn big for there to be concensus about something even this simple. I need the warranty because I don't want to end up being screwed but I also want to save money by upgrading myself. I've built computers before so I'm not really worried, but then again - like Forest says, "It happens".

 

I'm pretty conservative with computer purchases, though I've never owned a notebook (don't know if they become obsolete faster than desktops). But I certainly hope to use it for a good 3-4 years.

I ordered a 700m yesterday and got the 4-year warranty, in part because there's a $70 rebate with it, and also because that got the total over $1,999 and allowed me to use the $750 off coupon. So in a certain perspective (extra $250 off + $70 rebate = $320), I got the 4-year warranty for $20 instead of $340. I think the peace of mind will be worth it.

BTW, here's what I got ($1302 before tax+shipping):

Inspiron 700m
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 755(2 GHz/400MHz FSB) 12.1-in WXGA
512MB DDR SDRAM 2 Dimms
100 GB 5400rpm Hard Drive
8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2915 Internal Wireless (802.11 a/b/g, 54Mbps)
4-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery (32WHr)
4Yr Ltd Warranty, At-Home Svc, and HW Warranty Supt
Software: all default

I plan to upgrade with Crucial memory and an extended battery off eBay (new).

Edit: Hmm, tazboy, that makes me nervous. I had simply heard that memory upgrades didn't void the warranty. Maybe that wasn't the full story... In any case, is there anything (besides, you know, honesty) stopping someone from just swapping the Dell memory back in before getting service? Don't know that they could tell other memory had been in there.

 

I don't know what the deal is with dell's reps. You can make upgrades like memory, hdd, etc... and it won't void your warranty. You can buy the part from a vendor of your choice. However, the upgrade part is not covered by warranty and any damage that occurs because of that part or while you have the case open is not covered. This is stated on somewhere on their website.

Basically with dell's warranty, dell has to determine that the damage was caused either by defect in orginial hardware or by Dell itself in order for it to be covered. If you get the accidental coverage, then it will cover spills, drops, etc except for theft and normal usage.

Several users including myself have upgraded memory bought from Newegg and did not have any problems with our warranty.

SG

 

I'd be worried to open the machine and close it the same way it was before. But that's me.

 

Thats how i was when i first got a computer, didnt know much at all but if you worry, like i said we can guide you through the process.

 

I went with the 4-year Premium with Complete Care. This is why:

One of my best friends bought a Dell around 5 years ago. Back then they only had the 3 year Complete Care. He got it. He uses his laptop for everything including his business and video compression. It gets bumped around from the truck and gets constant heavy CPU usage from the compressions. His laptop goes through a lot and things break. Sometimes he burns out the CPU. Many times the screen gets scratched. I think he has had every componant break at some point. Dell has always come out to him and replaced whatever is broke. Three or four times he had to send it in and usually got back a brand new, upgraded laptop. After a while they don't offer the same models and he just got the next better one back. I don't know if it matters, but at the initial purchase he bought the biggest, baddest, fastest most expensive unit they had.

Once he accidently yanked his headphones while they were connected to his laptop. Just from that slight pull the motherboard cracked. He told me it would have been a $1,200 replacement through Dell, but the Complete Care covered it. Once he even backed over it with his truck and destroyed it. Dell promptly gave him a new one. I don't even know how many screens he's had replaced.

At the end of the 3-year program he asked if he could buy another length of time (this time 4 years). They let him and to this day he has only purchased one computer, but continues to have a working machine that is much better than the one he originally bought. I guess I know how one little accident can cost a bundle to fix and after seeing his experience thoughout the years I had no other thought than to get the 4-year Premium. I know other companies now offer similar plans. I can comment of HP's. My other friend had it. He had horrible times trying to get work done. He now has a Dell, just becuase of the Complete Care service. I've heard other horror stories on here about Dell, but I saw my friend go through a 5-year repair work history with Dell and I was impressed. I can understand if you are carefull and only spend $1200 on a new laptop, you may not need the Complete Care. But if you spend around $3000 you won't need to upgrade right away and you may not want to risk something breaking.

 

i'd get the 2 yr warranty with a laptop from dell...not worth it over 2 yrs...but wit a desktop i'd get a 4 yr warranty

 

Regarding the RAM upgrade, I was configuring a Dell unit and was doing the math comparing upgrading to 1GB through Dell and likewise through Crutial. To my surprise it works out to be the same price, if not cheaper, when purchasing an additional 512MB SDRAM from Dell, than from Crutial. (At least purchasing via Dell Canada) With this in mind I would obviously just get that additional RAM from Dell and not have to worry about anything.

 

Did you try Kingston memory? If it is a $10 difference i would say go for it. $30 is getting a bit more expensive, but if you feel in your eyes it is not a lot more to get it from dell, then i would just do that.

 

That makes little sense. Buying extended warranties for desktops that is. If anything in your desktop dies after a year you can turn around and easily replace that item for less than you originally paid and most likely less than the price of an extended warranty.

The reason people get laptop warranties is because laptops are inherently harder and more expensive to repair because of their design. You can't order a new mobo for your laptop from NewEgg for $100, or a new case for $75 or.....well you get the idea.

 

It is not more at all to get it from Dell, even compared to Kingston.

The breakdown:
(All prices in CAD)

$150 to upgrade 512MB (2 x 256) to 1GB (2 x 512) from Dell

$93.78 cost from Crutial (and Kingston)[taxes in] for 1 512MB Module + standard international (anywhere out of U.S.) shipping (~$9) = $102.78
+
$50 to upgrade 512MB (2 x 256) to 512MB (1 x 512) (from Dell) in order to free one slot = $152.78

Therefore $150 to upgrade to 1GB via Dell vs $152.78 to upgrade from Crutial or Kingston.