MX 7515 Should I buy a Service plan?

Hi all,
I bought the MX7515 at BestBuy last week, but haven't opened it yet. I'm used to fixing h/w issues on my desktop - replacing cards/drives/memory etc. Is it the same for the laptops or should I get the Bestbuy service plan? My initial thoughts were this is a waste of money and I refused, but now I wonder if I should go back and get it. Any thoughts from the people with experience with these laptops.

I plan to dual boot the laptop - linux and win2k3 server and will be using it mostly for programming.

I'm sorry if I misposted or if this has been discussed. Will appreciate any info.

Thanks in advance.

 

Yes, by all means.

 

Yes, yes, get it.

It's different for laptops and far more complicated. More than that, certain issues this line sometimes runs into are just plain outside of your ability.

And even beyond that, Best Buy's service plan replaces the battery free once every six months. Since a new battery costs $140, you do the math.

 

Pulp, what kind of issues are you talking about? Also is the plan valid if I wipe out the pre-installed OS and put linux instead? Thanks again.

I got the service plan yesterday. If nothing else, I can now tinker around the h/w without worrying.

 

Pulp, you are wrong about the battery replacement. When your store was send the new blue brochures and the ADH brochures, read in there it says "one" battery replacement- it was a change in coverage by AIG (the company who takes care of our service plans). The old brochures like the one i had on my m6810 said "battery replacement as regulated by BB"- or something to that extent...aka if the battery was dying you get a new one. I just dont want you misinforming your customers as well as people on the forums about this. It has been changed for many months now. Many of the Geek Squad agents as well as a few managers in my store were not aware of the changes initially, but that was a few months ago and everyone now knows...except you...

 

Sensitive, perhaps on account of the negative rep from before? I was in Geek Squad but left there months ago, but when I was there I heard nothing about this change and in fact was told by one of the higher ups exactly how it was. Also keep in mind that I'm out in California; our coverage may be different than in your region.

But if it's changed, then ultimately my bad.

 

I would encourage you to take a look at the manual. Best Buy uses AIG for their warranty-ing, although service centers may differ from area to area, but the replacements and expenses are all done through AIG. We all get the same tag videos and whatnot, regardless of what segment you are... btw pulp what segment is your store? You can PM me if you dont want to discuss publically. But back on track, new brochures cover 1 replacement.

 

yes, it does say that - 1 battery replacement. Also I'm curious as to what issues these laptops exhibit. I didn't buy the ADH, so the cracked lcd types of issues are not covered.

 

I can just give you a couple. There is an issue with the recovery partition see all the way at the bottom:

http://www.notebookreview.com/price/default.asp?productID=14466&display=opinionDetail

Not sure if that is a big deal or not.

The USB does not seem to transfer at full 2.0 speeds.
I can vouch, though, that they certainly are not 1.1. They are faster than that.

Thats really it as far as I know. Otherwise it is a pretty good computer as far as I can tell.

 

You're right. I'm going to reformat the hdd and remove all the pre-installed crap/partitions. I just realized this would definitetely void the service plan. Can any BB insiders please comment on this? (dang this is hard. The last one told me I was bad at decisions.)

 

You can put linux on it for all they care. Service plans dont cover software issues so do whatever you want software wise. Thats why these guys are putting windows 64 on it and all. Service plans are for hardware. therefore if you screw up the os they dont have anything to do with it, but if your hardware fails they will fix. They may have to put it back to factory to do the drivers or something on it, however.... but thats why they tell you to backup before you send it off for any reasons. I think that gateway said that the usb problem was them not getting enough voltage, and that it was a hardware problem. Every once in a while it disconnects my external hdd, and reconnects it at a usb 1.1 speed. Its odd. thats my only complaint with the machine. no hinge problems, nothing. Its a very powerful and nice model.

 

some of you guys should give me some rep for my service plan knowledge lol, my rep is low so help! lol

 

thanks. man. how do I give you 'rep'? Meanwhile, may good karma shine upon you. May you never be blocked by coupon-clipping grandmas at the checkout line.

 

click the little weights on the left side below my name. And i cut off the old people in traffic to make up for the grocery store lines. I suggest you do the same. Anyone who speeds up to pull out in front of you on a 2 lane road and then slows down to 35 should have their Q-tip clipped. Yes, i call them Q-tips when i see the white hair sticking up over the seat in their Buicks.

 

screw him give me rep..lawl much love!