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    SHOULD I BUY AN EXTENED WARRANTY FOR A fw490?

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by pattya1a, Aug 4, 2009.

  1. pattya1a

    pattya1a Newbie

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    i'M ABOUT TO OUT TO ORDER AN fw490 WITH
    2.53 MGZ PROCESSOR
    320gb 7200RPM HARD DRIVE
    HD4650 1 g GRAPHICS CARD
    1920X1080P SCREEN
    BLUE RAY PLAYBACK ONLY DRIVE

    SHOULD i BUY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY?
     
  2. hotfusion

    hotfusion Notebook Consultant

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    If you buy an extended warranty and two accessories, you can get $150 discount.
     
  3. updawg

    updawg Notebook Enthusiast

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    I just purchased mine with a 2yr accidental coverage combined with the $150 off with the purchase of two accessories. The two cheapest accessories are the neoprene soft case and the 2 gb thumb drive which both total $50.

    This saves you $100 off an extended warranty making the accidental $150.

    Now it is up to you to decide if the plan is right for you, pretty much the plan covers up to the cost of the computer. You basically get one free replacement. If the computer should have a problem within the first 30 days make sure you exchange it for a brand new computer and do not send it in for repair. This would take away from the total amount allotted in the accidental plan.

    Also if you are a student you can save an additional 7% by going through the student site.
     
  4. Qaenos

    Qaenos Notebook Consultant

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    I purchased the extended warranty for my Sony AW590. Everyone knows that they only cover up to the purchase price. What they don't tell you is that the repair costs are ridiculous. There is a minimum charge of something like $300 every time the thing gets looked at, plus part and additional service charges. So in other words, you drop the thing and break the USB port? That will be something like $500 - $600 taken off the value of the warranty coverage. By the time you send it in the third time, there's nothing left and you're computer is worthless.
     
  5. pattya1a

    pattya1a Newbie

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    So, you could have gotten your repairs done at a more reasonable cost on your own and used the money you spent on the warranty for the repairs.
    Do you need alot of repairs on your machine?
     
  6. djyoshii

    djyoshii Notebook Enthusiast

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    Glad i saw this thread first, earlier i was considering getting the extended warranty due to the discount.
    Seems its not worth it seeing as it'll still cost you a few hundreds for repair anyway.
     
  7. Derrida

    Derrida Notebook Deity

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    I'm not so sure that it's not worth it when you can get it directly from Sony at a discount. For one thing, it gives you access to phone support from Sony after the end of the manufacturing warranty. Much of what the average person needs is tech support to troubleshoot so that they can determine whether the problem is software or hardware related.

    My guess is that at Sony the dollars coverage that is subtracted from the price of the notebook are only those dollars spent in actual hardware repair. I believe the extended warranties from Sony give you access to their same techs throughout the period of the warranty. And if/when you do need a repair, you are assured that a Sony-authorized tech is handling your machine.

    So, for $150, you get another year of talking to Sony about anything in detail 24/7, and repairs up to the price of the computer you bought. Even if this were just a service plan and not also a guarantee on hardware, it would be hard to come by such unlimited phone and email support locally for that price.
     
  8. mFerrari

    mFerrari Notebook Enthusiast

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    After past experience with my 17inch laptop with a dying screen, I decided to buy a 2 year accidental warranty. Typically, if nothing happens in the first 2 years due to hardware failure, its very unlikly that something will fail after 3. Thats the reason why I think 3 year is overpriced/not worth it.

    Anyways, the LCD screen that died on my 17inch laptop had tons of vertical pixel lines out. I called HP to ask how much it would cost to just replace the screen, and they wanted $700. Needless to say, I just bought a new Sony FW :)
     
  9. LJK

    LJK Notebook Geek

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    It's to the left of your A key, right above shift.

    Don't mention it, happy to help.