Mobile Computing: Notebook Warranties
Warrantees, extended warrantees, warrantees you've never heard of--all explained.James A. Martin
Feature: Focus on Notebook Warranties
If the notebook you've bought less than 30 days ago doesn't work out, chances are you can return it to the retailer for a refund or exchange. But what happens when those 30 days are up and your notebook gets temperamental?
In last week's newsletter, I offered a look at the return policies of four online notebook retailers and offered tips on getting the best returns. This week I focus on notebook manufacturer warranties, with tips to help you make the best buying decision.
Warranties 101
In general, a warranty is a contract that says if there's a mechanical failure that wasn't your fault, the manufacturer will assume the costs and labor involved in repairing the notebook (or other device covered by the warranty).
Many standard notebook manufacturer warranties last one year. Some vendors as well as retailers offer extended warranties that add another year or more to the original warranty. You'll pay extra for these warranties, of course, and in some cases you must buy them within 30 days of the computer purchase.
Theft, fire, breakage, and other damage aren't often covered by notebook warranties, extended or not. For breakage and damage (such as spills), you'll need accidental damage coverage, which notebook makers may offer at an additional cost. Theft and fire coverage are usually the exclusive domain of a notebook insurance policy. For more information about notebook insurance, read "Mobile Computing: Insuring Your Notebook."
Standard Warranties
The three major notebook vendors whose policies are described below--Dell, Gateway, and IBM--offer fairly similar standard warranties. The differences between these (and other) notebook vendors are usually related to the extended warranties offered.
Some of the standard warranty features you should expect include:
Extended Warranties: Dell
Beyond the standard warranty, Dell offers a variety of Inspiron warranty upgrades. For $119 or $169 (depending on the model), you can extend the basic warranty to three years. With this warranty, you must mail your Inspiron (or the defective part, such as a damaged hard drive) to Dell for repair or replacement.
You can also pay extra for At-Home Service, in which a technician will come to your home "if necessary" to install replacement parts. A limited warranty with At-Home Service is $59 or $69 (for one year) to $279 or $369 (four years). The lower prices are for Inspiron 1100 notebooks; the higher prices are for all other Inspiron models.
Dell also offers CompleteCare, accidental damage protection for notebooks. CompleteCare adds protection for spills, power surges, drops, and breakage. It begins at $59 for one year (on an Inspiron 1100) and goes to $179 for four years (on all Inspiron models except the 1100).
Extended Warranties: Gateway
Gateway's warranties vary by product line. Some notebooks come with a standard warranty of one year; others may have up to three years. The warranty details are spelled out for you during the online notebook configuration process.
In addition, Gateway offers a mind-boggling variety of extended warranty options. When configuring a Gateway 200XL online, for instance, I was presented with no less than 14 choices for extended service. Among them were Value Service Plans, which are essentially the standard limited warranty with extended periods up to four years; Value Plus Service Plans, which add on-site repair to the standard warranties; and Total Protection plans, which add lifetime telephone support and Gateway's Accidental Damage Protection to the Value Plus Service Plan package.
Gateway's Accidental Damage Protection can be purchased separately from a Total Protection plan. Accidental Damage covers drops, spills, power surges, and natural disasters and adds $119 (for one year) up to $199 (four years) to your total bill.
In addition, the company recently began offering its Gateway Priority Access plan, which promises participating customers that their tech support calls will be answered within 30 seconds. GPA also promises same-day notebook pickup, with delivery to a Gateway service center for repair by the next day. GPA periods range from one year ($100) to one years ($180).
For general information about Gateway warranties, go to the company's Consumer Limited Warranties and Service Plans page or its Business Warranties and Service Plans page.
Extended Warranties: IBM
IBM offers an array of extended warranty options (called ServicePacs), some of which add on-site service. ServicePacs for ThinkPad models begin at $49 for one-year on-site repair and go up to $549 for four-year on-site service. Prices vary depending upon the ThinkPad model.
In addition, IBM offers ThinkPad Protection, accidental damage coverage for power surges, drops, liquid spills, and LCD damage caused by a drop or fall. This protection plan is available only at the time of ThinkPad purchase. In addition, the coverage isn't usually offered as an option when configuring a system online; you'll need to call IBM's toll-free number (888/746-7426). Rates begin at $199 for two-year depot service.
Tips for Warranty Shopping
Used Notebooks. The warranties described above are for new computers only. Refurbished notebooks, such as those sold by Dell and Gateway at their Web sites, sometimes have shorter warranty periods--though you can often buy extended warranties for refurbished computers, too. The bottom line: Read the warranty information carefully if you're buying a used or refurbished notebook.
Retailer Service Plans. In addition to computer vendors, some electronics retailers such as Best Buy sell extended service plans on notebooks. Often, these plans extend the life of a notebook's warranty up to four years and may offer full replacements for defective equipment. For example, Best Buy offers a three-year extended performance plan for a Sony VAIO PCG-Z1RA notebook ($250).
Some consumer advocates, such as PC World's Anne Kandra, warn that extended warranties often aren't worth the extra cost. Read Kandra's tips-packed guide to computer warranties.
Though I've never purchased a retailers' extended service plan for a notebook, I did buy one from Best Buy for my IPod, and I'm glad I did: Six months after I bought it, the IPod developed a mechanical problem. Because I purchased the performance protection plan, Best Buy exchanged my second-generation IPod for a brand new, shrink-wrapped, third-generation model of comparable retail value.
Default Warranties. When configuring a notebook for purchase online, don't assume the standard one-year warranty will appear as your default warranty choice. In some cases, a more extensive warranty will be listed as the default option. When you look closely, though, you may find a standard one-year warranty listed. Picking that option will reduce the total cost of your system.
Notebooks & Accessories
Review: Long-Lived Toshiba Tecra M1
The Toshiba Tecra M1's single lithium ion battery worked for 6 hours, 29 minutes in PC World tests--only 9 minutes short of the record set by Toshiba's Tecra S1. And if that's not long enough, you can swap out the notebook's optical drive for an optional secondary battery ($169). The Tecra M1 also includes a Secure Digital memory card slot and dual pointing devices. In our tests, however, the notebook's performance was lackluster, compared to other 1.6-GHz Pentium M-equipped notebooks. And the optical drive tends to stick in the modular bay, making swapping devices a bit cumbersome.
You can use the PCWorld.com Product Finder to check pricing.
News: A Better Way to Watch Movies on a Notebook
Movielink, the movie studio-sponsored Web site for legally downloading films, has revamped elements of its service. Among the improvements: You no longer need an active Internet connection to begin watching a downloaded movie. That requirement often made it impossible to view movies on the road.
For my review of the Movielink service, read "Mobile Computing: Rent Movies for Your Notebook."
Review: Full-Sized but Slim Amax Elite
The Amax Elite 6053M is a full-size Centrino-based portable with a 15-inch screen. And yet the notebook is only about an inch tall with the lid closed--a nice touch for a notebook its size. The unit we tested included a handy on/off switch for the built-in 802.11b wireless networking, a DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive conveniently located on the notebook's front, and a Secure Digital memory card slot. The notebook's audio sounded weak, though; the documentation was slim; and typing on the keyboard was awkward.
The computer's base price is $1929. You can configure one online at the Amax Information Technologies Web site.
Handhelds
Review: Clever Clie Looks Like a Laptop
Sony's Clie PEG-UX50 is a cleverly designed Palm OS-based PDA that resembles a miniature notebook. The wide 2.75-by-1.75-inch display offers sharp, clear, excellent color and can be flipped around, Tablet PC-style. The built-in keyboard's keys are bigger than most PDA keyboards, making it easy to tap out notes and short messages. Not so easy to take, though, is the price: $699. (You can use our Product Finder to check current prices.)
News: Least-Expensive IPaq Debuts
Hewlett-Packard's new IPaq H1935 is the company's least-expensive PDA, currently priced at $199 (including a $50 mail-in rebate, an offer that expires January 31, 2004). The H1935 includes a Secure Digital slot, Microsoft's Windows Mobile 2003 OS, and 64MB of SDRAM, 56MB of which is user accessible. Go to our Product Finder for the latest prices.
Wireless
News: Recharging Cables for Your Phone
Keyspan has introduced a line of retractable cables that allow you to recharge your mobile phone via a computer's USB port. The cables are enclosed in a compact case and unwind to at least 30 inches. The company has cables for Ericsson, Kyocera, Motorola, Nokia, and other phone makers at $22 to $30 each.
Business Travel
News: One-of-a-Kind In-Flight Entertainment
Beginning this month, Alaska Airlines will offer transcontinental passengers a new device for watching videos and listening to music in flight. The DigEplayer is approximately the size of a portable DVD player but is capable of storing hours of digital video and music content, including recently released movies. The result: Passengers can watch or listen to the programming of their choice, and the airline doesn't have to install expensive in-flight entertainment systems or keep track of DVDs.
Initially, DigEplayers will offer nine movies, three television shows, and ten hours of music, with content provided by Twentieth Century Fox and Digital Music Express. The DigEplayers will be offered free in first class and for a fee in coach on flights between Seattle and Newark/New York, Boston, Miami, Orlando, and Washington D.C. airports and between Anchorage and Chicago.
Suggestion Box
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