Which of these three laptops should i buy? - Page 2

Actually, there are no warranties that cover data loss. It's just too hard to guarantee protection for something that the user might screw up without any problems with the actual hardware. If anyone offered a warranty covering data loss, they'd very quickly go broke.

I also respectfully disagree about extended warranties for notebook computers. Even the best notebooks have a 15% failure rate over three years. Such a high rate of failure means that buying an extended warranty is a good idea. An extended warranty for $100-200 is less expensive than having to replace a $500 part down the road.

edit: after reading your most recent post, it seems like you're looking at warranties from an insurance standpoint. The warranties being discussed are offered through the brand, not as a part of an insurance premium. While there is still the consideration of accidents or user-related damage, computer companies can and do regularly recognize and repair faulty or failed components even when the notebook in question has severely depreciated.

The point is a laptop or PC is out of date 6 months down the line, repairing it may not be a viable option, esp when you see the state of some of them... The main things that I repair on laptops is an operating system reinstall (not covered) and DC jack resolder (negligence)... Look at it this way, have you ever tried to claim warranty on a new car, 2 years down the line - impossible, even getting trading standards involved doesn't always sort it....

Your point works for cars, but not for computers. Computer warranties are NOT based on the current value of the product - they are based on the initial value of the product. I cannot speak to how things operate in the UK, but in the US companies can and regularly do offer system replacements (which often end up being upgrades) and repairs for computer failures.

Obviously different in the US... Some laptop manufacturers offer a 2 year worldwide warranty anyway (Samsung, ASUS), but as I said from past experience, extended warranty just ain't worth it....

Mr T the UK or what we are discussing must be very different. We have an entire section on DeLL repair and replacement. I must say DeLL has gotten very good at it with all their practice.

DeLL for example is "insuring" warrantying it. They are doing the repairs. It is very different than the type of insurance you are talking about. We have that kind we have all kinds. We are just talking about warranty from the MFG and you are not. Our auto MFG offer warranty and if it goes bad is fixed never issue of value. When we buy auto insurance it does not cover repairs other than damage from crash or some other external force. And yes if the cost of repair exceeds the vehicles value they "total" it at value. And yes car insurance premiums are a percentage of the value and projected cost to cover distributed over a group with lots of profit thrown in to boot.

Mr T we simply are talking apples to oranges.

Apologies for hijacking this thread.... The EU (which includes the UK) have a different view of extended warranty... In the EU, electrical goods are covered in lwa 6years from the point of sale against manufacturing defects, so if you can prove the said item ie lets say Hewlett Packard laptop lid crack was a manufacturing defect, it should get replaced under warranty - the idea behind this is electrical safety and recycling... Buying an extended warranty to cover such a thing is pointless because it is already covered... Likewise if you have an accident and drop your laptop, cracking the screen, that should be covered under house hold insurance policies, even if it happens at a hotel... If it happens on holiday, it should be covered by holiday insurance... Most people I know have household buildings and contents insurance, renewed annually, most people take out holiday insurance - also all people I know have car insurance, and take extrea out to cover uninsured losses (from personal injury to a stolen sat nav)....

The point I am making, is extended warranty is 99% of the time covered elsewhere and is an expensive option to take out against an item, that in effect is rarely lost/broken or stolen in the whole scheme of things... This is where etailers and retailers make a big profit, and over here have been markedly investigated by consumer organizations... I only used the car as an example, I mean look at Toyota struggling to admit their cars are defective, it is only so because it has become newsworthy and has given them bad press...

Again apologies about the thread hijack... Save the money on extended warranty and use it for lets say a RAM upgrade instead... If things go wrong you are usually covered..... Enough said....!

I know we are over loading you. But yes in post #19. And the suggestion on my thoughts.

As far as calling to get more perks? You are already getting through a student plan. Second unless you had a backup choice from say HP or could bluff you lack standing. Now if there are unexpected delays for example that would offer a platform to try and get perks. But while those who tell you you can get perks? Are correct in certain circumstance you really have to come to the table with some ammo or dare I say some level of sociopathic tendencies to achieve.

And I am sorry we hijacked you thread. But sometimes the place to discuss things is were it happens not what any of us pick so to speak. I hope you hang in there. And also not like the thread is dying? And that is good.


Mr T you in the EU clearly have at some level greater consumer rights. And that does sound very nice. And yes if I had those extra protections maybe some of what I get or think would be very different. But make no mistake at least in the US it is very different. And for us to get some benefits you get standard we must pay. But it is not too expensive. And as such our two systems are very different and I suspect is leading to some confusion all the way around.

That said what we are encouraging OP to get is a good choice and not what you were thinking.

But always good for me to learn things I had no idea of. Keep on teaching us things we did not know.

Moving on.... Wireless N is still in the draft stages, ie they haven't ironed all the protocols out yet... However N does seem to come standard on new laptops (b, g and n).. I have a N router at home and my Samsung N130, Sony Vaio lappies are N.. Notice no difference in communication with the router at the moment.... Something for thr future I guess, when more cities have a free wifi network and you need the speed and distance to download and upload...

Actually, the final version of 802.11n has now been published by the IEEE. We're currently in the period between ratification of the final standard and when the manufacturers adopt that final standard. I would estimate that wireless cards and routers based on the final version of 802.11n will be out next year or possibly later this year.

I have draft N at home and it is noticeably better at medium and longer distances than the G and Super G models I've had before. However Intel's built in Draft N has gone through some growth as well. I had a 4965 in my primary machine and that was "good", certainly better performance than the G, but upgrading to a 5300, gave a very noticeable bump up yet again. I say noticeable because my wife said she noticed and normally she doesn't notice speed improvements at all (so it is hard to justify tech improvements with her). Almost all machines have at least the 5300 now and the 6300 "should" be improved in this regard, but I can't speak from experience on that yet.

Router used to say these things currently is a Netgear 3700.
Line is rated for 22(30) down and 12(16) up.

Since a 5300/6300 is a fairly low cost upgrade, I'd have to say it's worth it. However depending on your router and line speed to the outside world, ymmv.

You are saying:

. current: HD4570, 7200rpm drive
. for $45 more: HD4330, 5400rpm drive and bluetooth?

If that is the case, then I personally say "no". HD4570 and 7200rpm drive are worth more than $45.

cheers ...

yes, the studio price is definitely worth it. The video card is considerably better

You did very good. Nice job negotiating! That is worth far more than the $45 increase. 7200, yes! GPU so much. Both were "4" but you jumped from "3" to "5" and "30" to "70", that rocks! Oh and styling is much better if you ask me. What color did you pick?