PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT
Once you’ve decided on a new laptop, how should you protect it against the worst-case scenario? And what gotchas are there to avoid?
Laptops aren’t cheap. They’re expensive to buy, and – since they’re often designed as single, sealed units – they can be shockingly expensive to repair when something goes wrong. I’ve more than once had a service technician tell me that it would be more cost-effective to buy a brand-new laptop than to fix a fault with my old one.
It’s tempting to set such concerns aside when you buy a new laptop with a manufacturer’s warranty – but the truth is that the protection could be almost worthless. For a start, a new computer should have a useful life of several years, yet most models are protected only for the first 12 months. If your laptop is destined to give up the ghost, the odds are it will happen after your coverage has expired.
If that sounds concerning, it’s always worth looking into extended warranty options. Most importantly, though, you need to think not only about how long your protection lasts, but what it covers. Standard terms are typically limited to “defects in workmanship”, which means they don’t cover accidental damage, or even faults arising through everyday wear and tear. That’s a huge gotcha, as laptops are commonly subjected to all sorts of rough and tumble, as we cart them around on our travels and whip them out to work in challenging environments. It’s more likely that your laptop will fail in a way that isn’t covered than one that is.
For true peace of mind, therefore, it’s worth seeking out coverage that explicitly includes accidental damage. Check with your laptop vendor, and compare third-party insurance options too: there are reputable companies out there who will cover you against drops, spillages and accidental treadings-on for le ss than £15 a month. If you make just one claim, you’re quids in, compared to paying full-price for a repair – and even if you don’t, it’s a real relief not to have to worry about handling your trusty notebook with kid gloves. You can bundle in smartphones and other devices into a multi-device policy too, because after all it’s not just laptops that go wrong.