How to Get a New Laptop When Your Warranty Expires

Jeevan Sivasubramaniam Posted by Jeevan Sivasubramaniam, Managing Director, Editorial, Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.



You know how when you buy a warranty from a retailer in addition to the warranty offered by the manufacturer? The retailer convinces you that you don't have to go through the hassle of dealing with the manufacturer if you buy their warranty and that it covers accidental damage protection? Take the damage protection and pay the extra bucks for it.

Technology is manufactured to be obsolete within two to three years. Your computer or laptop is essentially obsolete well before it has a chance to break down because it will not be able to run new software--and worse yet, the old software stops being supported because you are being forced to buy a new computer. So here's what you do--near the end of the warranty term (but not on, like, the last day or something equally suspect): Run Linpack or Furmark (google them--they are benchmarking programs to measure performance and they demand a lot of power) and block the exhaust vent. Let them run for a few hours and it will basically cause your computer to overheat and result in irrepairable hardware damage. If someone opens up the computer to look at it, there is nothing to suggest foul play--only that the system was getting overloaded and crashed permanently. Then get your new laptop.