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Thread ID: 81814	2007-08-08 04:31:00	How long should a laptop last for?	sophanc (11071)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
578028	2007-08-08 07:07:00	[Brand Example] Don't buy a Sony Vaio without an extended warranty. Great machines, but if they break, it's mega $$$ to fix them. . I beg to differ on this topic ae, Sony laptops are not that great unfortunatly. I have used them and they are slower than other laptops with similar specs, there is a reason for this, which i have forgotten but am seeing my tutors tomorrow and will get them to explain it again. Will post again when i can be a little more informative! ;)	Bozo (8540)
578029	2007-08-08 08:07:00	It's my understanding that under the terms of the Consumer Guarantees Act (which, from the wording of your initial question, I think you are probably aware of), that goods must last a 'reasonable' time, with 'reasonable' being undefined. However, it is clear that the guarantee period is irrelevant when deciding what a reasonable lifetime for an item is. I would think that 18 months for an expensive laptop, assuming it hasn't led a particularly tough life, would be quite a bit more than that. Look through old copies of Consumer, or join their website (have to pay though), and contact the Ministry of Consumer Affairs for advice. If they don't give you advice, at least they will point you in the right direction. Talk to the vendor again, say you're taking it further - small claims court at least - and that you will ask advice every step of the way on every computer forum in the country. They may reconsider. Thats all true, but laptops get damaged more simply because they are portable, and the manufactures are damn quick to void a warranty some times. Hell a friend of the wifes had here screen "blow" on a 3 month old Compaq, they refused to repair under warranty because they claimed it had been bashed and that's what caused the screen to fail. A reasonable time doesn't mean didly squat if the things been rough handled. Another example of that is someone who I know had the plastic guide in a usb port break - rough handling - no warranty claim. USB port damaged they plugged in a drive which short circuted the board = No audio.	wainuitech (129)
578030	2007-08-08 08:23:00	Hi Wainuitech - I agree, but what I was getting at is that if it hasn't been roughly handled, you don't have to take crap from retailers wittering on about one-year warranties. If you've got the energy, you can usually make them meet their legal obligations, or at least make a real pest of yourself in the process. A lot of tech companies (according to Consumer) are pretty quick to deny they have an obligation. I had a problem with DSE at the end of last year, and they gave me a refund for a defective product only after I had outlined to the manager the steps I'd take. However if it's been rougly treated, then that's a different story.	annie (6010)
578031	2007-08-08 08:56:00	Hi Annie, Fully agree, I run my own Computer business, so I know all about retailers obligations etc . Thats why I'm not to keen on laptop warranties . If any of the products I build Eg: new PC's are faulty then the customer IS IN THE RIGHT and a replacement, or fix is no worries . One item many people dont know and its written in all the PC warranties is the PC is not covered by the warranty if the damage is caused by power problems, eg surges/ spikes etc . Its the BIG name brand companies that get up my nose, they seem to forget that with out customers you have no business, yet they seem all to eager sometime to really make thing awkward . Opps better go my Windows Home Server is doing a back up in 1 minute and this thing don't like windows open when doing it LOL:D	wainuitech (129)
578032	2007-08-09 01:55:00	Big companies have big problems, too . ;) The proprieter doesn't answer the phone . She has to pay people to answer the phone, and of course, the more skilled they are, the more money they want to face a day of dealing with angry customers who haven't read the manual . So they can't get knowledgeable people to do the customer support . If they were good, they'd have real jobs . The cellphone manufacturers get a lot of batteries returned as "faulty" . About 80% of the returned batteries are perfect when tested . They can't be repackaged and sold as new, even though they are still new . Consumer legislation stops that . The big company is assumed to have lots of money . So they will get a lot of people trying it on . Even small shop proprieters will have had "warranty" claims on expensive gear which has had a lighning strike, or have had softdrink spilt into it .	Graham L (2)
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