SquareTrade Warranty Blog

Which laptop manufacturers are most reliable? Study has people talking!

Like our previous studies, SquareTrade's Laptop Reliability report has people talking! 

Join the discussion! Join thousands of others on SquareTrade on Facebook or on Twitter. (Tweet your thoughts or comment below. See live Twitter feed of discusssion below, after the jump.)

	"3-year service history of more than 30,000 laptops has been pored over, analyzed...you get what you pay for -- shocking, right? The big talking point, though, will inevitably be the manufacturer comparison chart..."
	"Our last annual survey of laptop owners turned up a similar result...A reliability report from RESCUECOM, published last March, also put Asus ahead of the pack and HP in dead last, with Apple coming in the middle..."
	"New data from SquareTrade (one of the bigger warranty providers) says Asus and Toshiba have the least hardware malfunctions over 3 years, while one-in-four HP laptops are projected to experience problems."
	"Apple may have played its cards right by not moving into the netbook market, according to SquareTrade's data."
	"...smaller name brand notebook manufacturers are usually more reliable than their larger rivals."
	"Apple ranks a lackluster fourth...The top honor goes to Asus, which surprised me, but I suppose shouldn’t have when I consider the build quality of my fairly inexpensive Eee PC."
	"While Asus topped the list, the bottom part of the list was taken by HP, which would probably be rather disappointing to the numerous HP fans out there."
	"That's bad news for the Dayton area, with such a heavy research and technology sector tied to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base."

If you're on Twitter, you can simply include the hashtag #LaptopReliability to your tweet. (We'll update with a live feed below.) Check out other reactions to the study and tweet your thoughts!

Geezer Gamers Review: Is SquareTrade For Real?

Read what happens when FireMedic41 takes the plunge and chooses SquareTrade for the first time!

 "I had seen the SquareTrade logo multiple times on Ebay and felt that it was another way to get a few dollars from me. I really hadn’t researched it that much, but that day I needed it to be real. I read everything I could on SquareTrade (ST)... 'No hassle'.  'Customer Focused'...Why isn’t everyone using it then?"

Read the full review here.

SquareTrade.com gets a fresh, new look!

We mentioned there was a lot going on here at SquareTrade HQ. When you visited the site to check out the current Deal of the Day promotion, you may have noticed things looked a bit different since the last time you'd visited.

 

That’s right. We’re excited to announce the unveiling of our new site design. If you haven’t seen the new layout yet, visit our homepage and let us know what you think!

2008: A best-of list of best-of lists.

If you're a list lover like me, check out this link-happy article at thestandard.com.

My favorite Geeky Moment of '08 from Asylum's Most Wonderfully Geeky Moments of 2008:  

New Zealand man creates personal jet pack: This past July, an inventor in New Zealand showed off a jet pack that can fly 30 miles per/half hour at altitudes of up to 1,500 feet. Though the pack's mechanics run more like a car engine than an airplane, it still allowed the inventor's teenage son to hover three feet above the ground for 45 seconds. Technology is finally catching up to "The Rocketeer."

Best phone?  The experts like the G1, but the people favor the iPhone.  That's according to CrunchGear's Best of 2008 + People's Choice.

Check out these and other lists, like Quotes of Note from PC World, Top 12 Tech Embarrassments of 2008, and the 24 Most Underrated Websites of 2008.

SquareTrade on geeksugar.

Yes, even warranties can be geek chic.

Have a look at this thread about phone insurance, warranties, etc. on my personal favorite blog of all time - geeksugar.  There's a poll and some good comments to check out, as well as some heart-wrenching accounts of broken devices.  Warning: you may get seriously addicted to this site.

Big surprise: Kids want laptops and cell phones for back to school.

According to a recent survey, kids think cell phones and laptops have nearly as much importance for back to school as more traditional supplies like pencils and notebooks. 

Hmm... could this possibly have to do with the fact that cell phones and laptops are also a lot cooler than looseleaf paper, giant pink erasers, and Trapper Keepers (or whatever they're using these days)?  You can't exactly MySpace from your three ring binder or text message with your protractor. 

Cool factor aside, laptops are even more in demand this year with many colleges including them in their enrollment requirements.  If you're in the market for one this season, check out this helpful guide for buying a school laptop from PC World.  Oh, and I feel compelled to urge that you pay special attention to point number ten on the list:  "Splurge on the warranty. With the excessive wear and tear that campus life can put on a computer, a warranty longer than the standard one-year parts and labor that comes with your system is a must."