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One other KEY warranty expense is the "Accidental Damage" provision that you have to add separately to laptop warranties. It's a decent expense to get the accidental damage coverage, but worthwhile IMHO. In a college environment (where someone could spill some "grain inspired" beverages, drop or step on the machinery) it's extremely worthwhile. The standard warranties do not cover accidental damage, so you pay for those new parts unless you grab the extra coverage. -----Original Message----- From: MSU Network Administrators Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Richard Wiggins Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 12:02 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [MSUNAG] dell education pricing vs home/small bus Every summer when I speak to parents of incoming freshmen at Orientation, I tell them that buying computers these days is like buying an airlne ticket: the same commodity can be priced at widely varying prices depending on when you buy it, via what channel, and with what special discount code. Until last year, about 50% of incoming freshman class students bought laptops. I see that percentage going up dramatically from here on. Laptops under $1000 are common now, and ultraportables and tablets are becoming more affordable. The warranty becomes a key variable. I had the display on an MSU-owned IBM Thinkpad give out a while ago, and it was repaired for free under its three year warranty. I'm sure the cost of repair would have been prohibitive if it hadn't been under warranty. Laptops see a lot of abuse. The warranty is important. I believe for not much more money you can extend a Dell warranty to 4 years. My joke to parents is to get the 4 year warranty, and tell your child they must finish college before the warranty on the laptop expires. /rich On Wed, 9 Mar 2005 11:35:43 -0500, Scott Thomas <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > If you provide the quote (fax or give quote number) to the MSU Computer > Store they normally can get Dell to match (or get extremely close to) the > price from the other Dell channels. > > With the price differences you show I would be very surprised if there > wouldn't be warranty differences. Higher Ed generally defaults to 3 year > on-site and Home sometimes only comes with 90 days of support and sometimes > mail-in (especially for the Inspirons which are generally considered for > consumer purchases vs. the Latitudes for corporate). The Stores phone number > is 432-0700 and you can ask for Terri Bulock who works with Dell on a > regular basis and she can help you out. > /sgt > > -----Original Message----- > From: MSU Network Administrators Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On > Behalf Of Peter Cole > Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 11:25 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: [MSUNAG] dell education pricing vs home/small bus > > Is there a warranty difference? > > - Peter > > -----Original Message----- > From: MSU Network Administrators Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf > Of Peter J Murray > Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 11:19 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: [MSUNAG] dell education pricing vs home/small bus > > Hello > > I'm starting to look at prices for possible next year purchases, and I > wonder if this is right. For example, I'm pricing out a laptop (Inspiron > 700m). Configured exactly the same (including warranties and > such): > > Cstore pricing through Dell link: $1619.90 > Home: $1388 > Small Business: $1212 > Higher Education through Dell.com: $1593.64 > > The only difference between the laptops configured is the price (and perhaps > one or two minor differences that you can't configure out of the quotes). > I'm feeling slighted. > > How are people purchasing equipment these days (Through the computer store, > etc)? Is there anything you can do as a purchaser in a department to get > better pricing? $407 is a significant chunk of change for 1 piece of > equipment. >