The Higher Cost for Laptop Repairs

FAQ: “So how much does it cost to fix my laptop?”

The cost to repair a laptop computer depends on many factors. Laptops are usually more expensive to repair than a desktop computer because parts for desktops are readily available at your local electronics shop. Desktops are also designed to be easily opened so that all of the components can be upgraded, replaced or repaired. Laptops on the other hand are not designed to be easily opened. Sure, most of the major laptop brands such as HP/Compaq, Toshiba, Fujitsu, Sony, Gateway and Dell, to name a few, allow easy access to the memory and the hard drive (the hard drives on certain Apple laptops are extremely difficult to access.) Other than the ram and the disk drive, most of the other components require taking the laptop apart in order to access them.

Opening a laptop can be very risky. The layout and design of laptops vary by manufacturer. A knowledgeable technician should always be careful since many of the wires have very little slack and are difficult to put back on once they come off. If possible, it’s best to have a step-by-step guide specific to the model of laptop that’s being repaired. The small screws used are also easy to lose and hard to keep track of.

Another reason laptops are more costly to fix is because not all laptop parts are readily available. LCD displays for laptops are probably the easiest thing to replace since certain manufacturers actually use the same LCD screens. Other common parts such as keyboards and power jacks can usually be found on eBay. Keep in mind that most things purchased on eBay will take at least 1 week to arrive.

We have a policy that we need either a down-payment for the cost of the part or some sort of collateral, most likely the laptop. No computer repair & service shop will want to take the risk of ordering a part that the customer no longer wants. My advice is to find out what the part needs to be replaced, and if it warrants the cost of repair, order it and bring the part and the laptop to the shop. Of course this assumes that you’ve diagnosed properly and purchased a good working replacement. The advantage of having the computer service company diagnose the problem and order the part is that they are responsible for returning the part if the diagnosis is incorrect or if the replacement part doesn’t work.

Some clients do not like the idea of being without their laptop for more than a few days. I’ve had shoppers call me asking if I have a specific part for their laptop. When I tell them that the part needs to be ordered and that it will take about a week, I’ve heard people say, “Ok, I’m going to try to find a place that has the part in stock because I need it today.” Good luck. They might get lucky if a shop has the part from another laptop they have lying around, but most shops don’t keep an inventory of parts for every make and model laptop. There are just too many different parts to make it a good investment for the repair shop.

So now you understand that the higher cost of repair is due to difficulty level of the repair and scarcity of computer parts.

Here are some tips to prevent the higher cost of laptop repairs:

• Get yourself a good laptop case with plenty of padding.
• Be careful when traveling with the laptop. If you don’t have a Toughbook, it probably isn’t that rugged.
• Don’t force shutdown during the “Shutting Down” process. It might prevent your computer from booting next time.
• Be gentle when pulling the power cord from the back of the laptop. The pins can break easily.
• Try not to put the laptop wire anywhere where someone can trip and pull your laptop down with them.
• Put your laptop on a level surface when possible.
• Place your laptop where it is cool and make sure that the vents where the air flows are not blocked. Do not store it in a hot place like a sun baked car.
• Keep food and liquid away from the laptop. If you spill liquid, the first thing you’ll want to do is see if it’s still working. DON’T DO IT!!! Unplug the power and battery immediately. Try to get all of the liquid out by turning the laptop upside down. Try not to shake the hard drive too much. It may damage it. Let it dry for as long as you can wait. Days. Maybe a week if you’re patient. A blow drier will help. Don’t put it on the hottest setting though. Take it to your trusted computer repair company when you can so they can take the residue the liquid may have left behind. Keep your fingers crossed.
• Pets and laptops don’t mix.
• Small children and laptops don’t mix.
• Angry people and laptops don’t mix.
• Drinking parties and laptops don’t mix.

If you have to get your laptop repaired, make sure to follow my advice:

I predict that 2008 will be the year of the ultraportable computer. In the last newsletter we featured the Asus EEE PC, a 2lb., 7" ultraportable laptop. This month’s feature is the latest ultraportable from Apple… the Macbook Air. The price of the Macbook Air is $1799 while the Asus is $349. Here are some features that justify the price difference.

Apple claims to have made the world’s thinnest notebook at only .76 inches at its thickest point. It weighs in at around 3 lbs. and features a 13.3" screen and a full-sized backlit keyboard. The oversized touchpad shares most of the multi-touch functions with the iPhone. With its built-in battery, Apple claims a battery life of 5 hrs. There is one USB port, a headphone jack and a micro-DVI slot for connecting to an external monitor. It has a 1.6-1.8Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2GB of RAM and an 80Gb hard drive. It also sports a built-in iSight camera. It also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth which comes in handy since it does not have an ethernet port. The Macbook Air utilizes wireless technology to connect to other computers when a CD/DVD drive is necessary due to its lack of a built-in drive.

This would be well suited to anyone seeking a lightweight yet fully featured laptop. If you are looking for an ultraportable laptop suited for more casual use to supplement your full-sized laptop or desktop, I would recommend purchasing an Asus EEE for $1400 less. You could even use the money you’ve saved on the more powerful Macbook (not Air) and still have about $300 left over.

For more information regarding this or any other computer related issue, feel free to contact an E-Geniuses Technician at (877) My-Genius.

Happy Holidays!
Everyone at E-Geniuses hopes that you and your loved ones have a wonderful and safe holiday season.

ULTRALIGHT, ULTRAPORTABLE, ULTRA-AFFORDABLE
There are many characteristics that stand out about this new notebook from Asus but there are three in particular that create the most waves. The first thing that most people will notice is the form factor, which is much smaller than most laptops. When closed, it weighs 2lbs and is roughly the same size as a small novel. Next is the very unconventional name: “Eee PC”. The name Eee comes from "the three Es"; an abbreviation of their advertising slogan for the device: "Easy to learn, Easy to work Easy to play". The third aspect that captures most people’s attention? The price. This ultraportable and full featured laptop is only $399.

This notebook comes equipped with a full suite of preinstalled software that allows you the same capabilities of your home computer but on-the-go. You can browse the web using FireFox, use Skype with the built-in web cam and microphone, open Word and Excel docs and edit them, view photos, listen to music files, use AOL IM, MSN messenger or just about any other major chat client. Although pre-installed with Linux, it is also capable of running Windows XP. The Asus Eee PC can be found online at Amazon.com, BestBuy.com and Costco.com.

For more information regarding this or any other computer related issue, feel free to contact an E-Geniuses Technician at (877) My-Genius