When it comes to sending in your warranty card, wait a week to ensure that the laptop works and that you have everything you ordered. When you're satisfied, fill out and send in the warranty card.
Often times, when you order a computer directly from the manufacturer, you don't need to fill in and return a warranty card.
In some cases, filling out and returning the warranty card sets the start date for the warranty period. Otherwise, the warranty may start on the day the laptop was manufactured, which could have been three months ago! Read the card to be sure.
Ever since the appearance of computer warranties (not long after the appearance of computers), you'd hear one consistent recommendation from all the experts: Avoid the extended warranty because computers are hardy, reliable devices. If a PC can live through the standard warranty period, it'll probably live forever or, well, a long time. And, repairing or replacing any item on a desktop PC is often cheaper than any extended warranty you can find.
Laptops, however, are another beast.
Laptops lack the replaceable components of a desktop PC. Often, when something breaks on a laptop, you have to have the entire unit repaired or replaced. That can be expensive. For example, the monitor connector on a laptop may be only a 23-cent part. But, if it breaks, the entire laptop motherboard must be replaced, which costs up to $1,000 - or more. That's also true for other items inside the laptop's case; fixing things just isn't cheap!
Because of the laptop's unique nature, you should really consider getting a manufacturer's extended warranty. A 4- or 5-year warranty to cover everything on your laptop, full replacement, and repair costs may set you back $120 or so, but the price is worth it. It's an investment.
Beyond the manufacturer's warranty, don't worry. In fact, you should avoid any other warranties, no matter how tempting they may sound or no matter how persuasive the guy in the blue vest can be. Warranties offered in addition to the manufacturer's warranty are a waste of money. They sell them hard! But that's because such a warranty is pure profit for the store that fools you into buying one.
