In the past few years manufacturers have removed costly warranty services and technical support offerings to bring you the lowest possible equipment prices. We want you to understand how you are protected by the warranty on the computer product you are considering. Each manufacturer's warranty is different, and you should read your warranty completely so you understand what is covered and how the manufacturers protect their customers. The following pertains to warranties from Compaq, Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and many other manufacturers.

Manufacturer's warranties and Extended Warranties cover the repair or replacement of defective hardware. Many people have a different level of expectation than what their warranty offers, and are surprised to find out that they have to pay for services even during the term of their warranty. We want you to be aware of the following restrictions in most warranties:

1) Manufacturer's warranties and Extended Warranties do not cover software problems. Reloading of software, or any data you have entered into your system is not covered. Computer manufacturers charge to answer software support phone calls.

2) Manufacturer's warranties and Extended Warranties do not cover many problems caused by users. This includes outside problems such as with phone lines; network services; modifications of pre-loaded software; installation of third party software or hardware items; or surges and lightning damage.

3) Many manufacturers' warranties do not cover travel or even labor. Many add-on products, such as modems, network cards, sound cards, and disk drives, only have a replacement warranty. All labor and shipping costs must be paid by the customer.

4) Manufacturers do not offer any guarantees of response time, resolution time, or loaners. Some products can be repaired on site, while others must be shipped back to the manufacturer for service. Sometimes we have similar products available to rent while yours is being repaired.

5) Manufacturers reserve the right to repair or replace the product. You may not get back the same item you send in.

6) Manufacturers' warranties and Extended Warranties do not cover "No Problem Found". If you cannot duplicate a hardware problem for our technician, or if our technicians cannot find a hardware failure, the manufacturer will not pay us for the call. The customer must pay all labor costs.

7) You might lose important personal data. It is your responsibility to reload all software that came with the system. Our technicians can reload software if you request it, for which you will have to pay us at our regular service rates. We can also try to recover your lost personal data, but we cannot guarantee that we will be successful. You are responsible for the costs involved in the recovery attempt, regardless of its success.

Some things you can do to save yourself from expenses and frustration...

We recommend daily backups. Tape drives are available at reasonable prices and make this process quick and easy. You can protect yourself by making regular backups and knowing how to reload your drive yourself.

We recommend extended warranties. Extended Warranties upgrade service to a specified length of time (usually 3-5 years) and offer conveniences not included with many warranties. Extended Warranties often cost less than a single out-of-warranty service call. Example: A 3-year on-site warranty for a $ 3000 system is $ 280.