PDRater – PD calculators

Data is important...

Quick recap:

• I bought a laptop from Dell[1]
• After a year, I sent my laptop in for a minor repaird
• Dell last my laptop, and after much agony, replaced it with another model
• After a year and a half, laptop monitor stopped working
• I took my laptop to Paramount Technologies
• 3 hours later, my laptop was fixed
• After about 45 days later the LCD monitor stopped working again
• I took the laptop back to Paramount Technologies for the repairs last Monday
• Friday evening the laptop was fixed under the repair warranty, no charge

...so keep a backup

Here’s what I’ve learned:

1. Backup your data before something goes wrong[2][3]
2. A flash drive is your friend
3. Decide whether it makes sense to repair or replace your laptop
4. Make sure you find a good reliable laptop repair shop
   • Get a referral, if possible.  Otherwise, do your homework.
   • Researching a repair shop is time consuming, but you’ll be glad you did.
5. Make sure your repair shop stands behind their work.  Paramount Technologies’ repair warranty is 90 days.  I think that’s pretty reasonable.
6. Ask them what went wrong and how to prevent it

Ideas for new posts:

• What to do when your laptop or computer dies?
• How do you choose a laptop repair facility?

1. Dell’s are great – if you know what you’re doing OR if you spring for the all-you-can eat repair buffet AND like talking to tech support. [↩]
2. Like discovering you have an evil android twin who’s exactly like you – except that he has emotions. [↩]
3. Thanks to wikipedia for the photos. [↩]