Notebook computers are extremely convenient for anyone who is on the move often. Students, salespeople, travelers, and others all benefit from the mobility provided by notebooks. All this portability often ends up in wear and tear for your computer.

Unfortunately, notebook repairs tend to be expensive, impractical and sometimes impossible. Because notebooks are all designed differently, there are no standardized parts for them. Often times even replacing a battery or power cord for your notebook can be difficult due to the fact that there are limited places to get these replacement parts. If one of the more important parts inside your notebook were damaged, the motherboard for instance, it may be impossible to find the part and your notebook may be unrepairable.

For these reasons it is very important to take good care of your notebook.

Here are some general rules to follow when handling your notebook:

A cracked screen on a notebook is usually the result of it being dropped, stepped on, or some other physical trauma.

Cracked screens are one of the things we can usually fix on a notebook. However, it is not a quick, easy fix by any means.

Generally a replacement screen runs in the $100 to $150 range plus the labor to fix it. While this is still cheaper than buying a new notebook, it is much better to utilize a little extra care and avoid this altogether.

Because all notebooks are different, we usually have to order a specific screen for your notebook. This means a 3-5 day waiting time while we wait for the part to be shipped. For a student with homework due, a week without their notebook can be a huge hassle. Handling your notebook with care will allow you to avoid this costly repair.

Any new computer you buy should come with at least a 1 year warranty and some will offer longer warranties for an extra charge. But what exactly is covered by these warranties and are they worth the extra charge?

First, not all warranties cover the same thing so it is important to read the warranty information carefully, preferably before you purchase your computer. Almost all of the basic warranties that are included with a notebook are going to include hardware failure for the first year you own the computer. It is important to note that these warranties do NOT include accidental breakage. Some manufacturers' warranties do but they will explicitly say that they cover accidental breakage. Most will only cover a part that fails on it's own.

Whether to buy an extended warranty depends on how much it costs and whether it covers accidental breakage. Just as an example, let's say you accidentally cracked the screen on your notebook. That repair is about $150 to fix, so paying $150 extra for a warranty that covers cracked screens doesn't really pay off. You're better off just fixing the screen when it happens.

In the end it comes down to what kind of person you are. If you like to have insurance on your valuables then having a warranty is going to give you that extra peace of mind. If you like to live on the edge, take the standard 1 year warranty it comes with and hope for the best.

The best thing you can do with your notebook, regardless of your warranties, is to take care of it and use proper handling.