1st PDA - extended 5year warranty wise?

gwailoh · 3rd October 2005, 12:17 PM

I'm looking at buying my first PDA. I'm going to be a teacher, so I'm hoping it will help streamline & reduce the amount of paperwork I have to do. I'd like one with a camera, and I don't want to spend much more than $550 ... so it looks to me like the best option is the 'HP IPAQ RX3417'. Any other suggestions would be welcomed though.

Anyway, I'm just noticing that most have the standard 1yr warrenty (though a comparable ASUS has 2yrs). I'm thinking that because this is such a portable & small device, it would be at high-risk of damage. So I'm thinking of buying it through 'The GoodGUys' store which offers a 5yr replacement warrenty for $79. Or maybe Harvey Norman offers a similar deal.

Has anyone else done this, or wish they had?

digamma · 3rd October 2005, 7:37 PM

Although mine is provided through the school, I would. I've already broken one, and it is easy to do. And I've dropped them many times (God only knows how it is still ok). The warranty is very wise. especially if you are laying out so much money. Its like an mp3 player really. It's small and you would do things to it that you wouldn't do to a notebook, simply coz it is small, like put it in your pocket or in your bag. Even taking the utmost care, you can still fubar it with great ease. And for only that much, it really is worth the extra little premium. As for the amount you use it. Don't expect to use it much for writing stuff, or email etc, not unless you are going to buy a keyboard to go with it. The on screen keyboard isn't worth a damn. But if you can live with that, then go for it. And add to that the coolness factor. The kids all think they are the best things, even when every teacher in the school has one, like we do.

gwailoh · 3rd October 2005, 8:59 PM

You know, I've just realized that this is probably an easy way to upgrade a PDA -- because it wouldn't take that long at all (1 or 2yrs I'd guess) until there simply was no longer a replacement with the same model. Assuming it breaks at some point after that, which isn't at all unlikely (case in point, your story) then bang, instant new pda. sounds t.g.t.b.t. ... I'll have to read the fine print :-)

3rd October 2005, 12:17 PM	#1
gwailoh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6	1st PDA - extended 5year warranty wise? I'm looking at buying my first PDA. I'm going to be a teacher, so I'm hoping it will help streamline & reduce the amount of paperwork I have to do. I'd like one with a camera, and I don't want to spend much more than $550 ... so it looks to me like the best option is the 'HP IPAQ RX3417'. Any other suggestions would be welcomed though. Anyway, I'm just noticing that most have the standard 1yr warrenty (though a comparable ASUS has 2yrs). I'm thinking that because this is such a portable & small device, it would be at high-risk of damage. So I'm thinking of buying it through 'The GoodGUys' store which offers a 5yr replacement warrenty for $79. Or maybe Harvey Norman offers a similar deal. Has anyone else done this, or wish they had?

3rd October 2005, 7:37 PM	#2
digamma Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cairns Posts: 1,755	Although mine is provided through the school, I would. I've already broken one, and it is easy to do. And I've dropped them many times (God only knows how it is still ok). The warranty is very wise. especially if you are laying out so much money. Its like an mp3 player really. It's small and you would do things to it that you wouldn't do to a notebook, simply coz it is small, like put it in your pocket or in your bag. Even taking the utmost care, you can still fubar it with great ease. And for only that much, it really is worth the extra little premium. As for the amount you use it. Don't expect to use it much for writing stuff, or email etc, not unless you are going to buy a keyboard to go with it. The on screen keyboard isn't worth a damn. But if you can live with that, then go for it. And add to that the coolness factor. The kids all think they are the best things, even when every teacher in the school has one, like we do. __________________ The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral. Returning violence with violence only multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.

3rd October 2005, 8:59 PM	#3
gwailoh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6	You know, I've just realized that this is probably an easy way to upgrade a PDA -- because it wouldn't take that long at all (1 or 2yrs I'd guess) until there simply was no longer a replacement with the same model. Assuming it breaks at some point after that, which isn't at all unlikely (case in point, your story) then bang, instant new pda. sounds t.g.t.b.t. ... I'll have to read the fine print :-)