I'm going to buy a laptop from Best Buy. Should I get the Geek Squad 2-Year protection plan?

You should get a one year warranty from the manufacturer. Add a decent spyware program an you should be fine. My philosophy on computers is to buy them knowing it will be sold within six months to a year.

No geek squad for me.

Keep all that original packaging cause it resales for more that way.

How long is the manufacturer’s warranty? How much is the protection plan? How much is the laptop? Will you be carrying it around a lot. increasing the chances of damage?

On most products the extended warranty is not a good choice, but laptops are one case where the answer is “maybe”.

When I bought a new computer from Best Buy last year, I asked questions about what the protection plan covered and decided it wasn’t worth the expense. I’m not tech-savvy, but have enough experience using the help features and online sites, plus friends with experience, that it wasn’t worth the cost. With a laptop, preventative maintenance and general care should be enough to keep it in good shape.

What type of protection is the Geek Squad plan covering? Software, hardware, some of both? Only if something fails and not if you or collateral damage happens?

Just buy Norton or some other anti-virus, and install it. Other than that, the computer comes with a warranty, so you should be ok without Geek Squad.

I just paid for a one year Geek Squad maintenance contract, because my laptop had viruses. It included purchase and install of an anti-virus of your choice (I chose Norton) and it includes not just taking the laptop in for maintenance, but phone assistance 24/7 for one year. However, my laptop is not new (and for the $199 price for the one year contract, it was a close toss-up between the $199 contract or buying a new laptop. I figured I’d do the one year maintenance and then buy a new laptop (or get one for Christmas) in 2012.

Yes, I would. One, if you’re carrying the laptop around, it’s wise to pay for the added protection in case it drops. Two, if you look at the ratings on Best Buy & Amazon many raters have needed to get their laptop replaced and were glad they bought the extended coverage.

I used to think the extended warranty was a bunch of hooey…that was until our last microwave bit the dust just a week or so after the one-year manufacturers warranty ran out. We bought a new micro…and just had to have Geek Squad come out. They replaced three parts. If something else goes on this one, we get a new microwave.