Laptop Quick Fixes

After nearly 20 years of using some sort of portable computer without incident, I recently found myself in a hotel room far from home with a notebook that refused to power on. I knew this would happen sooner or later, but I had no idea where to turn. I figured I wasn't alone; thus, this column was born.

Considering the rough-and-tumble nature of business travel, knowing how to get help when your notebook takes ill should be an important check-off item during the purchase process. Most IT services companies and resellers will offer reasonable service options when you buy a notebook from them, but if you're buying your system from an internet or retail office supply store, make sure the manufacturer has things covered.

What can you expect to pay for this on-the-go insurance? For $175 to $575, Lenovo offers ThinkPlus EasyServ warranty repair services. The company will even pick up the system and return it once it's repaired. Service takes an average of five business days.

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Hewlett-Packard offers similar coverage through HP Total Care, which is handled by its network of IT service providers and resellers. It promises notebook repairs in three to five days, at an average cost of $460 for three years.

Our charts below outline these and other options from five leading notebook companies. We also offer names of several independent technicians. (This list is not all-inclusive, nor does Entrepreneur endorse any particular facilities. They are merely offered as options to cope with emergencies.)

For a firsthand account of how Entrepreneur columnist Heather Clancy dealt whith her damaged laptop, click here.