Warranty

Computing

Apple To Replace Peeling Macbook Butts

4:13AM June 1, 2011 | Michael Zhao

If your plastic unibody Macbook is having peeling rubber butt issues, you aren’t alone. Apple’s now actually fixing the problem for free – either through the Genius bar or a DIY kit. They’ll even refund any money you’ve spent before. More »


Computing

Ask LH: Do Warranty Laws Mean AppleCare Is Irrelevant?

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1:00PM May 26, 2011 | Angus Kidman

Dear Lifehacker, In the light of the new consumer laws introduced earlier this year, I’m wondering if we should question whether we should be paying to extend the limited warranty of one year on new Apple computers? Apple likes to promote the extended three-year AppleCare warranty as a logical extension of the 12 months “limited warranty” that it already offers, but I’m wondering if that falls within the law. More »


Computing

You Won’t Fix My Hard Drive Because I WROTE On The Label?

7:20AM April 26, 2011 | Max Behrman

Almost no one reads the lengthy terms and conditions that come with nearly every piece of technology. But here’s a reason you may want to start: Toshiba is charging a customer over $US400 to fix his friend’s hard drive because he wrote “X Faulty” on the label. More »


Gaming

Extended PSP Protection Plan Includes Accidental Damage Coverage

1:59AM May 4, 2010 | Brian Barrett

Sony’s just announced extended service plans for both PS3 and PSP, including an option that covers you if you “accidentally” crack the screen of your PSP. Or hurl it across the room in frustration. More »


Office Depot’s Laptop Glue Fix Fails In Predictably Epic Fashion

8:40AM December 25, 2009 | Brian Barrett

What’s the best way to fix a broken-off power port on an Acer Extensa? If you said “glue the sucker back in there”, you might just work in Office Depot’s repair department. You’re also, in that so-painfully-obvious-it-hurts-my-face way, real wrong. More »


Gadgets

New Apple Patent Prevents You From Screwing With The Hardware

8:15AM December 11, 2009 | Sean Fallon

The latest patent from Apple reveals ways in which their products could be fitted with a simple label or tag that provides evidence of tampering. If the strip is compromised, it gives Apple leverage to void your warranty. More »


Mobile

DIY Fixes For The Palm Pre’s Unfortunate “Oreo” Effect

9:20AM July 24, 2009 | Dan Nosowitz

The Pre Oreo effect—as in, twisting an Oreo—is definitely an unwanted and unpleasant flaw some have experienced in the Pre’s hardware. Pre Central has a few DIY, probable-warranty-voiding methods to fix the problem. More »


Gaming

Microsoft Offers Comfort, Warranty Coverage To Xbox E74 Error Victims

9:18PM April 14, 2009 | John Herrman

For dazed, RRoD-weary Xbox users, hearing that there’s one more way that your console might die on you was almost too much to bear. Thankfully, Microsoft has announced that these latest victims are covered, even retroactively.

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Pioneer Committed To Your Kuro Plasma Warranty

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11:40AM February 18, 2009 | Nick Broughall

Even though Pioneer is breaking up with the plasma TV business, they want you to know that they’ll still be around to look after the kids (in this case, your Kuro panel) at least while the warranty is still valid. Which means at least another five years for LX models or three years for their C series. More »


Gaming

Microsoft Knew Xbox 360 Was Scratching Discs, Did Nothing

12:30PM December 16, 2008 | Matt Buchanan

Unsealed documents in a lawsuit over an Xbox 360 that repeatedly scratched a dude’s games reveal that Microsoft knew all about the problem, but rejected all three possible solutions prior to the 360′s launch.

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