How to protect my lappy??

Hey guys..

I'm on vacation this week from July 2-9 and getting back on the 9th. I ordered my alienware on July 1st. The estimated arrival is the 19th, but my rep told me it might come early and come the 14th. The problem is that I am leaving again on the 15th and staying till the 24th. If it does arrive early which one of these should i do?

1. Keep it in the box and don't start it up so that everything is fresh when i get back

Con: aren't the parts supposed to get a nice warm up ASAP?

2. Start it up when i get it, but keep it shut down for all those days.

Con: Bad for the battery

 

I don't see how #2 is bad for the battery. You're shutting it off before you leave.

Open it and turn it on. If you wait until you get back, you've already wasted half of the return period before checking to see if anything is wrong with the laptop. If you get it on the 14th and leave on the 15th, you have a whole day to test it out, make sure it's all working, and if not you might even be able to ship it back to potentially have a replacement/repaired unit for the 24th.

Nothing to be gained by #1.

 

For Number 2, I also didnt see any bad thing for the battery, but if you want to make sure, you can drain your Laptop's battery to somewhere between 40% - 50%, and leave it until the day u back, as it is the way to help prolong the battery life.

This is the guide on how to keep Battery at its best: Notebook Battery Guide

For Number one, for me I dont prefer that, as the return policy state that it will come into effect on the day you receive the laptop/receipt (not sure but know either of them), so for me I'd just turn it on to see if everything is alright and the part are the one I have ordered.

I dont know in US, but the return policy in AU/NZ is just for 21 day period so if you choose the option one, you would have waste 10 day for nothing like everythingsablur said.

 

Won't hurt the battery. Option 1 make sure it works and everything. You can't hurt the battery unless you throw it in a fire, lol.

 

Wouldn't make a difference. I'd open it before I leave just because I'm curious and I love my M14x

 

Definitely fire it up asap, as others have said, to ensure that you don't waste any time to check for defects. While Dell *may* push your return period beyond the standard 21 days, that's a chance I would not want to take.

I would advise that you make sure it is what you wanted and functions properly as soon as possible. Nothing to be lost by giving it a once over when you get it.

 

Just thought i would give a little update:

The laptop came while i was on vacation. 4 days after i ordered to be exact. I didn't get home for another 5 days and man..i have to say. THIS LAPTOP IS SEXY!!!!!

Also, we got 2 inches of rain while i was gone and UPS left it outside!! :O

Thank God dell covers this thing in like 4 layers of boxes and UPS placed it under my porch