Laptop insurance coverage?

[ogeneo]

I've decided to take my MacBook on my upcoming trip to Cairns. It's relatively expensive @ $2,200 so I'm thinking insurance would be in order. Any suggestions? Does DAN offer coverage for these types of things?


PS: Thanks for the great advice in this forum, I was considering packing my dive computer/octo/reg in my checked baggage but after readong up here, it looks like I should pack those in my carry on.

 

[Doc]

I've decided to take my MacBook on my upcoming trip to Cairns. It's relatively expensive @ $2,200..... I was considering packing my dive computer/octo/reg in my checked baggage but after readong up here, it looks like I should pack those in my carry on.

If it's for photo storage, consider an Epson P-3000 or similar mini hard drive. Or- just buy a handful of memory cards. Either way, much cheaper and even more portable than the Mac. Epson P-3000 website

As far as what to check? I continually bang the drum for checking your regs. Carry the computer and camera, but check all that other junk. Or~ just lug it along on your every merry step of the way.

Frequent dive travelers check-in as much as they can and are rapidly discovering these portable hard drive media storage units.

 

[spt29970]

I suggest that you put it on your homeowner's insurance as scheduled property. Then it will be covered for all perils including theft or accidentally dropping it in the ocean. It should only cost about $50-$75/year to cover. Just remember to re-evaluate the cost each year since the policy will only pay out the depreciated replacement cost (which drops like a rock). Oh, and don't forget to make a backup of the data on it before you leave. The machine can be replaced easily, but the images.... priceless.

I actually prefer bringing a laptop since I like to keep a dive log and do preliminary edits with Photoshop. Also showing a slideshow on a 17" monitor is WAY better than a 3.5" portable screen. YMMV

 

[Cajuncru Diver]

Check with your local insurance agent. You will normally be covered under your homeowners policy or you can place an additional personal property rider on that policy at a more lower rate than a seperate policy. Also inquire with me about an "inland marine" policy or rider...I know that sounds somehow nautical but it is not.....it's just a term in the insurance industry for a policy written on specific personal property not scheduled on your homeowners.,

 

[ogeneo]

If it's for photo storage, consider an Epson P-3000 or similar mini hard drive. Or- just buy a handful of memory cards. Either way, much cheaper and even more portable than the Mac. Epson P-3000 website

As far as what to check? I continually bang the drum for checking your regs. Carry the computer and camera, but check all that other junk. Or~ just lug it along on your every merry step of the way.

Frequent dive travelers check-in as much as they can and are rapidly discovering these portable hard drive media storage units.

Thanks, the Epson is cool but I'm not one for "one trick ponies" That Epson is 1/3 the weight of my MacBook Air. I'll also carry my iPod Video which accepts the "Camera Connector" to backup my small digital camera to the iPod.

I'll look into adding the MBA to my homeowners policy

 

[Waterskier1]

You might also check for a Personal Articles Policy. I know State Farm has this, and I use it. I have 2-way radios, computers, cell phones and cameras on my policy. It's all peril, and (in my case) zero deductible. If it falls overboard, or if it’s stolen, it’s covered. One thing to think about in putting it on your homeowners policy, is that it will probably have to be listed, and then will be subject to you deductible (often $500 - $1000). I no longer have State Farm for any insurance except this policy. It just paid for a laptop that “broke” on a scuba trip. That’s the only time I’ve had to use it, and I’ve had the coverage for over 20 years (on different items, of course). I have about $3500 coverage, and it costs me about $55/year in premiums. Remember, that's zero deductible coverage.

 

[spt29970]

I have all of my underwater camera gear covered with a scheduled property rider on my Homeowners policy. It is quite reasonable and the gear is covered for all perils including dropping, flooding, or theft. Like your policy, there is no deductible, but the policy only covers the depreciated replacement value (which drops pretty fast for electronics). Amazing as it sounds the net cost ended up being only about 2%/per year, but there was one big gotcha. I had a 15% discount on my homeowners policy for not having any claims for more than 5 years. Last year I made a claim on the scheduled property rider and lost this discount. When you add up the cost of the lost discount for 5 years it made the policy MUCH more expensive. It was still worth it, but I didn't realize that there was this hidden back-end fee when I bought the policy.

 

[CompuDude]

I suggest that you put it on your homeowner's insurance as scheduled property. Then it will be covered for all perils including theft or accidentally dropping it in the ocean. It should only cost about $50-$75/year to cover. Just remember to re-evaluate the cost each year since the policy will only pay out the depreciated replacement cost (which drops like a rock). Oh, and don't forget to make a backup of the data on it before you leave. The machine can be replaced easily, but the images.... priceless.

I actually prefer bringing a laptop since I like to keep a dive log and do preliminary edits with Photoshop. Also showing a slideshow on a 17" monitor is WAY better than a 3.5" portable screen. YMMV

I concur completely. While I hate the extra weight, not being able to review my photos on anything other than the little camera LCD until I got home would drive me nuts. You also risk missing issues that aren't apparent until you can see the full photo at a reasonable size and resolution, and lose the opportunity to correct them on the following day's diving. No way would I leave the laptop at home for a dive trip. I also burn CDs or DVDs of the photos during the trip as extra backup from a drive crash, theft, etc., and keep them in a separate bag.

Insurance for said laptop is a good idea, though.

 

[danclem]

Ditto on insuring as scheduled article on your homeowners. Much less expensive and generally better coverage than specific dive insurance.

Also second on taking a lap top. My Vaio weighs under three pounds and is a screamer. The new small Western Digital 250 gig USB hard drives are a great way to back up photos. Another reason for taking a lap top is that a lot of airlines have power plugs, and I spend time on those long flights home editing photos.

Cheers,

Dan

 

[spt29970]

I also burn CDs or DVDs of the photos during the trip as extra backup from a drive crash, theft, etc., and keep them in a separate bag.

I do the same. You don't want a hard disk crash (or theft) to deprive you of your memories.