Laptop/camera worries

If you are like me, you will bring your laptop to Rio. I currently have a MacBook and I do backups regularly. So, if something bad happens to it, I will just relax and get a new one. I am not particularly attached to computers or cameras and always like upgrading them.

But many people have more expensive ones and would react differently. If you are one of those, I do recommend that you get an insurance for you laptop (and camera). I did some search online and found a couple of options. I recommend that you do the same. I got a quote from Safeware.com for $99 covering 3 Months (minimum) of $3,500 (deductible is $200). It is a World Wide Coverage for Theft, Accidental Damage, Drops, Falls, Collisions, Liquid Spills, etc.

***** NEW***** I can't find the 3 months coverage anymore. They only one available is for 1 year and costs $200 (depends on how expensive your laptop is). 07/04******

I guess that would have been useful when that piece of metal fell on top of my hard disk last time I was in my sister’s apartment… It was total loss of my Dell. But at that time, I had an extended warranty of my laptop that actually covered accidents. You could check yours and see if you can get that too.

I also found out that one can get a floater or endorsement to homeowners or renters policy. If you have one of those, it is worth asking if you can do that for your electronics/jewelry and get them covered anywhere in the world. Based on what I read online, it shouldn't be more than $100/year.

And, please, don't forget to back it up before leaving home. Many people had laptop trouble in Prague and I remember one of them complaining that his talk was in the lost laptop and couldn't give a talk... Well, bring your talk in a memory card, or email it to yourself, just in case.