Best Buy, Office Max, or Office Depot for Computer?

We need to buy a computer for our daughter for college. Support and service after the sell are a big issue for us. She needs a good warranty with it and I didn't know if there's a big difference between the stores. Which store has the better after the sell help and support?

Best Buy hands down, because they carry it all.... even Apple (which I recommend). Most of the time they will give you a good deal if you buy the warranty and accessories, you just gotta be smooth about when you present it. Also, if you go in at night when they are trying to hit their budget they will give you a great deal. Try some time at night on the weekend, that is when these stores have a high budget and they are pressured to make the sale.

Remember if you purchase an Apple, take advantage of the student discount.

I would definitely recommend Best Buy they have the best prices usually and the best service. Also they will price match the computer if you find it somewhere else cheaper and you get a 2 week price guarantee if the price drops.
As far as the service plan goes they are not expensive at all. I got an accidental warranty with my laptop last year and it dropped and broke when I left it on a table and my friend bumped it off. I got to get a new computer and it did not cost me anything. That would have not been covered under just a regular manufacturers warranty. So I would definitely recommend the accidental warranty cause with life today you never know what could happen.

Best Buy initially. But the problem with them is a lot of people don't like their service. The geek squad charges an arm and a leg for any service. Laptops will be more expensive in terms of waranties because the screen is close to 80% of the laptop cost. Office Max and Office Depot dont have a big selection. Though Office Max does NOT deal with mail in rebates (if thats a turn off for you.) Its all instant deals.

Office Max's warranty is pretty cheap, they offer accidental damage (water spills, dropping...etc) it all depends on the price of the laptop. Plus the company that does the coverage won a JD Power and Associate award for customer service. I think that's really good. Its also in home service and you dont bring the unit into the store.

If you want a brand to choose from and you want a Windows based computer HP's are good, Toshiba are good, IBM is great for service as well. Though, I suggest Apples as they tend to last longer, have a really good resale value and they have the best customer support over any other computer support (its posted by Walter Mossberg who does Wallstreet Journal.) Hope it helps a little. Short of building a computer and supporting it yourself, you are at the mercy of the tech's and companies you buy from. I would just go with an Apple. They also dont really need anti-virus programs either. As 95% of all virus's are made for Windows computers.

Best Buy would have the best computer for your needs.
It has the good Geek Squad and you can buy a protection plan.
If you are going to buy a laptop, I would recommend a Toshiba.
I have two of them and they work great. If the battery life goes down on you they will even send you a new one for free under warranty period. NEVER BUY A GATEWAY, EMACHINES, OR COMPAQ, because they are made of cheaper materials. I would recommend either HP or Toshiba, but Toshiba because its the only one I buy.

Good question, I do not like using any in store warranty plans.. always overpriced.. I also seen a lot of information about how bad the warranty plans are from places like Best Buy and Office Max, but it depends on where you find your computer deal at.. you have to weigh all the variables.

If you get the best deal at Best buy, but at a premium for the warranty, then it might come out the same as buying a slightly more expensive computer at Office Depot.

Not a definite answer I know.. but there are 3rd party companies for warranties also. See links below for an example.

Best Buy has probably the best service department, but they also have a busier service department.

Just make sure you only purchase the laptop itself at these big-box retailers. Avoid purchasing extended warranties and accessories because they are ALWAYS waaaaaay over-priced.

You will be dealing with the manufacturer of the computer, not the store in most cases so it won't matter where you buy the PC.