Broken laptop. Repair/replace?

[Franco B]

I have an Acer Aspire 3023WLMi which is broken. I'm not sure how it happened but I went to use it the other day and the screen is smashed on it 

I thought I would be covered on my house insurance but I'm not due to it being a 'portable item' (needless to say I'm changing my policy!)

I'm just not sure what to do. To fix it myself I will need a new screen (£100ish) and also the rear screen casing/laptop 'top' as the hinge broke on it a while ago which will be another £60ish.

The thing is laptops seem so cheap now I could buy a new laptop that would piss all over mine for about £300.

If I did the latter I would still have a functioning laptop (minus the screen) that I could use for a arcade bartop or juke project. I could just buy a second hand LCD (or touchscreen if its a juke) and use the laptops VGA out.

Any thoughts?

Also any recommendations on laptops? I don't want to get an Acer again as I wasn't impressed with the build quality. I don't need anything too powerful. Ill only really use it for surfing, general PC use and a little AutoCAD. Has anyone seen any good deals for around £300?

[NiN^_^NiN]

Well i love my Asus EEE PC its great build quality but that laptop is probably too small for you but i can reccomend Asus brand laptops they always seem to be great quality from what i've played with

The laptop is perfect for a bartop id keep it for something like that or a juke

[Grasshopper]

I definitely wouldn't repair it, even if it's possible. With the price of new laptops plummeting, it's just not worth it.

Also, I'd tell your insurer that you intend to go to the insurance industry ombudsman if they don't cough up. Even if you lose the case it won't cost you anything, but it will cost the insurer several hundred pounds (win or lose). That might help to concentrate their minds a bit.

With regards to new laptops, I like the look of the new Dell Vostros (although I don't like Dell as a company). They're intended for small businesses, but IMHO they appear to offer better value and look nicer than Dell's consumer models.

The EEEs are also very nice but a bit too small for me. If Asus brought out a full size Laptop based on the same technology and styling, I'd be all over it.

[shardian]

I would think it would be a bad idea to turn a $400 laptop in on insurance. They'll just raise your premium $50 a year and you'll eventually pay for it anyways.

[Franco B]

Thanks for your advice guys.

I think im going to hang onto it for the moment. It should make a great PC for a bartop.

My girlfriend says I can have her laptop when she upgrades hers but I already have plans for that

I dont really 'need' a new laptop right now (although want is a different thing!) so I think I will wait for a while until I need one more. I will take your laptop recommendations into consideration when Im looking for a new one.

Thanks again.

[ark_ader]

I fix laptops all the time and most of the time you can find a replacement screen on Ebay or on a dead laptop for spares and repairs.

Find the Engineer's manual for the laptop on the support sites.

Replace the screen (no big deal) and save yourself some money and gain some experience.

You never know what you can do until you give yourself a chance.   

[Franco B]

Its no problem getting the spares, just the expense of new ones (even on ebay). Ill keep my eyes open for a 2nd hand spares/repair model though.

Fixing it should be no problem either. I already have the 'lid' in pieces and the LCD ready to remove. Should be a quick fix if I can find the parts cheap enough. If not, bartop it is