We do a lot of talking about service and support here at CNETAsia. When it comes to PC and notebook reviews, for instance, our service-and-support evaluation reflects, among other things, the quality of that piece of hardware's warranty coverage. (We also consider the quality of its manuals, online information, email support, telephone support, and more.)

How do we tell a good warranty from a bad one? It's not always easy to tell them apart or to know what to expect in terms of industry standards. It turns out, a warranty includes more than just provisions for repairing defects. We also consider elements such as cost, duration, and quality of the technical support included with the warranty. While some of these elements are intangible, there are some solid things that you, too, can look for if you're shopping for a new piece of hardware.