Free Laptop for Life

[#1]

Fujitsu are offering a free laptop for life in their current promotion.  A new laptop every 3 years.  Details at:
http://www.fujitsu-siemens.co.uk/lifebook4life/

[#2]

Had a quick look at what the catches would be, and the only one I can find so far is:

Quote

all you need to do is register your purchase of a LIFEBOOK and associated 3 years warranty upgrade

So I guess it depends on how much they charge for a 3 year extended warranty really.
If they've been taking lessons from the likes of Dixons/Currys/PC World et al, then it won't be cheap
Presumably, you'd have to pay for a further 3 year extended warranty after having your 'free' upgrade 3 years later, for your one in 6 years time?
Might work out alright, but if they bolt you up for the warranty then it might not be a great deal.

[#3]

I've seen a similar scheme in the US and it seems fair but as you say it depends on the cost of the warranty.  Also what happens if you want an upgrade?

[#4]

It doesn't seem to be too bad, about 40 quid judging by this info here.
But what would worry me is the 'like for like' bit, so are they saying you'd be stuck on the same spec forever?

[#5]

Yes, I noticed that "like for like" bit.....
  wonder if they have made umpteen millions of them at todays spec, and think...
"ha ha"  "Here`s a devious little plan to get rid of them  "...
( probably got sheds full of them somewhere on an uninhabited island) 

[#6]

sounds just like the "free" mobile phone deals, !!!.
When will people learn there is nothing free in life.

[#7]

As the saying goes, "There's no such thing as a free lunch."  Everything has a catch.
But some kind soul has posted all the Ts&Cs here: http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fujitsu-offers-free.html
I do like No4 tho "4. A lifetime is determined by the original personal purchaser’s life,........." Does that mean Fujitsu Siemens are going to send out hit-men if they, the company suddenly find they can't supply the goods?
And No6 puts a dampener on things a bit 
Don't the rats smell awful today?

[#8]

There is ALWAYS a catch of some sort. Thats why I still don't have a contract mobile and frankly I'd never touch one. Who really can afford £30-50 per month for a mobile phone? IF you saved that money for 2 months you could buy a decent phone outright! Ok you would get the text/minutes deals but then in reality.. how much does it actually cost to transmit a signal? - next to nothing.
Its like these free laptops with a wireless broadband package... 18/24 month contract at £30-40 per month... the dongle only costs £50 retail at some places (so thats about £30 wholesale - in other words the dongle is paid for in its first month). The other remaining payments in the contract are pretty much the cost of the laptop. It's basically a laptop on credit but without the scary credit language.
It doesn't matter how they try to dress these things up they will ALWAYS be making YOU pay for the freebies. You just have to be smart enough to recognize that you've been had before you are... had!

[#9]

Despite many replies nobody seems to have come up with a major problem with this deal.  It will be interesting to see hw some of the people accepting the offer find it.
I agree with you about the free laptops with mobile deals.  I wouldn't touch them!