Check to see if they're willing to answer the kinds of questions you're likely to ask. And note the technician's attitude - if he or she seems hurried or condescending, move on. No firm can answer every question you throw at it, but you want it to be a pleasant experience. And once you sign up, don't hesitate to speak up if you're unhappy with an answer or a charge. It may not always work to complain, but you don't want to pay for a technician's mistake.
Annual plans make the most sense economically.
But if you're buying for an entire department or company, it's probably better to start small and add more as you need it. Daniel Tynan is a contributing editor for PC World. Research assistance provided by Evan Hansen, Sarah Klein, Amanda Lewis, Tim Mathis, Celeste Robinson, Valerie Singer, Ralph Soucie, and Jonathan Spencer. In a perfect world, you'd be able to pick up the phone, order a computer loaded with software, then call the same number to find out why the spreadsheet and database that came with your new PC can't be made to work together. Well, this world isn't perfect, but PC companies are trying to make shopping for all your computer needs as simple as possible.