First consider this summary, then look further if you want facts that just make sense.  How can a local one (or two) shop computer store offer warranties that a billionaire like Michael Dell can't afford to offer?  None of the big companies are offering much more than one year warranty because the profits are too small.  You want an inexpensive computer, that has english speaking support, and you honestly think you can expect a 3 year warranty?

If it sounds too good to be true....think about it.  Yes the components used by Panther Computers have 3 year, 5 year, and lifetime manufacturer warranties, but if we warranty the components, we have to pay to ship failed components to the factory, hope they don't have an exclusion that viods their warranty, and then hope that equal components are still available to repair your system.  Not many small shops can afford to hold dozens of extra parts for older systems.

You see in the last two years I've had to change motherboards 4 times building new systems because the CPU's changed.  They weren't compatible with the older motherboards, even though they would physically fit.  I couldn't use the older CPU's becuase they were no longer being made and could only find them on E-bay...not building new systems that way!  This means that I would have to have back up boards to replace systems built, or replace the CPU, motherboard, and possibly memory if a board goes bad.

It's pie in the sky to think that only one or two boards from any company will go bad.  Google "capacitor failure" and you will see that many computers a few years ago got plagued by industrial espionage and theft as capacitors were made in the millions with faulty stolen formula for the electrolyte (inside goo) .  This kind of thing can bankrupt even large corporations, much less a small business.  Anyone touting these types of warranties will have to have exclusions in place that they can invoke to basicaly not honor the warranty they make you think you are getting.  Otherwise they are foolhardily putting their neck on the line for 3 years based on a niave belief that in three years the manufacturer won't find an exclusion if a mass problem has occurred.

Consider this: I've been in the computer industry nearly my entire adult life.  This is my second computer business, the first being open between 86 and 92, and Panther Computers has been open since 2001.  I've been to more computer conventions, met with more technical and manufacturer's reps than many of the local businesses put together.  I know where to buy, how to buy, and spend long hours shopping for the best prices.  I still make less than $100 per system because I jam pack every system with great components, great values, and work long and hard to make it happen.

With less than $100 per system, one bad componet erodes that profit between $5 and $25 to ship a component back.  What's more is I often replace your problem part with a new part so you don't wait.  That means I loose the profit on that item, as the refurbished item returned by the factory can't be sold as new.  The hope is that the numbers will remain low and more profit than loss will occur, but a batch of bad components can kill your profits and inventory. 

A few months ago I had 7 bad motherboards from MSI.  They were discovered durring burn in (before the customer got the PC), but that was 7 boards that could have cost 7 customers down time, and it did cost me shipping to get them taken care of. (MSI was very helpful and quick to deal with this, but I still had 7 systems worth of components hung up in a non saleable condition till they were back)

So if you consider these types of factors, the 3 year guys either have deeper pockets than Michael Dell, have a direct prayer line to God, or like to play the numbers.  You might well consider how much a local warranty of that nature is worth.  If they go bankrupt, or the main owner retires or passes away, what more than hype is such a claim?  The most important thing is the service, and the manufacturers warranty that stands behind the local guy.  We believe the 1 year warranty is believable, doable, and fair.  You might consider what does integrity mean, and then decide which computer company is really walking the talk? Now it's up to you.