# Can I Rent a Laptop for a Day or a Week? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 21, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-rent-a-laptop-for-a-day-or-a-week/208788 "2003-10-21T22:43:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-rent-a-laptop-for-a-day-or-a-week/208788/1 "2003-10-21T22:43:28Z")
If I ever get an OK from my publisher on my next book, I’ll have to do a lot of research at the NYPL. I do _not_ want to bring my new $3,000 laptop into the city with me. Is it possible to _rent_ a laptop so I can type the info onto a CD and bring that home with me? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-rent-a-laptop-for-a-day-or-a-week/208788/2 "2003-10-21T23:01:54Z")
Sure can! I just did a quick web search at [WorldPages.com](http://search.worldpages.com/bin/cgidir.dll?MEM=288&CID=42&T=new+york&S=NY&QV=02F32332C5AF9D3F89CF3203O01F32032C5AF9D3F8BCF3203O07F32132C5AF9D3F94CF3203O03F32F3DC5AF9D3FB5CF3203&FUNC=INPROG&C=Laptop+Rental&TTL=Location&ACTION=Standard) for laptop rentals in the NYC areas. Try the NYC Yellow Pages. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-rent-a-laptop-for-a-day-or-a-week/208788/3 "2003-10-21T23:12:45Z")
Sure can! I just did a quick web search at [WorldPages.com](http://search.worldpages.com/bin/cgidir.dll?MEM=288&CID=42&T=new+york&S=NY&QV=02F32332C5AF9D3F89CF3203O01F32032C5AF9D3F8BCF3203O07F32132C5AF9D3F94CF3203O03F32F3DC5AF9D3FB5CF3203&FUNC=INPROG&C=Laptop+Rental&TTL=Location&ACTION=Standard) for laptop rentals in the NYC areas. Try the NYC Yellow Pages. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-rent-a-laptop-for-a-day-or-a-week/208788/4 "2003-10-21T23:16:40Z")
I don’t know how legit they are, but try these guys: [http://www.laptoprent.com/](http://www.laptoprent.com/) You may also want to consider just buying a cheapie used laptop and reselling it when you’re done. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-rent-a-laptop-for-a-day-or-a-week/208788/5 "2003-10-21T23:51:55Z")
Most Public Libraries I have been to in the USA have computers for you to use. Just go to the library of choice and ask about them. They are usually the latest models with CD Writers in them. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-rent-a-laptop-for-a-day-or-a-week/208788/6 "2003-10-21T23:53:10Z")
Wow, thanks! I thought there must be a way. I think I’d rather rent a good one than buy a crappy one. I’m just too chicken to schlep my my laptop into town–just my luck, someone would sit on it. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-rent-a-laptop-for-a-day-or-a-week/208788/7 "2003-10-22T00:02:41Z")
Most Public Libraries I have been to in the US have computers to use. Some have CD Writers too. I am sure that the one you want to go to has computers. ---
**Author:** ![Blueapple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Blueapple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blueapple)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-rent-a-laptop-for-a-day-or-a-week/208788/8 "2003-10-22T00:09:18Z")
Re: [Laptoprent.com](http://Laptoprent.com) I used these guys twice in the past two years, both for international travel. I rented a Powerbook in the summer of 02 for a three week vacation in Africa, and again this past summer for travel in Central America. It comes ‘clean’(no spyware programs that people might have downloaded previously) with all the needed accessories. For a week rental, it may be a little steep in price, but you get what you pay for. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-rent-a-laptop-for-a-day-or-a-week/208788/9 "2003-10-22T01:46:47Z")
I assume you have some type of insurance? You might be able to add your laptop on in some fashion. I got paranoid about riding my $2000 mountain bike around, so I got my parents to add it to the house insurance somehow. I pay them some small amount annually, and it’s apparently covered even if I back over it in the driveway.