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Title: Buying a laptop from the States Post by: janaage on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 12:08:04 Is there any problem in doing this? I have a mate over in the US for a while and I need a laptop for home, looking on the US Dell site it looks like you get so much more for your money.
Do you techie people see any problem in buying a US laptop and predominantly using it over here? Title: Buying a laptop from the States Post by: Simon Pieman on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 12:14:20 Just make sure you can adapt/get a new power adapter. Everything else is coolio.
Oh and the DVD drive's region may need setting to UK, but this is easily done through Windows. Title: Buying a laptop from the States Post by: Simon Pieman on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 12:15:41 Have you factored in taxes for import (I don't know how this works).
Personally I wouldn't buy a Dell laptop again, my inspiron 1100 overheats something chronic. Make sure you research the problems. Title: Buying a laptop from the States Post by: janaage on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 12:17:11 As soon as I saw you were about I knew who'd be replying first.
Cheers Si!! Obviously Yank business men must use their laptops ok over here, so I thought their shouldn't be a problem. Good point about the DVD region though mate, didn't think of that. Title: Buying a laptop from the States Post by: pumbaa on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 12:19:37 My US purchased laptop works perfectly in the UK with a suitable power adaptor. I proved it last week. My DVD drive automatically determines the DVD region, so you can swap between R1 & 2.
Title: Buying a laptop from the States Post by: janaage on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 12:23:34 Quote from: "simon pieman" Have you factored in taxes for import (I don't know how this works). Personally I wouldn't buy a Dell laptop again, my inspiron 1100 overheats something chronic. Make sure you research the problems. Well I was planning on ordering it from here, having my mates address in the states for delivery and for him to bring it home. Would he have to declare this? I haven't got a clue about customs charges. Coxernator, would I be able to reclaim the yank sales tax on this? Title: Buying a laptop from the States Post by: pauld on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 12:26:53 As SP says main issue is power adaptor, but also be aware of the different keyboard layout. TBH, most people get used to it within a day or so, but for some it can be a real issue.
Title: Buying a laptop from the States Post by: pumbaa on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 12:29:38 Quote from: "janaage" Quote from: "simon pieman" Have you factored in taxes for import (I don't know how this works). Personally I wouldn't buy a Dell laptop again, my inspiron 1100 overheats something chronic. Make sure you research the problems. Well I was planning on ordering it from here, having my mates address in the states for delivery and for him to bring it home. Would he have to declare this? I haven't got a clue about customs charges. Coxernator, would I be able to reclaim the yank sales tax on this? He shouldn't have to declare it through customs if he brought it into the country and left it with you. Not strictly legal mind you, but every other bugger does it :wink: I'm not sure about reclaiming the sales tax. Maybe your friend who has to file taxes in the US might be able to do that and only charge you the before tax price, depending on how good a mate he is. Title: Buying a laptop from the States Post by: land_of_bo on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 12:30:07 Quote from: "janaage" Quote from: "simon pieman" Have you factored in taxes for import (I don't know how this works). Personally I wouldn't buy a Dell laptop again, my inspiron 1100 overheats something chronic. Make sure you research the problems. Well I was planning on ordering it from here, having my mates address in the states for delivery and for him to bring it home. Would he have to declare this? I haven't got a clue about customs charges. Coxernator, would I be able to reclaim the yank sales tax on this? Surely if he unpacked it and brought it over in a laptop bag he can just say it's his laptop - no charges then... The keyboard point is a good one, but unless you are a touch typist that it's not a problem. I'd also go along with SIPI - I don't like Dell laptops - see if you can get a good deal on a Sony... Title: Buying a laptop from the States Post by: pumbaa on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 12:31:02 Quote from: "pauld" As SP says main issue is power adaptor, but also be aware of the different keyboard layout. TBH, most people get used to it within a day or so, but for some it can be a real issue. Its a little different, but not significant. The main problem is the lack of the £ key! Title: Buying a laptop from the States Post by: janaage on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 12:31:57 What's the difference between lay outs? Sorry for being dense.
Title: Buying a laptop from the States Post by: land_of_bo on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 12:39:03 US
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b100/landofbo/US.png UK http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b100/landofbo/UK.png Things like " £ \ are in different places. So you set windows to UK layout and just have to remember that SHIFT 2 will give you " even though above the 2 on your keyboard is @ Title: Buying a laptop from the States Post by: Barry Scott on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 12:46:28 Quote from: "simon pieman" Have you factored in taxes for import (I don't know how this works). Personally I wouldn't buy a Dell laptop again, my inspiron 1100 overheats something chronic. Make sure you research the problems. Yeah, try to aviod Dell mate, they're pretty crap nowadays. they feel cheap and their keyboards always seem to collapse. I've had a couple and they have loads of problems, plus if parts break, quite amusingly, they will try to charge you a good 3 to 4 times the amount you could purchase them from a proper computer shop, while telling you that you can't get the parts anywhere else (which is bullshit). That alone marks that down in my book. I bought an HP a little while back and that is by far and away the best laptop i've had in ages. Seriously well built and reliable as hell. Title: Buying a laptop from the States Post by: Nomoreheroes on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 14:17:12 I would suggest that you have a look at 'Compusa', 'BestBuy' and 'CircuitCity' websites to see who is doing the best deals. They have these shops on every corner in the US and offers change every week. If you wait until November then you could save yourself another couple of hundred dollars buy purchasing on 'Black Friday' - Last day of the business year when they flog everything off cheap.
NMH Title: Buying a laptop from the States Post by: pauld on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 14:40:53 Quote from: "land_of_bo" Things like " £ \ are in different places. So you set windows to UK layout and just have to remember that SHIFT 2 will give you " even though above the 2 on your keyboard is @ Sounds more complex than it is - you get used to it in a day or so. And if you're using it docked, you'd most likely use an external keyboard anyway Title: Buying a laptop from the States Post by: Dazzza on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 15:14:43 Anyone know if there is a difference between European purchased games consoles and the UK retail versions?
Socket adapter should do the trick but I'm curious to know if the same power socket on the actual console will take a UK voltage lead from a UK bought console. Title: Buying a laptop from the States Post by: pumbaa on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 16:11:06 Quote from: "dazzza" Anyone know if there is a difference between European purchased games consoles and the UK retail versions? Socket adapter should do the trick but I'm curious to know if the same power socket on the actual console will take a UK voltage lead from a UK bought console. Dazzza, are you asking about XBox, PS2 etc? |