Buying laptop in USA

axer

Hey y'all,

A friend of mine is going to Chicago next thursday for week. Am thinking about finally getting myself a laptop - anyone have any recommendations of where/what to purchase?

Thanks,
Noel.

mcummins2

My brother bought a Compaq computer in a Computer Store like PC World in New York. It works absolutly fine over here. Has it on broadband as well.

crosstownk

Buy an Apple Mac. Make the change. You'll be glad you did!

www.apple.com/store

zilog_jones

mcummins2 wrote:

It works absolutly fine over here

Yeah, there should be absolutely no problem using a laptop bought in the USA over here - every laptop I've seen (even 10-year-old ones) has a multi-voltage mains adaptor, so you can just change the mains lead (usually a "kettle lead" or the modified lumpy-looking socket version of that) or the plug on the mains lead. It's very easy to change the default language in WinXP to "English (Ireland)" too - you shouldn't even need the install CD for that.

Only thing of concern is the warranty, which may only be valid in the US. Actually, is it possible you can get charged import duties on the way back? Anyone know this?

axer

zilog_jones wrote:

Actually, is it possible you can get charged import duties on the way back? Anyone know this?

You'd have to be very honest.

I am looking for advice on good stores etc.

Judt

Sure, whip the laptop out at customs with the tags on it.

neon_glows

cud u not pretend you had the laptop going out there with you in the first place

Ruu_Old

Well i would remove all tags and so on from it, dont worry about the plug..you can just get a european one to replace that..in any computer shop and off you go.

Tom Dunne

CompUSA, Best Buy or Office Depot - all of them have websites, so do your research before you buy.

One thing to watch out for, and this really pissed me off, was that they would display the price after rebate. You go to the checkout and pay full whack, which is usually displayed in small writing beside the rebate price. So when you go to the checkout, you think you are paying more.

Customs isn't a problem - one time I came thorugh with two laptops, one for the job, one I had just purchased.

Noelie

Two things for bringing it back, bring the european lead to the states with you, have the Euro lead connected to the laptop coming through customs that might fool them.

More importantly keep the reciept handy. if they decide it's new they will charge you VAT, without a reciept to prove purchase price they will charge VAT on the Irish RRP. if your going to get stung atleast this way it won't be as much

Ruu_Old

tom dunne wrote:

CompUSA, Best Buy or Office Depot - all of them have websites, so do your research before you buy.

One thing to watch out for, and this really pissed me off, was that they would display the price after rebate. You go to the checkout and pay full whack, which is usually displayed in small writing beside the rebate price. So when you go to the checkout, you think you are paying more.

Customs isn't a problem - one time I came thorugh with two laptops, one for the job, one I had just purchased.

Aye and you will probably have to have a US address to receive the rebate in the mail, which takes anywhere from 4-8 weeks normally

neacy69

i bought my laptop when i was in the states on a J1 Visa and took it home no problems. I found dell to be the cheapest as most of the stores all have (as pointed out above) mail-in rebates which would be no good to you. Try comp CompUSA and Circuit City, bestbuy usually the best deals anyway.
In regards just get rid of all the crap (tags and labels) and tell your friend to let on that he took it over with him.
The only problem i had with running it over here was that dell wanted €40 for the european mains adapter but i just use a us-eu adapter and it works fine as the voltage in the mains box is universal

Stephen

And if you really want to keep the manuals and stuff, post them to yourself

zuma

The only little snag would be the "slight" difference in the keyboard layout.

Also the warranty may not be valid over her....depends on maker I would guess!

Other than that go for it as there is no way you could be found out at customs!!!

conzy

Just, take it out of the original packaging, and bury it in some clothes in your suitcase, customs, dont check your Suitcases do they? only hand luggage?

Stephen

All of your checked in luggage is (supposed to be) screened via xray and the like. If they see something interesting they may pull you aside. I would think its pretty rare for someone to not carry something as valuable as a laptop onto the plane themselves.

omahony99

I went with this one...
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Acer-Aspire-Notebook-PC-1642WLMi-/sem/rpsm/oid/143083/catOid/-12963/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do
Its got a 120Gb HD and 1GB Ram. It costs $999 and works fine in Ireland when I bought a clover-leaf mains lead for €5.
For me It actually cost $1099 and I'm due $100 back via rebate which I reckon I've only a 50:50 chance of getting.
The battery isn't great (2 hours) but I can always upgrade that if I want.
Your friend should remove it from its packaging but keep the barcode from the packaging fro claiming back the rebate.

axer

omahony99 wrote:

I went with this one...
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Acer-Aspire-Notebook-PC-1642WLMi-/sem/rpsm/oid/143083/catOid/-12963/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do
Its got a 120Gb HD and 1GB Ram. It costs $999 and works fine in Ireland when I bought a clover-leaf mains lead for €5.
For me It actually cost $1099 and I'm due $100 back via rebate which I reckon I've only a 50:50 chance of getting.
The battery isn't great (2 hours) but I can always upgrade that if I want.
Your friend should remove it from its packaging but keep the barcode from the packaging fro claiming back the rebate.

Wow, those are nice specs, but 2 hours!???? Is it really only 2 hours? I would get that one if it wasn't for the battery life. I am looking at this one but there are only limited quantities lleft in store.

Judt

Don't get too walloped on customs. For all they know even with the keyboard you could have bought it previously from the states and paid tax on it. Just have the European lead and forget about it - we're not Canada when it comes to customs