Bringing laptop to America

dbnavan

Hi guys, Have a Dell laptop and going to America for a couple of weeks. I need to know do I need to buy a transformer or what way does it work..surely this is done all the time.

lazygit

your laptop will convert automaticlally, you just need an adaptor for your plug.
check the power supply of your laptop it should say something line 110-240 volts

Hobbes

yea all laptops are smart switching. Just need the cable. Just check the back of the power supply to be sure.

Just be aware that new US customs rules allow customs to take a copy of your hard drive or rummage around the contents (including deleted files).

Tom Dunne

Hobbes wrote:

Just be aware that new US customs rules allow customs to take a copy of your hard drive or rummage around the contents (including deleted files).

:eek: WTF? Since when was this implemented?

Not that I have anything I want to hide, but they are going from bad to worse. Time to break out PGP, methinks.

Anyway, to OP, all you need is a plug convertor - you can buy them at the airport or most electrical shops. One word of advice - buy them here before you go to the US. I was met with blank stares in US electrical shops when asking about plug convertors.

Ponster

If you can't find them in town you'll always be able to pick them up at the airport or a branch of Radioshack in the US.

Hobbes

tom dunne wrote:

:eek: WTF? Since when was this implemented?

Not that I have anything I want to hide, but they are going from bad to worse. Time to break out PGP, methinks.

A few months ago. If you protect anything your required by law to give passwords to review the data. They don't even need a warrant. You act the prat at all they are allowed keep it.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/82561/can_us_customs_search_seize_your_laptop.html

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/24/business/laptop.php

lazygit

thats mad..

dbnavan

Thanks for the advice, laptop is work related only so nothing to hide