Laptop from United States

speedbird1

Is it worth buying a laptop or Mac in the US. Going to NY next week and could do with replacement for my desktop.
Are there problems with the guarantee or will one with a worldwide guarantee
be ok. I guess there also could be a problem with power supply/charger.
Any advice from the experts greatfully received.
Any suggestions as to a good model or either PC or Mac would be good.
Thanks

Tom Dunne

speedbird1 wrote: »

Is it worth buying a laptop or Mac in the US. Going to NY next week and could do with replacement for my desktop.
Are there problems with the guarantee or will one with a worldwide guarantee
be ok. I guess there also could be a problem with power supply/charger.
Any advice from the experts greatfully received.
Any suggestions as to a good model or either PC or Mac would be good.
Thanks

Please read the sticky titled "How to get help on this forum *** READ THIS FIRST ***".

We can't recommend a laptop until you give us more information.

Overheal

I cant speak for all companies but generally support is offered worldwide: you are simply directed to their nearest service center.

Power isnt an issue: The AC Adapter on all laptops are designed to take an input voltage of between 100-240 Volts, so will take power from any wall socket on the planet. Its a simple matter of a cheap $5 pin/plug converter.

speedbird1

Overheal wrote: »

I cant speak for all companies but generally support is offered worldwide: you are simply directed to their nearest service center.

Power isnt an issue: The AC Adapter on all laptops are designed to take an input voltage of between 100-240 Volts, so will take power from any wall socket on the planet. Its a simple matter of a cheap $5 pin/plug converter.

Ok I have red the appropriate section and here is the required data.
This would be intended as a replacement for a desk top and does not have to
be very portable. Would require at least 17" screen and used for internet/e-mail and photo/video editing. I would have a budget of up to €1200.
I am told the Mac is a great machine but since I have some software for editing videos and photos it seems a bit of a waste.
Thanks again

majiktripp

Getting a 17" + size laptop through customs in your baggage without raising an eyebrow would also be a bit of a task. Why bother getting a 17" laptop for €1200 when you could get a spanking desktop machine with probable 20"+ monitor (check out the Building & Upgrading Forum,24" monitor off dabs I think for €200!)
As for Mac Vs. Windows, its down to your taste at the end of the day really.

MarkR

majiktripp wrote: »

Getting a 17" + size laptop through customs in your baggage without raising an eyebrow would also be a bit of a task. Why bother getting a 17" laptop for €1200 when you could get a spanking desktop machine with probable 20"+ monitor (check out the Building & Upgrading Forum,24" monitor off dabs I think for €200!)
As for Mac Vs. Windows, its down to your taste at the end of the day really.

She could always do something crazy like take it out of the box and put it into a laptop bag?

Euro is very strong against the dollar, so buy the best you can afford from any of the large outlet places really. See about getting accessories like an external hard drive, or pen drives.

Tom Dunne

majiktripp wrote: »

Getting a 17" + size laptop through customs in your baggage without raising an eyebrow would also be a bit of a task.

The customs issue is a myth.

In all the years I have been travelling to and from the US, laptop in hand, they haven't batted an eye-lid. One time I even came through with two laptops - a personal laptop and a work laptop.

Overheal

Since when would they need to bat an eyelid anyway? I'm with Tom on this.

TSA specifies you are allowed 1 carry-on luggage and 1 personal item which can include most things from a purse to a laptop. If you had a laptop bag and a backpack housing another laptop they really cant stop you.

majiktripp

All right, all right! I think for the third time , I understand I may have been wrong about the customs thing, I just thought that someone carrying a 17" laptop on holiday might draw some attention. I brought a Mac Mini home myself from the States last year , in my backpack with no trouble but people behind me were asked to have their bags checked so dont ever assume that you'll get though with no problems.

Overheal

Oh no I totally fogot you WILL have serious isses: they may ask you to take your laptop out of your bag for the X-Ray scan :eek: /sarcasm

Everyone is subject to getting their bag checked wether its full of socks or C4. I've been spot checked several times. One of those times they thought my headphones were a bomb threat, for which i permitted myself to laugh aloud.

There are only 2 things to remember about carrying laptops: they have to be in their own container for scanning, and you cant store spare batteries in your carry-on items.

And as far as Customs goes: they would never slap tax on you for having a laptop.. :rolleyes: