Buying a laptop in the States.

shoutman

Hey
I'm heading over to the U.S. in June and just wondering with the exchange rate as it is at the moment will it be worth my wait to purchase a laptop over there?

Budget Circa €1000, realistically the cheaper the better.

Intended use College work, word processing, browsing the net. Poker (good internet connection is essential for this), multi tasking ie. browsing and football manager running with no problems at the same time. (is at least a dual core processer essential for this)?
I was planning on buying a desktop when I got home from the states in August for my house, but obviously if I get a decent laptop I can just hook it up to my External monitor.
Mobility isnt too much of a concern for the laptop but as with anything the lighter the better, at the same time not sure if I want to have a 13" screen.

Warranty Obviously if I am buying in the states a warranty could be difficult, it is not essential but with anything it would be an advantage to have a decent warranty.

Thanks in advance for any advice offered.

popinfresh101

let me just say one thing when you buy it over there take it out off the box and buy a laptop bag and just bring it home as a carry on that way it looks like you did not buy it over there and wont get stoped for import tax etc

As for 1000 in the states you will get a sweet laptop over there for that kind off cash

Nforce

Also, remember that it will have a US style keypad....might pick up a UK/Irish one on Ebay though?

bren2002

Don't do it. Laptops are too delicate and if you have any problems getting hardware support over here is going to be a nightmare.

What you've said you need the PC for can be bought over here for less than €750.

Overheal

Popinfresh: indeed. Though I dont know anyone who wouldn't: frankly I cant fly anymore unless I get to play video games now

The exchange rate: is a joke. Its giving me a lot of problems; but it should solve a lot of yours. You should be able to get a great laptop for 1k. No need to really wait just start searching the .coms and build a lappy you like.

Internation Hardware and Warranty support: surprise shocker - Anyone of the Big 5 that supports laptops here in Ireland (like Dell) will have no hiccups about supporting the laptop bought in USA. Laptops are designed to be used anywhere in the world (even the power cable will accept any voltage between 100-240V - all you need is a cheap socket converter) : if you have a problem anywhere you are directed to their nearest service centre. So for Ireland Dell would be one of the best choices for service. I've had some issues with HP because its UK based but if I had a crippling error its still worthwhile to have them there.

The Keyboard: **** off. We do it better. However I believe some manufacturers will leave options for additional requests and such: you can ask for a UK keyset - they may or may not oblige if its available to them. Some will even supply the DVORAK keyset: which replaces the QWERTY which is as old as typewriting; if you're a typist, you will want it. I still use the latter. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout For the sake of functionality at the very least try and request a US International Keyset.

Bren: laptops arent all that delicate. They are built for their purpose and can put up with day to day rigors no hassle. Just dont go kicking it or anything when youre mad at it

shoutman

Thanks for the advice, I think I'll look into getting one off an american site. Anyone have reccomendations on a reputable supplier who will ship to Ireland?

I was thinking maybe a dell XPS M1710 or a MPS 1330 if I could get either of the top end versions of these for 1k I'd be happy.

Tom Dunne

A lot of misinformation being posted here.

Firstly, I have have purchased a laptop in the US and brought it back. Secondly, I have also passed through Irish customs with two laptops - one work, one personal.

With that in mind.....

popinfresh101 wrote: »

let me just say one thing when you buy it over there take it out off the box and buy a laptop bag and just bring it home as a carry on that way it looks like you did not buy it over there and wont get stoped for import tax etc

As I have said numerous times on this forum, the airport customs/tax is a myth. If you arrive with several laptops, all in the boxes, maybe. If you arrive with one laptop in a bag, they are not going to stop you. See below for where it is applicable.

bren2002 wrote: »

Don't do it. Laptops are too delicate and if you have any problems getting hardware support over here is going to be a nightmare.

Rubbish. The vast majority of laptops come with an international warranty. A lot of places have regional support centers. It would be no different to returning a laptop to the likes of Dell or Acer.

shoutman wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, I think I'll look into getting one off an american site. Anyone have reccomendations on a reputable supplier who will ship to Ireland?

Now this is where you will run into trouble.

Customs will stop a package coming through the postal/courier service and add on 21% VAT plus import duty, so it may actually work out more expensive than if you were to buy from within the EU.

And the first person to mention "mark it as a gift" will get an unmerciful virtual slap from me. It's yet another myth. I was reading in one of the Sunday papers how the number of parcels from the US stopped by customs has increased by 50% in the fist three months of this year. Go figure.

gsxr1

tip for those buying onlinefrom the states and getting it posted as opposed to Carrier i.e. UPS.
If you use UPS you will be taxed at your door


you need to have a mate in the North Of Ireland.

example.

11 dunwood park,
Lisburn,
Ireland. sample address

The package will be sent to dublin because it is stated Ireland, not N. Ireland.

The guys in the dublin sorting offices put it in a train to Belfast. Skipping customs.

then it is posted to you from there.

your have just saved 21% percent tax.

shoutman

So just get one over there or possibly look for one in the UK?

Would there be savings to be had if I was to just walk into your american PC world equivalent? Any suggestions on laptops?

Overheal

Suggestion: dell. because they have their service centre right here in Ireland.

Youre going over in June. Why the hell would you want to ship a laptop back to Ireland instad of carry it with you? Im confused. Its only 6 weeks. ffs.

Getting one in a best Buy or a Circuit City: Maybe. but dont do it. Just dont. Places like PC World and Best Buy take a machine out of its box, and they turn it on for the first time and they get windows to the desktop. For that small service they justify adding about $150 to the price tag of any machine. Not to mention whatever other crap they wanna slap into the machine to jack the price. No, you are better to order off the Dell.com website and have it shipped to your address in the United States.

Also if you buy from PC World or Best Buy (im not 100%) but you will probably have your warranty through them, not the OEM. Not advisable at all either way.

Tom Dunne

gsxr1 wrote: »

tip for those buying onlinefrom the states and getting it posted as opposed to Carrier i.e. UPS.
If you use UPS you will be taxed at your door


you need to have a mate in the North Of Ireland.

example.

11 dunwood park,
Lisburn,
Ireland. sample address

The package will be sent to dublin because it is stated Ireland, not N. Ireland.

The guys in the dublin sorting offices put it in a train to Belfast. Skipping customs.

then it is posted to you from there.

your have just saved 21% percent tax.

I've heard it all now. I'm not even going to bother. :rolleyes:

Overheal wrote: »

Getting one in a best Buy or a Circuit City: Maybe. but dont do it. Just dont. Places like PC World and Best Buy take a machine out of its box, and they turn it on for the first time and they get windows to the desktop. For that small service they justify adding about $150 to the price tag of any machine. Not to mention whatever other crap they wanna slap into the machine to jack the price. No, you are better to order off the Dell.com website and have it shipped to your address in the United States.

Also if you buy from PC World or Best Buy (im not 100%) but you will probably have your warranty through them, not the OEM. Not advisable at all either way.

Some people are willing to pay that little bit extra for the piece of mind of seeing something tangible before they part with their cash. I still maintain with the strength of the Euro against the dollar, it might just be worth purchasing in a shop if the Dell.com website isn't an option.

Overheal

only if the website isnt an option. for example it usually takes just anywhere from 2 days to a little over a week for items to be received from online orders in the states ( i made a lot of them over the summer including my laptop ). But if you have that much time over the summer at a fixed US address (say 3 weeks for safety sake) go with the online option.