Travel Technology - Buying Notebooks Overseas

I'm in the process of upgrading to a new notebook and I'm considering all optoins on order to keep my cash outlay down as much as possible while still getting all the features I need. I'm looking for a mid-range machine as a complement to my desktop, light yet not lacking an optical drive, with a small screen that is still very easy to read text from. My leading contender is the IBM ThinkPad T40.

I've already looked at buying this machine in the USA to avoid Canadian sales tax (which of course I would pay upon importing it home ;) ), but the ground given up by the CAD vis-a-vis the USD exchange makes this less of a sweet deal than it was a few months ago.

I have heard that computer makers price their products more agressively in Asia due to higher competition, reduced transport costs, and lower per-capita incomes. However, I find it hard to believe that sales incentives there are as competitive as they are in North America's still-moribund computer market. For instance, IBM will throw in 3x the RAM and an extra battery on the model I'm looking at.

The two countries that keep coming up in conversations I have with people are Korea and Taiwan, two places I've never been. I have shopped for electronics in other more affluent parts of Asia and have never been excited by the prices. Can anyone tell me if they think shopping over there will be beneficial? Additionally, should warranty issues be a concern?

Any info appreciated.

Just be sure to spring for an international warantee if you get it from another country. The last thing you want is a keyboard replacement or something and be told sorry, the warantee was only good for the country you bought it in. Most manfg's offer international coverage for a few dollars more.

I've bought quite a lot of laptops overseas but mainly devices not available where I was, price differences on the major brands are really not all that great, especially with the weak USD. You also have the problem of often non-US software or international versions, non-US keyboard, non-US modems, non-US compliant WiFi etc...

For the small difference it's really not worth the hassle.

If you do buy one overseas make sure you make it look used and chuck away the box and manuals or Customs might want some $$$$ off you ;)

For brand name there is generally no cheaper place than the US. In Korea there are no deals whatsoever and you'll be paying 20% more for anything electronic you buy, especially laptops. In Taiwan you can get good deals on no name stuff that very well could be the OEM version of what you are looking for. Most probably it is not worth the hassle though due to the reasons Scott outlines.

If anything, the US price with the rise of DCN against USD should be better for you these days, making your US buy even better than before.

Overseas, you may find yourself paying extra for a US/Cdn version of the operaitng system, etc. - and then find out you have a very different keyboard. And others have mentioned the warranty - that is a big deal, if nobody will touch your machine in North America if it packs it in.

Whoops, it looks as if you unpacked it, put it in a used case and forgot to delcare it... :cool:

I suggest you wait a little and look at the T42p thats supposed to come out sometime soon... ^

After much surfing I have found that the US is the best for pricing.

Check out price comparison sites.

I suggest you wait a little and look at the T42p thats supposed to come out sometime soon... ^

Yeah, like after all your IBM horror stories a NEW IBM would be a good buy? :D

Yeah, like after all your IBM horror stories a NEW IBM would be a good buy? :D

I have had 4 IBM Thinkpads in 6 years. All of them seem to be built to have a 1.5 to 2 year life span before they die on my completely or have a serious failing.

IBM and HP laptops ... no more for me! ;)

Love my new T41. Junked a crap Toshiba and the new one's great, 3 year depot level warranty on everything, even if a moron reclines too quick & cracks the screen (which actually happened on a flight once...). Try www.newegg.com for pricing, they were pretty good when I was shopping. The other issue I thought of regarding you buying a laptop overseas is the "coding" on DVD's...would an Asian market DVD/CD player recognize Region 1 DVD's? Not worth it IMHO.

Love my new T41. Junked a crap Toshiba and the new one's great, 3 year depot level warranty on everything, even if a moron reclines too quick & cracks the screen (which actually happened on a flight once...). Try www.newegg.com for pricing, they were pretty good when I was shopping. The other issue I thought of regarding you buying a laptop overseas is the "coding" on DVD's...would an Asian market DVD/CD player recognize Region 1 DVD's? Not worth it IMHO.

Most, if not ALL drives can be flashed or made region free with one of the many software solutions.