Sony Clie in Japan?
 

Should I expect a Sony Clie to cost less in Japan? I know there are downsides to buying a computer there. How about a hand-held?

I'm going to be in Yokohama (not Tokyo). Are there tech discounters there too?

Sylvia

The relatively few electronics discounters in Yokohama are concentrated in the one-way shopping street leaving diagonally from the back of the station past Takashimaya (2 o'clock from the tracks, going away from Tokyo), past the little bridge. Follow the signs for the Sotetsu line and you will be near the right exit.
Their prices are no worse than Shinjuku, but they only have new models, not the heavily discounted discontinued ones found in the back streets of Akihabara.
The Softmap store on the top floor of the department store just past the bridge probably has the widest selection (FYI there is a nicely stocked Softmap in one of the Kyoto station department stores too, best accessed by its entrance halfway through the underground walkway to Higashi Honganji).


I have however not closely checked PDA prices or specs in Japan. Given that their OS is probably on a space-limited ROM chip, I doubt they would be fully bilingual.

Whilst in Yokohama, take the train up to Akihabara and see why Electric Town is thus named. The Duty Free floors at LAOX in Akihabara will have English language versions of nearly anything you might want. Please be aware however that although the language of operation is English, the warranties are often valid only in Japan.

Cheaper? Probably, given the exchange rate. Safer? Doubt it with the warranty risk. Best place to purchase? Probably in the area where you will spend most of your time using it. That cost of the extra peace of mind if it needs repair work may in retrospect be a cheaper option.

Mike

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Geez... Thanks Mike, you just made 90% of my past purchases sound stupid http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif