The Student Room Group

Buying a Laptop in USA for use in UK?

Well my laptop has died a death and so I am on the look out for a new one. Not really looking for advice on model etc but I will include answers to the questions on the advice thread just in case it helps anyone.

1. What's your budget?
Between £500- 600
2. What are you going to use it for?
Mostly office, internet, music/dvds general light use, but I like to do more than one thing at once.
3. Are you going to game with it, if so what games?
I will play games but not really high spec gamer games. good graphics would be nice but not my no 1 priority.
4. What warranty?
As long as possible
5. What companies do you want?
Not fussed but I am prepared to pay extra for a name if it has a reputation for good customer service/aftercare etc
6. Any special software (e.g. CAD for engineering)
No
7. AMD or Intel? etc....etc....
Dont know that much about the detail but basically just want to get the best spec i can for my money (dosent everyone)


Anyway now thats out of the way my real question is this. I am going to the states in a couple of months and I want to know if it is worth waiting until then and buying a laptop while i am over there? Obviously the £/$ rate etc makes it seem like it would be a good deal BUT

Will I actually get more for my money in the USA?
Will I have compatability problems when I get back?
Will my warrenty still be valid and will I still be able to access helplines etc?
Can you think of anyother issues I might have that I have overlooked?

Thanks
Yes,
benefit from the misfortunes of the Americans. It's the least you can do as a non-American.
If you but in in america you wont be able to watch British films on it unless you make sure its a region free dvd player.
Also (not 100% sure) i think the warranty will only be valid in US so if anything does go wrong you have to send it back there! If you want to do m,ore than one thing at a time "Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor" is best. Most come with that as standard now anyway.
Reply 3
You'll need a plug adapter for starters. And unless you're buying from a company that exists over here as well, you wont be able to access any helplines or anything unless you phone them in the US, which will obviously cost a bomb.
Reply 4
Well you will get more for your money up to a point...when you ship goods over from the states you have to pay import tax of something like 25% of the value of the package, so that could screw you over, however if you are planning on going to the states and bringing a laptop back with you, that would mean you definately get more for your money. Compatability problems should be non existant as long as the power transformer that comes with it is 100-240V compatible (which most are). Helplines however I doubt you would be able to use but your warranty should still be valid, you could always say you moved country or something.

Btw in response to Q7: Go for Intel, AMDs current line of processors are IMO in the crapper in comparison to Intels offerings (and no I'm not trying to start a fanboy fight, I was an AMD fan until Intel brought out Core 2 Duo)
Reply 5
Remember the trivial stuff as well, like an american keyboard... and american spellings... ie. Half the letters missing. Donut anyone?
Reply 6
Remember the trivial stuff as well, like an american keyboard... and american spellings... ie. Half the letters missing. Donut anyone?


I would never have thought of that!

Thanks for your responses everyone,

Can anyone think of anything else?
Reply 7
there arnt any letters missing on the key boards tho! and you can change the spell checker it uk like you can change ours to us the only difference is that the @ and the " are the other way round and I think some of the !"£$%^&*()_+ are different order etc
Reply 8
Gaylei
there arnt any letters missing on the key boards tho! and you can change the spell checker it uk like you can change ours to us the only difference is that the @ and the " are the other way round and I think some of the !"£$%^&*()_+ are different order etc

Nah, there's more differences than that.

Plus there are issues with power supply differences. We're on 240v, can't remember what America is on, but it's a lot less. Some machines will come with a switch, but make sure it's not on the American setting, or you'll blow the thing up.
Reply 9
SillyFencer
Nah, there's more differences than that.

Plus there are issues with power supply differences. We're on 240v, can't remember what America is on, but it's a lot less. Some machines will come with a switch, but make sure it's not on the American setting, or you'll blow the thing up.

really?

dont they have the standard QWERTY?
Reply 10
Gaylei
really?

dont they have the standard QWERTY?

I think the qwerty part is about the only similarity. Been a while since I've used an American keyboard, but there are quite a few things different, can't remember what now though. lol.
Reply 11
I did exactly that, and had no problems with warranty, keyboards or anything else.

Go to best buy and they're very help ful!
Reply 12
There are quite a few variations available of the QWERTY keyboard. Check the Wiki for more details if you want them.
Reply 13
There's a lot of misinformation in this thread.

Firstly, if you get an American laptop, it will run over here, but you will have to use a plug adaptor/change the plug to a UK type. You will not need a transformer to change the voltage. It will operate between 100-240V, so be suitable for both the UK and America, and anywhere else in the world.

Secondly, there are minor differences in the keyboard. These keys may be in different places: " @ ' ~ ` ± § | \. While there is variation on this, it's something you'll easily adapt to. You will also be able to change the dictionary to English (UK).

Thirdly, check if the company has international warrenties/phone helplines. This is possibly the most problematic (other than the different plug type).
Reply 14
KPeh
There's a lot of misinformation in this thread.

Firstly, if you get an American laptop, it will run over here, but you will have to use a plug adaptor/change the plug to a UK type. You will not need a transformer to change the voltage. It will operate between 100-240V, so be suitable for both the UK and America, and anywhere else in the world.

Secondly, there are minor differences in the keyboard. These keys may be in different places: " @ ' ~ ` ± § | \. While there is variation on this, it's something you'll easily adapt to. You will also be able to change the dictionary to English (UK).

Thirdly, check if the company has international warrenties/phone helplines. This is possibly the most problematic (other than the different plug type).

Not really a lot of miss information but some. but everyone likes to help.
Reply 15
Gaylei
Not really a lot of miss information but some. but everyone likes to help.


Heh yes, yours was fine :tongue:.

It's just that if you don't know much about computers, you can get confused between what different people are telling you. So, in retrospect it was worth saying!
Reply 16
KPeh
Heh yes, yours was fine :tongue:.

It's just that if you don't know much about computers, you can get confused between what different people are telling you. So, in retrospect it was worth saying!

your right and your advice was great!:tsr2:
Reply 17
Don't mind if I do.What color is the icing? That'll definitely affect the flavor?
On UK keyboards you can’t spell dentist.