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bc2rlh
Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Posts: 17 Location: UK
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 9:24 am Post subject: Laptop - Where to Buy? |
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Good Morning,
I am hoping to move to Japan by the end of the year and am looking into buying a laptop. But here's the question, where is the best place to buy one?
Currently I am in the UK but am going to Canada in June so have the opportunity to buy one there. Or should I simply wait until I go to Japan to get one.
Ideally I'd like to get one before leaving so that I can put my information on but it wouldn't be a hassle to put it all on a portable hard drive and take over.
Any advise would be brilliant!
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Gordon

Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 11:39 am Post subject: |
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Don't know what computer prices are like in the UK, but Canada is a good place to get a computer, much better than Japan. Check out www.futureshop.ca to get an idea of prices. |
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Glenski

Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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You'll pay more for an English OS in Japan, and if you buy one here, you will have to face a slightly different keyboard arrangement, plus a warranty that is no good outside of the country. Not all computers come with a manual in English, either, and any dealings for service or sales will likely have to be done largely in Japanese. |
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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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Glenski wrote: |
You'll pay more for an English OS in Japan, and if you buy one here, you will have to face a slightly different keyboard arrangement, plus a warranty that is no good outside of the country. Not all computers come with a manual in English, either, and any dealings for service or sales will likely have to be done largely in Japanese. |
I believe Compaq and Gateway sell laptops here in Japan in English. However they do not have all the extra OEM software that you can get if you buy a comp in Canada etc.
I dunno if there are any Best Buy stores in Canada but if so, they'd be a good place to get one. |
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SEndrigo
Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437
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Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 12:08 am Post subject: |
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There are some tremendous deals to be had here in Japan as well....
for example, I bought my Toshiba laptop at Sofmap (a huge electronics store) last year, when it was just a few months old (yes it was used but in absolutely pristine condition) for about 105,000 yen....not a bad deal at all !!!
of course, I already had an English Windows XP CD so I didnt' have to spend extra money on that |
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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367
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Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 3:52 am Post subject: |
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SEndrigo wrote: |
There are some tremendous deals to be had here in Japan as well....
for example, I bought my Toshiba laptop at Sofmap (a huge electronics store) last year, when it was just a few months old (yes it was used but in absolutely pristine condition) for about 105,000 yen....not a bad deal at all !!!
of course, I already had an English Windows XP CD so I didnt' have to spend extra money on that |
Yes but was it with a standard Japanese/qwerty keyboard with a lil sliver of a space bar? The OP may not want to have to deal with the confusion of such a keyboard and want to have a laptop that is soley English. |
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lajzar
Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan
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Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 10:34 am Post subject: |
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www.primepc.jp will give you an idea of prices in Japan. They can even sell you the machine with English OS and keyboard. |
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SEndrigo
Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 12:14 am Post subject: |
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bearcat wrote: |
SEndrigo wrote: |
There are some tremendous deals to be had here in Japan as well....
for example, I bought my Toshiba laptop at Sofmap (a huge electronics store) last year, when it was just a few months old (yes it was used but in absolutely pristine condition) for about 105,000 yen....not a bad deal at all !!!
of course, I already had an English Windows XP CD so I didnt' have to spend extra money on that |
Yes but was it with a standard Japanese/qwerty keyboard with a lil sliver of a space bar? The OP may not want to have to deal with the confusion of such a keyboard and want to have a laptop that is soley English. |
Actually I havent had any problems using the keyboard...it seems to me, to be a standard keyboard and a standard space bar.
The only thing I didnt like was the touchpad so I bought a mouse for it....
other than that it works like a charm! |
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