Job Discussion Forums

level · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 34

This may not be the right place to ask but I really don't know where else to try.

I'm moving to China soon and I'm bringing my laptop. I need to get it insured as I can't afford the �2.5k to replace it if it gets stolen. Can I get insurance in China (i.e. from a Chinese company) or is there a UK company that will insure me?

Many thanks

Chris_Crossley

You don't have to expend 2,500 quid on a new one in China. At current exchange rates, that amount of sterling equates to about 36,400 RMB - and there is no way in the world that lap-tops in China will cost anywhere near that much, considering that most of us TEFLers in China earn anything in the range 4,000 to 10,000 RMB per month!

In my opinion, the best thing would be for you just to store your lap-top back home and buy a new one here in China. I'm sure that there must be fellow posters who have done the same, but I'm not actually one of them, since I have never had my own lap-top.

Mideatoo

voodikon · Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1363 Location: chengdu

hmm. has anybody purchased a laptop in china? i think i'm going to break down and buy one after i move, but i'm wondering now if it's not better to just get a desktop. i was thinking if i'm buying a computer i might as well buy one i can take home with me, but what with the power conversion and adaptation and all, it'd probably be simpler and cheaper to buy a desktop and not take it home.

input? advice? also as to ordering online vs. buying in a store; new vs. secondhand; and so forth.

i'm not needing it for anything fancy, by the way, just word processing and internet.

Don McChesney · Joined: 25 Jun 2005 Posts: 656

If you buy a laptop in China, just make sure that the platform for Windows or whatever is in ENGLISH.
There is nothing quite as annoying as having all the pulldown box things all in Chinese, and of course the pop-up messages telling you about problems are unintelligble.

I have a supplied computer, and tried to load an English Windows XP onto it. but it couldn't be connected to the Internet for some reason.
However, , if you learn Chinese, and God forbid, want to go on QQ, you will certainly have some problems with the Imported programme. Have fun anyway.

Babala · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1303 Location: Henan

Here's another idea. If you get on well with your school, get them to purchase it for you (you pay of course) but schools normally get a good discount so it would make the price even cheaper. A teacher at my school did it this way and he got a great deal.

bubblebubble · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:26 pm Post subject:

if you live close to shengzhen... try to cross the boarder and go to hong kong and get one there. you can find any brand you want here.

virago · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:31 pm Post subject:

Bought a Dell laptop when I first came to China for around 12,000. Now they are alot cheaper. I have literally dropped it on cement and it still works. Wink

I like the idea of buying through the school/company.

level · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 34

Thanks for all the suggestions but I will be bringing my laptop. Does anyone know anything about insuring items in China using a Chinese insurance company?

shenyanggerry · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 619 Location: Canada

What kind of laptop do you have that's worth 2500 pounds? I just bought a new one for around $1600 Cdn. That's less than 700 pounds. I have all the bells and whistles I know of plus a few new ones.

Keath · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:14 am Post subject:

Try this insurance..

https://www.travelex-insurance.com/Consumer/Welcome.htmx?location=07-0018

YearOfTheDog · Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2005 5:57 pm Post subject:

On the note of buying a laptop...

I bought a Dell 700m. 60 GB, 512 RAM, DVD/CD Burner, WiFi, SD memory slot (great for my digital camera), also i recieved the 8 cell battery for no extra charge, and an English windows for 10600 RMB I saved over 700$ dollars CDN. When you convert it.

The thing about China that I find is, it is incredible easy to save crap loads of RMB, especially when you live in the Gobi and get paid tons with no where to spend it.