Job Discussion Forums

[Vanica]

Is it best to buy a laptop and cellular phone in the US before going abroad? Which would be recommended for basic use (no frills)?

[tedkarma]

[coffeedrinker]

I'd just add that your US phone probably won't work abroad - I think you need a tri-band US phone? and those tend to be much more expensive. In contrast, phones from other regions won't work in the US but may well work in a number of other countries. I have a phone from 2002 bought in eastern Europe (unlocked) for less than $100 which I have used with new sim cards (maybe averaging $10 each?) in three additional countries in Europe and also in India.

Buying a computer in the country where you'll be using it will also facilitate getting it fixed if there are problems.

[ls650]

The cell phone is unlikely to work in most other countries, and in other countries handphones tend to be fairly easy to obtain.

The laptop is a different matter. My observation is that North America has lower prices for laptops than many other areas. I'd recommend that you buy a well-known brand name that has good support in your target country. Also, check into the voltage standards for your target country, as you may well have to buy a new power supply to handle the different currents.

[nickpellatt]

I wouldnt buy a laptop in China....many of my peers have, and I didnt think they were especially cheap....plus they have had software problems, simply as all the programs installed are copies or bootlegs.

I bought a basic Dell laptop before I travelled, with pre installed genuine software, which was �299. Similar entry level laptops here in Hainan Province run out at similar prices.

Simply not worth it IMO....Although buying locally may, in theory, mean problems are easily sorted....I wouldnt really believe that to be the case in China. depending upon your location you may not have an authorised service point nearby...and waiting for a laptop to be sent away, repaired and then returned......hmmmmm

[Vanica]

Thanks for all your replies and suggestions. To answer probably the first question, we are probably going to visit several countries before settling down. I am tired of buying cell phones everywhere and not having a computer.

Since we are in the US for a short time, I thought that prices were supposed to be good here. I found a Tiger Direct outlet (refurbished computers) but you need to know what you want, for the most part. I am not partial to laptops because of the discomfort and the likelihood of repairs, so I would definitely buy a desktop at the final destination. Right now, I am paying a really high price for an apartment in a building with a computer room, and I wish I simply had my own.

About the cell phone, in Canada I never found an unlocked or a person who could unlock. There was one guy who took the numbers off discarded phones, but that it not unlocking. In New York, no one could unlock my Fido, but then in North Carolina, I found someone right away (it took an hour on the computer).

[Sgt Killjoy]

If I was buying a phone, I'd buy a Quad Band Motorola. Doubt you could get it very cheap in the US without a contract. Before I left Thailand, I bought it for about $100. It will work anywhere in the world that uses GSM.

About the laptop, buy it in the states. The quality is going to be better. It seems like they send the better quality stuff to the states and send the junk parts to parts of Asia. Just make sure the laptop has an international warranty. I've had good luck with HP and maybe Acer is a good choice as well.

Don't worry about the extra software, sure you get extra stuff, but it's illegal software. Who wants an illegal OS that can't be updated?

[Jetgirly]

Go to the most ghetto part of town and buy a stolen cell phone for ten bucks. Maybe you'll get lucky and you'll get my old cell phone! I'm so weary of buying phones in Europe after two experiences in which I was told the phone I was purchasing wasn't locked, and then it turned out that it was. I trust the guy who robbed me just as much as I trust the people at FNAC and/or the Vodafone store.

[tedkarma]

[Vanica]

But someone may sell a used cell phone. I almost sold the Fido-locked Ericsson to a father whose baby boy had tossed his in the toilet.

I'll check on the Motorola quad band. Maybe I'll see an ad.

And now for an HP or Acer laptop. I guess a new one is best. Anything to know for international adaptation?

[Atassi]

All laptops nowadays should work with any voltage, and simple adapter plugs can be found anywhere.

[naturegirl321]

I think it's best to buy a cell phone where you're going to live. However, laptops might be cheaper in some places that others. For example, in Peru they're twice as expensive than those in USA; Canada or the UK.

[Vanica]

Okay, I found some options at a discount retailer here in US:

Acer Aspire laptop w/Intel Pentium, 1.6 GHz, 512 MB DDR2, 80GB HDD, 14" screen, Windows Vista Home Basic, new 600USD

Gateway, AMD Turion processor laptop, 2.0 GHz, 1 GB DDR2, 80 GB HDD, 14", Windows XP Media Center, refurbished 520 USD

Is Acer better than Gateway? Is refurbished not a good idea? Is it worth it to get the Acer because it is new, even though it is more expensive, has half the memory, but a more recent processor and system? How are these prices?

Microsoft Office Student is 150usd and Computer Associates Virus protection is 80usd.

In store, the Gateway felt better to my fingers, but that may have something to do with the store models (the Gateway had just come in).

Those were the two cheapest laptops I found. Personally, I know I don't need much memory because my old IBM desktop only had a few hundred MB, and running Windows XP pro I still had half the memory unused.

[Atassi]

[Vanica]