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Bylkun
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 10
Location: New York
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 Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2003 3:34 pm Post subject: Bringing Electronics to Japan |
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Hello everyone!
I have been hired by NOVA and will be moving to Japan in September. I bought a new desktop PC a few months ago and was wondering if I should bother shipping it to Japan. Will I be able to use it over there? Also, I might bring my PS2. I know that Japanese DVD's will not be compatible with it, but i would like to bring it along with some of my DVD's from home. Does anyone see a problem with me doing this? Will they be compatible with the outlets in Japan?
Just a simple, possibly dumb question... but i don't know the answer 
Thanks. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2003 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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I would highly discourage you from shipping a desktop computer plus monitor to Japan. Shipping costs would be high, and the risk of sustaining damage in transit is too high. Laptops are better.
Besides, laptops have built-in power converters.
As to your question on compatibility with Japanese outlets, where are you from anyway? Japan's electrical outlets are identical to the ones in the USA (without 3-pronged plugs). |
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Bylkun
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 10
Location: New York
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| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2003 1:27 am Post subject: |
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I am from the U.S., sorry i forgot to tell you that. 
I must assume that I would be better off purchasing a laptop while in Japan, instead of getting one here then shipping it. |
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lajzar
Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Posts: 647
Location: Saitama-ken, Japan
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| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2003 3:41 am Post subject: |
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With laptops, teh jury is out. I hve no idea on the price issue. I paid 170,000 for a mid-high end laptop last year (1 ghz cpu, 30 gb hdd). I dont know how that compares to prices in the usa. However, finding an English language OS outside Tokyo in japan is a non-trivial task. If teh language interface is an issue, buy before you come. If the airline weight allowance is an issue, buy after you come.
Just dont try shipping a desktop. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2003 5:39 am Post subject: |
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| I must assume that I would be better off purchasing a laptop while in Japan, instead of getting one here then shipping it. |
Prices are about the same, but it isn't all that easy to get English OS on such in Japan. Yes, it can be done, but where are you planning on buying it? Will the clerk speak enough English to give you all the bells and whistles you want? Or an English manual? Or a service contract good for outside Japan (most don't, as far as I know).
I bought one with a Japanese OS, but that was because my wife is Japanese, and it suits both of us better than just me. The real stigma is that I have to get used to a Japanese keyboard, and all the menus in Japanese (even though I can type Excel and Word and AOL messages in English). Got an error message in Japanese, and just try to read it. Oh, and even if it has AOL, all of the menus and helps are in Japanese. You cannot install the English version of AOL on a Japanese OS.
I addressed this issue a short time ago. Search through the posts. |
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