Job Discussion Forums

wasabi13b · Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 6

Hi guys,

Just wondering form all the people over in Japan already, or people that have worked there, How neccessary is a notebook? And if so would you reccommend buying one from home and taking it with you, or buying one in Japan? I wouldn't want to spend more than $1500 AUstralian on one.

Thanks!

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Not really necessary at all... But that's like anything -- it's a luxury item in the grand scheme of things, as there are very few scenarios that would involve you being in a location that DIDN'T afford you daily (or near daily) access to a PC for the purposes of checking mail and whatnot...

But if you wish to have something at home, to download stuff, update your iPod, watch movies, whatever -- then yeah, having a laptop may be convenient. Personally, I have no less than 3 machines -- a desktop (at home) a laptop (at work) and my wife's laptop that gets lugged around to various locations.

Whether you choose to buy one before you arrive or after is purely your choice -- I can give you advantages and drawbacks of doing it either way. Individual circumstances vary. For myself, if I had to do it all over again -- I think I would PROBABLY take it with me from home -- but I could be convinced to do the opposite as well for a whole different set of reasons.

A laptop for under $1500 AUD is do-able in Japan, but not for a brand new one... (Uh.. Actually, let me re-phrase that. You CAN do it for under that price, but for me personally, it wouldn't likely have some of the features I'd want...) I paid 60,000 yen for mine but it was used -- it's a 2.7GHz, 60GB HD, DVD-RW, 512MB RAM, 15" display, WinXP Pro Hewlett Packard... Got it from a used PC dealer in Tokyo -- (answered a classified ad on Gaijinpot).

Anyhoo -- hope that helps. FWIW, I recently saw on DELL's website (U.S.) a number of entry-level laptops that looked fairly decent, all of which were under $1000 USD... That may be worth looking into as well. Don't know about Dell Japan. I don't know if you can get an English-OS PC from Dell Japan.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I would not recommend buying one in Japan unless you are quite familiar with Japanese. You can get English OS here, but it usually costs more and/or is a bit of a pain for the dealer to set up. Japanese keyboards are also a bit different, and the warranty on the computer is valid only within Japan.

Is a notebook PC necessary? That's an individual choice, as Jim has suggested. What do you think you'll "need" it for? Will you do lesson planning on it at home? Skype or MSN Messenger calls to friends and family? Email? Create and maintain a blog? Job hunt?

Khyron · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Tokyo Metro City

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

bornslippy1981 · Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 271

I came with a 98 Toshiba my uncle gave me before I left. The only things I used it for were transferring photos, and then moving those onto an external hard drive. It also had a wireless slot, so I would sometimes take it to a cafe when I didn't work. It was slow, outdated, but lasted me a year without problems.

I take a lot of photos, and I'm glad I did it this way, rather than use an Internet cafe to burn everything.

I did buy a new computer a few months ago, but it's from America. I got lucky because my parents were coming and were able to bring it over for me.

I know plenty of people without computers. Internet cafes are everywhere, and at city libraries there's often free Internet, but sometimes a time limit.

Like JimD said, it's a luxury item that you can go without. Just depends what you think you'll use it for.

Khyron · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Tokyo Metro City

emypie · Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:11 pm Post subject:

Well I would like to get a laptop too but am not sure what to do. I arrive in Tokyo in about a week but am first staying two days in Manhattan. I'd really like a Macbook and have been checking out the options. The Apple store in Ginza seems to have cheaper Macbooks than the Apple stores in New York. But I've heard it can be a hassle to get an English OS in Tokyo. So I don't know if to buy it in the USA or when I arrive in Japan? Anyone got any insight into buying Macs in Tokyo?

earthmonkey · Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 188 Location: Meguro-Ku Tokyo

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

It's not the OS but maybe the keyboard. My iBook has an easily removable and replacable keyboard so when I bought it here in Nagoya it took a half hour to swap it over to the English keayboard. I was perplexed when a friend said that the Nagoya store didn't have English keyboards for the New Macbooks and when I saw a Macbook recently I see why, The Macbooks have keyboards that are built in.

chinagirl · Joined: 27 May 2003 Posts: 235 Location: United States

That's weird.. Shocked

.I got my laptop from Johnny, too. I haven't had a problem with my machine and it was exactly in my price range.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Well, at least we all agree that we can be part of a fan club instead of a support group. Laughing

My laptop from him runs like clockwork! Smile

emypie · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 6:53 pm Post subject:

Audentia · Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:27 am Post subject:

I brought my laptop with me to japan and i wish i hadn't. i had to get an adapter in order to plug it in (mine is a dell bought in canada) and i'm pretty sure that due to the differening voltage my computer is fried. i access news pages and email through my cell phone and i go to an internet cafe about once every 2 weeks. it would be nice to be able to watch movies and download music, but not a necessity. even before my computer crashed i wasn't using it that much. but as others have said, it's a personal decision...

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan