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lucreziaborgia
Joined: 19 May 2009
Posts: 177
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 Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 5:10 pm Post subject: Laptops |
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I am able to buy a new Dell laptop here for USD $500. Is there any financial benefit buying it here or should I wait until I'm in the KSA? I loathe lugging stuff between countries so I would only buy it here if the cost in the KSA is considerably more. I understand from a previous post that there isn't a problem bringing a laptop into the country.
As well, is there an issue in the KSA with pirated software because here you never can tell what's been loaded onto your computer; if you're not IT evolved. |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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You'd probably save $100-$150. We don't know what Dell you are referring to for that price.
http://www.jarirbookstore.com/catalog/laptop.asp lists the laptops they have in stock but not prices. |
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lucreziaborgia
Joined: 19 May 2009
Posts: 177
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| Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Stephen Jones.
It's a new model that weighs less than a kilo. It does all sorts of things that I don't need. The reason it's cheap is because it 'on promotion'.
It's very slim and attractive. It's smaller in physical size (about 1/3) to the Toshiba Satellite I bought here 18 months ago.
However, for such a small saving, I may as well buy one in the KSA.
What's the software situation like in the KSA? The same as here? Or the real thing? |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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Dear lucreziaborgia,
Well, matey - when I was there, the skull and crossbones was hoisted in many places. Pirates were bountiful. Of course, you can likely trust to get the "real thing" if you buy from "reputable stores." But shiver me timbers, there was a lot of the "other stuff" around as well.
And, although you are admittedly taking a chance when buying that "other stuff" (caveat emptor,) that also means you can get some very nice "bargains."
I knew one guy who took home about $30,000 (retail) of very sophisticated software.
Regards,
John |
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trapezius
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Land of Culture of Death & Destruction
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| Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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Here is what I posted in another thread:
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| I don't know about Europe, but they are definitely more expensive than what you would find in the US, about 25% to 50% more expensive depending on the model and depending on whether you buy from a store in the US or from a web retailer. There are no web retailers in KSA, so the prices are a bit high, but they aren't that high. |
As for software, >90% of people in KSA buy pirated software, all the way from photo editing software to MS Office to games. The US is very strict in this matter, so I doubt you can ever buy a computer there which comes loaded with pirated stuff. When you buy a computer here from a lot of places, they will ask you if you want a bunch software for slashed prices. It is all pirated stuff, of course. But original software is widely available, so you can always get original. |
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Chaudhry
Joined: 22 Aug 2009
Posts: 59
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| Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:35 pm Post subject: ebay in KSA |
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| Just out of curiosity ... i wonder if there is any ebay in KSA ...??? How big is online shopping? |
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Mia Xanthi
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 955
Location: why is my heart still in the Middle East while the rest of me isn't?
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| Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Is there any financial benefit buying it here or should I wait until I'm in the KSA? |
I was burned on every single electronics purchase that I made in KSA. I think a lot of cr@p is dumped over there. You have only a 24-hour return policy, and then you have to take it to the &%#@% "service center" where they will fumble with it for days . Then they will give it back to you claiming to have solved the problem, but when you get home you will find that nothing has really been fixed. Months later, after several visits to the "service center" you will either shove it down an employee's throat and end up in jail, or give up and buy a new one on your next trip home. |
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trapezius
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Land of Culture of Death & Destruction
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| Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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No, no ebay here. It is impossible for ebay or any similar site to function here. Locals (and the postal system) are not yet advanced enough to deal with the concept of selling (as opposed to trashing) used goods, packing them adequately, mailing them from an ancient postal system... not to mention, issues involving money and honesty, when the buyer and seller never even meet or see each other! Not for a few more decades at the very least.
Those who are into such things order from US/European sites (amazon, ebay, etc) and have the items delivered here. |
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lucreziaborgia
Joined: 19 May 2009
Posts: 177
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:39 am Post subject: |
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Thanks everyone. Hmmmmmmm sounds like somewhere else I know.
One question; if I buy a laptop that already has pirated software will it function in the KSA?
I have been warned about this by a colleague who had problems with a laptop purchased in Egypt that would not work in Asia due to this problem.
I sold my Toshiba Satellite for twice what I paid for it here - back in Australia. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:50 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
One question; if I buy a laptop that already has pirated software will it function in the KSA?
I have been warned about this by a colleague who had problems with a laptop purchased in Egypt that would not work in Asia due to this problem. |
I don't really understand this. A laptop doesn't 'know' what country it's in. If the pirated software has been successfully installed and is working, it shouldn't matter what country you use it in. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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| lucreziaborgia wrote: |
| I have been warned about this by a colleague who had problems with a laptop purchased in Egypt that would not work in Asia due to this problem. |
I agree with Cleo... this isn't even a possibility. If the computer didn't work in Asia, it most likely had picked up a virus wherever it had been used (or a normal Microsoft built-in glitch). Pirated software just means that it is an illegal copy... it is exactly the same as the legal software except for the price.
VS |
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lucreziaborgia
Joined: 19 May 2009
Posts: 177
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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I guess my colleague is as unevolved as I am when it comes to all this IT stuff. I'm an analogue person unless forced to be otherwise.
I'll probably make a last minute decision and either buy the Dell or not.
Thanks everyone. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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My advice would be to just buy it... then you no longer need to even worry about it. Heck... for that price you can afford to use it for a year and trash the thing. 
VS |
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reneebcc
Joined: 26 Jan 2009
Posts: 60
Location: Georgia
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| Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 3:39 am Post subject: Plugs |
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| I'm bringing in my labtop I bought from S.Korea. However, the plugs are different. They are European style with 2 circular prongs. How much would it be to buy converters? |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:36 am Post subject: |
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... a mere pittance... and it may very well work... plugs are sort of unpredictable in Saudi.
VS |
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