Korean Job Discussion Forums

Czarjorge · Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 8:47 pm Post subject: Buying Electronics in Korea

I'm a net junkie, but I don't own a laptop. Here's my quandary, with most things being cheaper in Korea, would it be better to wait until I get to Korea to buy a laptop? I would obviously need to get an English operating system, but If I had to I could bring that with me.

Any opinions?

I'm thinking of going Mac this time around. Can you even get a Mac in Korea? (I'm going to be filming alot, hopefully, and I heart Imovie.)

Also, what about a PSP (I'm a game junkie too, but I'm not gonna drop the coin on a game laptop), and games in English?

Is this stuff I would just be better off getting in the U.S.?

seoulsucker · Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 8:53 pm Post subject:

Get it here, don't get a MAC.

Same with the PSP.

Czarjorge · Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 9:00 pm Post subject:

Can I get an English OpSys in Korea?

polonius · Joined: 05 Jun 2004

Some computers, when they are first started up, there is an option for English OS or Korean. I know this is the case with Toshiba. It might not be that common with other computers though. You can easily get a copy of English OS here.

Czarjorge · Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 5:59 pm Post subject:

What are the price ranges of a decently powerful laptop in SK? I won't really need it for gaming, mostly video editing.

polonius · Joined: 05 Jun 2004

My friend just bought a toshiba for 1.6 mil. If you browse around this site, you can get an idea of what prices are like.

http://www.enuri.com/view/List.jsp?cate=0404&menu=false&flag=&islist=

I know it is in Korean, but you can click on the pictures, and should be able to see the details and prices.

oskinny1 · Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Location: Right behind you!

If you are in the States then get it there. I got a MacBook here with a teacher's discount and it ended up being just a bit more expensive than back home. You can get a PSP here as well but what are you going to do on the plane ride over? Just get one there (gamestop had them on sale last week). Electronics are generally more expensive here unless you go to some of the shops that sell the Japanese versions.

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

Buy a Thinkpad.

Best laptop I have owned.

Still blown away by the build quality and the little niceties on it.

cbeck13 · Joined: 29 Dec 2006

buy it back home....its the biggest myth in the world that electronics are cheaper over here than back home.....don't think i've single a single item that i couldn't get for cheaper back in the states....and i have a crap load of electronic stuff

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

Mrssquirrel thanks for the tip. I'm headed home and will buy a laptop in the fall.

Poemer · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Location: Mullae

I would also recommend getting your laptop before coming here. If you shop around a little you will definitely get a better price than you would here in Korea and you can be guaranteed that everything is in English and that all the bugs (if there are any) are worked out before you get over here.

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

If you have a Korean friend to help, you can get dirt cheap deals for almost anything on sites like these:
http://www.danawa.com/
http://www.omi.co.kr/

If you buy electronics in stores or markets in Korea, then yes, you will see some comparable pricing to back home. But almost every vendor in Yongsan will tell you that they can't even compete with the online discounters.

Scotticus · Joined: 18 Mar 2007

My experience has been to NEVER buy electronics here, if you can help it. Go to sites like www.tigerdirect.com or www.ecost.com to purchase your electronics. Due to the soon-to-be-dead lopsided laws here favoring Korean manufacturers, even Korean-made electronics are more here than they are in the US. My 290 dollar mp3 player (Korean-made, Korean company, bought in America), is 330+ here for the EXACT same model. All new computer parts are more expensive as well.

And to answer your question about Macs, yes, Apple has a presence here, and you can send in your Mac for service in Korea, should there be a problem. I can't promise you there won't be language issues, but I had a coworker who's Powerbook crapped itself here and he just had to bring it to the Apple Service place near Yongsan station and they fixed it like they would in America.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

willneverteachagain · Joined: 17 Dec 2006

u are going to pay extra to have an english OS installed in korea.

korean computers arent that much cheaper. if u buy a PSP or whatever in korea or japan, you wont be able to play north american bought gmaes in it and if u bring a PSP from north american or europe, you wont be able to play asian made game