Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Canerican]

Not in the Buy/Sell forum because I'm not actually buying or selling one here -- just looking for advice.

My lappy got stolen the first week I was in Korea. While I'm timid about buying another one, my brain is starving for entertainment -- I brought it along for TV, DVDs, music, and especially gaming. I want to pick up another one. I know Yongsan is a good place, but I'm still pretty new and I don't have anywhere near a mastery of the language.

I also don't have any idea what a good price is out here. Here's the specs from my lappy for comparison:



*BASE_PRICE: [+1059]
ADAPTER: Universal AC-DC Adapter
BATTERY: Li-Ion 6 Cells 4400mAh Battery Pack (MS163A)
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Mobile T8300 Dual-Core Processor @ 2.40GHz 800FSB 3MB L2 Cache 64-bit
CD: 8X DVD REWRITABLE DRIVE
FLASHMEDIA: Built-In 4in1 Media Reader
GEAR: (CyberPower Recommended) NZXT CRYO LX Notebook Cooler for 15, 17, & 19 inch Wide Screens And Cools The Notebook with 3 Adjustable Fans [+69]
HDD: 120GB 5400RPM SATA150 HARD DRIVE
INVERTER: NONE
IEEE_CARD: BUILT-IN 1394 IEEE FIREWIRE PORT
KEYBOARD: BUILT-IN KEYBOARD
MOUSE: BUILT-IN TOUCHPAD
MODEM: BUILT-IN 56K V.92 FAX MODEM
MOTHERBOARD: Intel PM965 + ICH-8M Chipset Mainboard
MEMORY: 4GB (2x2GB) PC5300 DDR2-667 SODIMM Memory [+100] (Corsair or Major Brand)
NOTEBOOK: MSI MS-163A Notebook 15.4" Glossy WXGA 1280x800 Pixel w/ NVIDIA GeForce GO 8600M-GT 512MB Video, 1.3 Mega Pixels CMOS Camera, Intel Core2 Duo Mobile Processor, & 802.11g Wireless
NOTEBOOK_COVER: MSI MS-163A Notebook Cover (Original Color)
NB_LCD: 15.4" WXGA TFT LCD Display 1280x800 Pixels
NETWORK: Built-in 10/100/1000 Mbps Network Card
NB_TRAVELKIT: NONE
OS: Microsoft(R) Windows Vista(TM) Home Premium w/ Service Pack 1 (64-bit Edition [+19])
PRINTER: None
PRINTER_CABLE: None
SOFT1: Free 60 Days Microsoft(R) Office(R) 2007 (Words, Excel, Access, Power Point, Outlook + More) - Windows Vista(TM) Required
SOFT2: McAfee Anti Virus 7 [+15]
SERVICE: STANDARD 1-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY AND 24/7 LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT
SOUND: BUILT-IN AC 97 SOUND
SPEAKERS: BUILT-IN STEREO SPEAKERS SYSTEM
TVRC: None
USB: 4 x USB2.0 Port Connectors
UPS: None
USBHD: NONE
VIDEO: Built-in NVIDIA GeForce GO 8600M-GT 512MB Video
VIDEOCAMERA: Built-in 1.3 Mega Pixel Webcam
WNC: Wireless 802.11G 54Mbps MiniPCI Card




I still have the cooling fan set that came with the lappy. Overall it was about $1200 for the above (I also cut out all the free stuff that came with it -- printer, copy of MicOffice, etc.). What can I expect in Korea -- and more to the point, how do I go about GETTING something like this?

The above was custom-selected and built; I don't know if there's somewhere to manage that here or if I'm going to have to shell out for a full build. I know there's good computers here somewhere!


Any advice on computer shopping?

[ttompatz]

yup... spend 400k and get a desktop with more power and capacity.
Enjoy your time here and use it like you wanted to.
Get it in a mini tower case and take it home when you go.

Or spend 25% more money than you did at home for the same machine.

The best deals (laptop or desktop) are at the Seon-in plaza in Yongsan.
Their English isn't the best but they ALL talk Tech with the best of us.

copied from an earlier post:

I personally like J-tech over in the Seon-in plaza (it's the place with the big gigabyte sign on it).
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm77/ttompatz/yongsan2.jpg

You'll find that you will save between 10-30% by walking over to the other side of the railroad tracks from Yongsan station (there is an overhead pedway across the rail yard) even if you choose one of the other shops.

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm77/ttompatz/DSCI0001.jpg
(sign above the J-tech shop - prices were from June).

You can get into a OK quad core system with a decent video card for about 500k won (not including monitor).

You can get an OK dual core system for 300k + monitor.

.

[jdog2050]

Yeah, you're not going to get anything that good here for $1200. Korean laptops have some of the most unremarkable specs I've ever seen for the price.

[Canerican]

Noted -- a desktop would be sorta OK even if I have to ship it home or something afterwards -- most likely I'll ship extra clothes home and keep my baby with me.

Mostly I wanted a laptop because I've got two desktops at home already; I wanted something for on the go gaming. I've already got a decent rig back in the states.

Thanks for the meatspace map, it's helpful.

Their English is good enough to discuss tech geekery with?

[ttompatz]

[Ukon]

You can always just have the parts shipped here and build the rig here with a new case....cases are dirt cheap here.