Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lorenchristopher]

So I've got my eye on the new macbook pros and will buy one within a couple months. Just a couple totally random questions:

My K-friends who have iTunes can only access the Korean iTunes store....if I buy the macbook in Korea can I change it somehow to the US store (some apps aren't available at the K-iTunes store)?

Perhaps I should email apple about this next one, but if I buy from the US I'd still like to have a Hangul/English keyboard. On the US website, they offer Japanese and other language keyboard options on the website, but no Korean.

Overall is there a major price gap between buying here or back in the states?

[oskinny1]

Itunes is tied to your credit card. If you use a USA credit/bank card, you'll be good to go.

As for price comparisons, look at the US Apple store and the Korean Apple store and compare. Just don't forget to add tax for the US store. I was able to get a teacher's discount in both the US and Korea.

[lorenchristopher]

[Chokse]

In most cases Apple will not check if you order through the online education store. However, if Apple does check, a hagwon job will not be accepted for the discount. You must be employed by a university to "officially" get the discount. I have bought 6 times using the education discount (three times in the US and three times in Korea). I was only checked for my school ID once, and that was by Apple Korea.

There's no way to get the Korean keyboard if you buy from the US (believe me, I've tried). You can buy a replacement keyboard here in Korea, but the added cost will eat away any savings you get buying in the US. My advice is to live without the Korean keyboard, or get keyboard stickers if you really need it.

A final option would be to buy a refurbished unit from Apple Korea. You will usually get a 20%-25% discount (education discount is only 10%) and the computer will still come with a one-year warranty. However, you can sometimes get a unit with some cosmetic flaws.

[lorenchristopher]

[oskinny1]

[Banana_Man]

Don't get a mac if you are planning on using Korean internet sites - just doesn't work, such a pain trying to order stuff.

[prideofidaho]

[red_devil]

I'm also getting one of the new MBP's and comparing the price they're almost identical. Korean version was about $80 more expensive (including VAT).

@Banana Man

You're pretty outdated on the Macs and IE thing. BootCamp and Parallels.

[iantrich]

First off @ Banana_Man, you'll have no problem with Korean websites on a mac. Personally I use Google Chrome and it's a dream, especially with the built in translation features.

As for the main topic of the discussion, you're going to get a HUGE price cut buying in the US. I'm talking close to $1,000 in some cases. Some depends on which model you are buying and size, but it's amazing the difference. My wife has a MBP and I'm dying to get my own so I can stop stealing hers all the time I would suggest you go get from the US, $1,000 is a lot of money for a Hangul keyboard. You can always turn on the Hangul keyboard if you really wanted and use marker to draw the letters on, haha, it would work and I'm sure you could do it in a better way, say with one of the many clear keyboard protector screens they have out there.

The other part you want to be aware of is that it is not easy to get a US MBP over to Korea, unless you're having someone bring it directly over to you. I'm fairly sure Apple will not send directly and if you send to someone in the states and then have them ship it, it will most likely get stopped at customs and you'll end up having to pay a hefting import fee and tax.

Best bet, ask if friends are visiting home (which I am doing, no one going till July...so far away...) or if someone you know is coming over. That or shell out the extra Won for the Hangul version.

Hope this helps, interested to see what you decide.

[jsanders79]

Just out of curiosity ... where exactly can you get a refurb. Mac in Korea?

[lorenchristopher]

[charliesuh]

I am also planning on buying a new MBP (specifically the 15 i7 model).
I'm moving to Korea in about 2 weeks.

What are the differences of the MBPs if you buy em in Korea as opposed to from the states? (aside from price and having korean letters printed on the keys)

If I did decide that I just really wanted a US one, the US apple.com would not ship to Korea, would Amazon if I bought it from there?

[bsrosenfeld]

You can save even more money if you ship it to someone in the US that lives in a State with no sales tax. I saved over $130 in tax alone by having mine shipped to a friend in Oregon. Also, they did not verify teaching credentials, I just chose a school at random online.

[red_devil]