Korean Job Discussion Forums

[anomi]

I've got an ibook i want to take with me to Korea. Does anyone know if they can handle the voltage there without a separate adpater?

I was under the impression the voltage converter was built in and all i needed was a different plug, but I've asked about three different Apple salesmen/helpline people and got three different answers. I don't want to fry my Apple.

What's the voltage in Korea and does your Apple handle it?

Also, i want to hook it up to the net for the first time when i get there. Is it a relatively painfree process? Should i buy my Airport base when i get there or before i leave NZ.

Thanks in advance!

[kermo]

The voltage over here is 220, which has got a wee bit more zing than the 120 we use in Canada. I had a really hard time finding a converter, actually. I searched electronics shops, departments stores, etc., before finally meeting someone who knows heaps about computers... he disappeared and returned in half an hour with a bunch of gadgets.

Here's what I'm using to power my iBook right now:
a voltage converter with a Korean male parts, and North American female parts
a couple little black thingies that allow me to plug a 3 pronged power cord into the 2 pronged converter.

I'm not sure what shape the plugs are in New Zealand, or what the voltage is, but that was my hassle.

As for using the Net, I've never used Airport, so I can't speak to that, but if you hook it up directly, it's not that tough to get online at all. In fact, the trickiest bit was when the cable-internet guy was at my apartment, and had never seen a Mac before. I persuaded him to just use the wizard, and it worked out fine.

[Eunoia]

My Powerbook's power cord has a built-in voltage regulator at the plug end. It's a small white box that says it can handle 110 ~ 220 V right on it. Does yours have something like that? If so, all you'll need is the proper plug adapter to make it fit the Korean round 2-prong sockets.

As for internet, I've heard that the Korean ISP's are NOT familiar with Mac OS, and will try to "force" their Windows installation programs to work. One friend of mine had some serious troubles with his Mac after the internet guy mucked around with his machine... MAKE SURE YOU ARE AT HOME WHEN THEY COME so you can do it properly!

And yeah, you should probably buy the Airport Express base station in NZ.

[Randall Flagg]

Not too much to add to Eunoia's post. But I confirm everything he/she said. Connecting to the net is so easy but the techie who comes to do it will not be familiar with MAcs. I nearly had to wrestle him to to be able to configure it myself. Just follow the instructions.

And yeah, it should be OK to handle the higher voltage. You just need the plug in adapter. I bought mine online before I came. If you don't have one before you come, there are at least 2 Apple stores in Seoul. PM me for directions. They might carry the adapter package.

Good luck!

[anomi]

thanks for all that. I think it should be ok, my little white box says 100-240V so I guess that covers it. Now why couldn't the techie Apple guys be as concise and helpful as you fullas?

cheers!

[anomi]

Soo, another question... if i want to connect to the net without an airport muck-around, what sort of cable do i need? just a plug-into the phone jack type thing?

[OiGirl]

I got a DSL modem that connected to the Ethernet port on my iBook.

Any advice about printers? I once paid $100 for a 220v power supply for my printer! (This was an Apple StyleWriter ten years ago!) For that matter, back then I just had a dial-up Korean ISP and used the phone cord-type modem port on the Powerbook 140.

[anomi]

[Randall Flagg]

The company you get your internet service from will provide you with all the cords you need. They will give you a DSL modem. It is basically a small box that will plug into your phone line. Read your manual regarding how to connect to the net.

[hojucandy]

i see yu are in NZ - yu got no worries. i came here from PNG with my aus purchased ti-book nearly 4 years ago and it has worked without a hitch... voltage is the same.

[Sleepy in Seoul]

I'm on my second iBook here in Korea (I upgraded to a newer and smaller model between contracts). Both of them work perfectly with the little white adapter included when you buy an iBook. I'm from NZ too, and all I need is an adapter thingy to change the plug for the wall socket.

For some reason, I have always used an external modem here. No dial-up - just plug in the cable and away you go.

Apples are not popular in Korea, so if you want any accessories like Airport, get them before you leave NZ.

I have had no problems with the service people screwing with my Mac when setting up the connection. I've had it done 3 times (but I made sure I was watching them just in case)

[hojucandy]

apples are not popular here it is true, but yu can buy all the app;le accessories yu want right here in korea. there are severa; apple centres in seoul, and one in busan. also apple's online store in korea is quick to deliver

[billyg]

Anomi, the internal modem, if you were going to use it would require you to plug your phone line into your computer, from the wall to your computer, thus blocking you from recieving phone calls. From what I've heard, everyone in SK uses a dsl/cable connection. The plug-in part for this does not block you from recieving phone calls, this is wire to box and wire to your mac, using a different jack on your computer, ethernet, the one that looks like a giant phone line. For your airport/wireless set-up, the wire from the box will go into the airport instead of your mac. The wireless card inside you mac will read the signal sent from your airport. Okay, my eyes have gone crossed from writing all that.
In theory, that's how it works, hope it helps a little. This could be slightly different in SK, I'll guess we'll just have to see cause I'm on my way out there as well.