Korean Job Discussion Forums

AbbeFaria · Joined: 17 May 2005 Location: Gangnam

I'm thinking of getting a new laptop before I go to Korea and taking it with me. I'm a Mac user, so it'd be a iBook or a Powerbook, depending on what the budget allows. I'm wondering if anyone else uses there laptops over there and if so, does anything need to be done to configure it for things like internet or playing DVD's. I remember hearing something about zones with regards to DVD's. Will a Mac even work overthere or will any software I need to install for internet only run on a PC?

If possible I thought it would be fun to do iPoto presentations for my kids (when I have them) or anything else I could come up with and am wondering if anyone else does this? Are personal computers generally allowed in the classroom?

And, just out of curiosity, are there any other Mac people on the board? I'm not looking for a Mac vs. PC debate, incase anyone is inclined, just wondering.

Thanks,
-S-

Hater Depot · Joined: 29 Mar 2005

Korean DVDs won't work in an American DVD player and visa versa. The Videolan player however will play any DVD no problem, without mucking with the hardware of your computer.

As fas as compatibility, I never had a problem, and I've never heard of anyone else having one either. I don't think I've ever seen a Mac in Korea though, so that could actually be your problem.

peppermint · Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 5:00 pm Post subject:

There's at least one Macintosh store in Seoul in the COEX mall, so they're not completely unknown here. I've known quite a few people that use them here and haven't heard many complaints.. Youll need to make sure the computer has some way to handle the different voltage here than in the States, but that shouldn't be a problem

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Wow, you missed the Tech Forum by about five little eye movements down the main index. (Typical Mac user... Smile

)

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=32089

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

Firstly, it is definately better to get a laptop before you get here.

Dont worry about DVD's, bring the ones you have and then join an internet site that you can download movies from, or you can buy them cheap here www.toocheapdvds.com which has free shipping and they are region 9 which means they are compatible with any dvd player around the world (aparently).

Make sure you pick up a converter, the Korean plug has two round points. But make sure the place where you get one from knows this because I bought a very expensive "Korean" converter plug and it didn't fit! It had 3 points at that!!

Laptops dont seem particularely popular where I am. It was far more popular back home. It will depend on your job whether you can use it at school. Just ask! Im sure any additional learning aids would be much appreciated!

peppermint · Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:08 pm Post subject:

You can get the converters at Yongsan for about 1000W, and cheap DVDs too.

AbbeFaria · Joined: 17 May 2005 Location: Gangnam

hari seldon · Joined: 05 Dec 2004 Location: Incheon

Does it make sense to buy a Power Mac laptop when they're switching over to Intel?

temporos · Joined: 03 Apr 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

temporos · Joined: 03 Apr 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

AbbeFaria · Joined: 17 May 2005 Location: Gangnam

white_shadow · Joined: 28 Mar 2005

There is very little to worry about. Power conversion is a simple as a $3 plug.

Concerning DVD's, since it's a PC DVD player, most software will disregard regional settings. If it's still a problem you can reset the region in the drives configuration. You can change the settings up to five times. Then you're SOL. But by that time you'll have probably worn down your DVD player. DVD players unlike almost everything else in a notebook comes in a standard form. So you can get aftermarket players easily. You can find some for $30 or less.

Depending on your type of work, software shouldn't be an issue. Most formats are exchangeable. One issue could of course be a lack of a language pack. I don't own a Mac so I don't know. I do know that you need multiple versions of Windows, one for each language.

As you may already know, internet service worldwide is all compatible. From hardware to software. One of the goals in creating HTML and Java, is that they be platform independent.

Naruto · Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Location: Irvine, CA

Don't worry about DVD compatibility ibooks and G4 laptops will play any region coded DVD. Apple is well known in Korea and you will find avid appleheads there.

http://www.applecomputer.co.kr/

Beware of a cheap power converter - it can and will burn out your power socket. Get a good one and make absolutely sure the power conversions are compatible.

Lizara · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Location: Seoul

I got a new PowerBook a couple of months ago and there's an Apple adapter set you can order with it if you want. It's more expensive ($50 US) than buying a normal converter, but it seemed safer since I know nothing about power converters, and easier since I plan to be traveling a lot in the next few years and this way I already have an adapter for anywhere I want to go. Granted there's no need to pay anywhere near that much, but I was putting in an order from Apple anyway and it was all a lot easier than hunting down a cheap adapter.

You just need something that'll fit in a Korean outlet since the white thingy (fear my awesome tech knowledge...) at the end of your Apple power cord will do all the conversion work.

As for your questions... I've known people who have used their laptops in classes and the school was fine with it. I'm sure it depends on the school though. And I didn't have to install any extra software to get my Internet (which I think is KT Megapass.)