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daz1979
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Gangwon-Do
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 Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 12:24 am Post subject: Laptop Dilema |
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Hello
I have been failing miserably in my attempt to save money to buy a laptop before I arrive on Geoje Island around the first week of September.
From the posts I have read so far most people seem to suggest that I buy a laptop in the UK but I am only going to be able to afford a low budget second hand one for around �150!! Should I just wait until I come to Korea and buy one with English XP out of my first couple of wages? If it makes any difference I am only really going to use it to play dvd's and to use the internet.
Can I buy a second hand laptop from anywhere in Korea with English XP already installed? |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 12:45 am Post subject: |
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Daz, check out this sticky at the top of the Tech forum:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=32089
It sounds like you can get English XP here in Korea, although I'm unfamiliar with what areas of Korea it is available.
Many people have said that it is cheaper to buy laptops before coming to Korea, but if you are from the UK, that wonderful, strong English Pound may make it cheaper for you to get one here.
I can't suggest much else as I am an Apple person and only use PCs with Windows when absolutely necessary. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 12:46 am Post subject: |
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| As a follow up, it sounds like you probably have read that sticky. I don't know much about second hand laptops, but I'm guessing it may be much more difficult to find here secondhand with English XP. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 2:54 am Post subject: Re: Laptop Dilema |
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| daz1979 wrote: |
Hello
I have been failing miserably in my attempt to save money to buy a laptop before I arrive on Geoje Island around the first week of September.
From the posts I have read so far most people seem to suggest that I buy a laptop in the UK but I am only going to be able to afford a low budget second hand one for around �150!! Should I just wait until I come to Korea and buy one with English XP out of my first couple of wages? If it makes any difference I am only really going to use it to play dvd's and to use the internet.
Can I buy a second hand laptop from anywhere in Korea with English XP already installed? |
Why buy a laptop?????
That is NOT meant as a redundant question.
For the same 150 pounds you can get a nice entry level DESKTOP system here:
2.66Ghz cpu, 1 gig RAM, 160gig HDD, DVD burner, English windows, 17/19" used CRT monitor.
The extra horsepower will be nice during your stay and the money you DIDN"T spend on the laptop will more than cover the cost of shipping it home.
For a NICE laptop you will pay close to 1000 pounds.
For the same money (1000 pounds) you can get a kickass desktop system here, money to send it home AND spend a week on the beach in the Philippines or Thailand.
Don't buy a laptop. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 5:26 am Post subject: Re: Laptop Dilema |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
Don't buy a laptop. |
Errr. Laptops were created to allow portable computing. A desktop is all well 'n' good but some people like to or need to use their computer in a wide range of locations. I hella love sitting in a Starbucks with my laptop doing contract work. If you're not a writer or someone who does contract work and doesn't like to be entombed in home, a laptop is great. |
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daz1979
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Gangwon-Do
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| Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 5:58 am Post subject: Re: Laptop Dilema |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| daz1979 wrote: |
Hello
I have been failing miserably in my attempt to save money to buy a laptop before I arrive on Geoje Island around the first week of September.
From the posts I have read so far most people seem to suggest that I buy a laptop in the UK but I am only going to be able to afford a low budget second hand one for around �150!! Should I just wait until I come to Korea and buy one with English XP out of my first couple of wages? If it makes any difference I am only really going to use it to play dvd's and to use the internet.
Can I buy a second hand laptop from anywhere in Korea with English XP already installed? |
Why buy a laptop?????
That is NOT meant as a redundant question.
For the same 150 pounds you can get a nice entry level DESKTOP system here:
2.66Ghz cpu, 1 gig RAM, 160gig HDD, DVD burner, English windows, 17/19" used CRT monitor.
The extra horsepower will be nice during your stay and the money you DIDN"T spend on the laptop will more than cover the cost of shipping it home.
For a NICE laptop you will pay close to 1000 pounds.
For the same money (1000 pounds) you can get a kickass desktop system here, money to send it home AND spend a week on the beach in the Philippines or Thailand.
Don't buy a laptop. |
As well as using the laptop at home I want to use it to show video clips/dvd's and photoslides in class. I am all for desktops but a desktop would not be practical for what I need it for!
Daz |
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EdInstead
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 6:30 am Post subject: |
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150? That's only about 275,000 won equiv.
You won't find anything but old, lethargic crap for that kind of money. You're not going to find anything near-new in the UK for that price, either.
So you're only choice is to wait for a paycheck or two, and just use the PC Bangs until then (they're everywhere and about 1,000 to 1,500 won per hour).
The lowest price you'll find on a notebook/laptop is about 800,000 (but I haven't checked in a month or so). And that will likely be a cheaper SOTEC brand (crap) or a Haysee (not bad). And they won't have English windows. You can borrow an English windows XP disc, and try to reinstall English XP, but some notebooks these days disable that at Bios. HP is one which comes to mind as now doing this. They want to force you to re-load all of the crap ad software whenever you do a full install. Jerks.
I now know all of this after doing a lot of internet reading (looking at buying one, myself).
I have a strong feeling that Haysee won't be like that.
Toshiba makes some decent lower-priced laptops. But nothing is cheap in Korea (and it looks like it's not cheap in the UK, either). |
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daz1979
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Gangwon-Do
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| Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 6:48 am Post subject: |
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I know �150 wont get me anything flash but it is all I have at the moment!
I am pretty useless with computers, I only use them for basic needs so I don't really know what I am looking for to be honest!
I found this for �150.00 today.......
Fantastic TE2000 Laptop. Perfectly Priced.
Toshiba�s remarkable TE2000 Intel Pentium 3 laptop offers an unbelievable wealth of mobile features.
And you won�t find another notebook boasting comparable quality and design excellence selling at a lower price.
This high-flying, brilliantly engineered portable PC comes loaded with a wonderful Intel Pentium 3 Processor that makes all your components perform flawlessly while zipping along at a formidable 1.0GHz. This terrific Toshiba TE2000 mobile computer carries a spectacular CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo Drive, a 20GB hard drive and a marvelous 14.1-inch TFT Active Matrix display.
This is truly a lightweight powerhouse! Purchase your Toshiba TE2000 now � a spectacular notebook is a terrible thing to pass up.
Operating Systems Microsoft� Windows� XP Professional
Platform Notebook PC
Expansion Ports 2 - Type I/II PC Card Slot
1 - Type II PC Card Slot
Processor Brand Intel
Processor Class Pentium 3
Processor Speed 1.0GHz
Memory Type SDRAM
Memory Size 256MB
Memory Speed PC133
Memory Slots (Total) 2
Memory Slots (Available) 1
Capacity 20GB
Optical Drive Type CD-RW / DVD-ROM Combo Drive
Graphics Description Integrated Graphics
GPU/VPU Trident XP4
Video Memory 16MB
Communications Description Integrated Modem
Integrated LAN
Width 12.4"
Height 1.31"
Depth 10.80"
Weight 5.73 lbs
Display Type TFT active-matrix LCD display
Viewable Screen Size 14.1"
This also has the optional intergrated WiFi option fitted |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 12:22 pm Post subject: Re: Laptop Dilema |
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| daz1979 wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
| daz1979 wrote: |
Hello
I have been failing miserably in my attempt to save money to buy a laptop before I arrive on Geoje Island around the first week of September.
From the posts I have read so far most people seem to suggest that I buy a laptop in the UK but I am only going to be able to afford a low budget second hand one for around �150!! Should I just wait until I come to Korea and buy one with English XP out of my first couple of wages? If it makes any difference I am only really going to use it to play dvd's and to use the internet.
Can I buy a second hand laptop from anywhere in Korea with English XP already installed? |
Why buy a laptop?????
That is NOT meant as a redundant question.
For the same 150 pounds you can get a nice entry level DESKTOP system here:
2.66Ghz cpu, 1 gig RAM, 160gig HDD, DVD burner, English windows, 17/19" used CRT monitor.
The extra horsepower will be nice during your stay and the money you DIDN"T spend on the laptop will more than cover the cost of shipping it home.
For a NICE laptop you will pay close to 1000 pounds.
For the same money (1000 pounds) you can get a kickass desktop system here, money to send it home AND spend a week on the beach in the Philippines or Thailand.
Don't buy a laptop. |
As well as using the laptop at home I want to use it to show video clips/dvd's and photoslides in class. I am all for desktops but a desktop would not be practical for what I need it for!
Daz |
That's NOT what you said in your first post (red highlight) AND
1) any laptop you buy here will have Korean windows and NOT English.
2) the P3 you listed is an old dinosaur that will be useless and impossible to get repaired or upgraded (throwing good money after bad). Wait.
IF you said you were computer savy then it would be a different story. Get a Korean system and do the backups and change over. You said you were NOT computer savy AND on a tight budget so that is NOT an option for you.
If you were looking for an EXCUSE to JUSTIFY buying a laptop, you won't find it here. |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 1:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Toshiba�s remarkable TE2000 Intel Pentium 3 laptop offers an unbelievable wealth of mobile features.
And you won�t find another notebook boasting comparable quality and design excellence selling at a lower price.
This high-flying, brilliantly engineered portable PC comes loaded with a wonderful Intel Pentium 3 Processor that makes all your components perform flawlessly while zipping along at a formidable 1.0GHz. This terrific Toshiba TE2000 mobile computer carries a spectacular CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo Drive, a 20GB hard drive and a marvelous 14.1-inch TFT Active Matrix display.
This is truly a lightweight powerhouse! Purchase your Toshiba TE2000 now � a spectacular notebook is a terrible thing to pass up. |
This has to be 6 years old at least.
Ditto what ttompatz said, that P3 isn't very far from being a piece of crap that will leave you wishing you had spent more money on something decent in about 2 to 3 months. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 5:09 pm Post subject: Re: Laptop Dilema |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
That's NOT what you said in your first post (red highlight) AND
1) any laptop you buy here will have Korean windows and NOT English.
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Not true. Many major brands will install English Windows if you ask. I bought a compaq with no problem. However, you should make sure it's a legit copy.
The OP should discount this guy's advice as he's already demonstrated he doesn't at all know what he's talking about. |
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