Laptop - should I buy one before I leave Aust?

[kzel81]

Hi all,

Just wondering what the best course of action is in relation to a laptop. Should I buy one in Australia before I leave for China next year, or should I wait and get one once I'm in China?

Thanks!

Kris

[Enigma]

IMHO get one in Australia. The difference in price is much of a muchness – depending on what brand and specs you want. The quality, durability and life-span of the laptops you get in Australia will far outweigh what you get here. It is definitely worth the slog of bringing it over.

[joe]

If you want a laptop so you can have a laptop, buy in Oz. If you want it so you can have a computer in China, buying your own and lugging it to China is very likely a waste of time. Almost any properly legal teaching job you can find these days will include a computer and a broadband internet connection.

Just be a tad careful in your negotiations. Make sure that "internet in your house" means broadband connection AND a computer to use it. As far as I know they're only cheap enough in Xi'an to pull that crap, but it could happen elsewhere too.

[Ruth]

For me, major purchases here still need to be done with a friend/translator and I've been here three years. I'm remembering how overwhelmed I felt when I first arrived and can't imagine trying to head out to buy such an important item in the early days right off the plane. Perhaps you are braver than I. My two jiao's worth is to buy it in Australia before you come.

[Raoul Duke]

Buy it here. Hell, most of the innards are made here anyway...most of them right here in Suzhou, the laptop computer capital of the world.

I recently went through a good friend (Can, with Nolefan as trusted advisor) and had a custom desktop system assembled that kicks major ass....and I got it at a great price even I could afford. ALL of my software is in English, and they've come to my house twice at no charge to tweak things. If you have it assembled to order instead of buying off the shelf, you can easily specify top quality components that will match what you get abroad...and you'll get a better price.

I'm currently listening to the 29-hour-and-growing database of music that will eventually become Radio Free Raoul, on the new system's neighborhood-shaking sound system.

[Eagle's Nest]

I am going to chime in with those who advise you to buy at home if you want to have a laptop anyway. However, if you are only going to buy a laptop in order to have a computer here, it almost always comes with the job. I brought my laptop as I already owned it. Now, the supplied desktop is sitting on the floor and collecting dust. And it is a very good machine (I use it when my laptop acts up - LOL). Once you are here for a while, and think you will stay for a bit longer, take Raoul's advice - drink beer (oops, how did that get in there?) - err, I mean splurge on a personalized system to meet your techie fancies.

eagle

[con's fly is open]

I disagree with the you'll-have-one-at-work-already direction. Being online at home is just different. Treat yourself.

Raoul's system kicks ass. If the fuzz don't return my laptop, I'm getting exactly what he has. Don't know the specs of his toys, but he did it for around $1,000Aus.

And I'm all for desktop computers rather than laptops in China- the way I see it, they're harder to steal.

[Eagle's Nest]

LOL! I never thought about it this way. As for the uni supplying me a computer, it is in the apartment, not in an office at the school. And, it is a good machine. I still stick to the idea that if you WANT a laptop, it is better to buy it at home than in China. That way one has the use of the laptop both at home and in China.

eagle

There is no RIGHT answer, there is only a number of choices.

[Non-Dave]

I'm a fan of the laptop - great for taking to classes to do stuff with - but I also like having a desktop at home, too.

I reckon the laptops here are okay to buy - and some of the imported brands are a little cheaper than back home in Oz, so if you're feeling brave get one here. Just make sure you have the English software you need to make it run. I'd bring whatever flavour of Windows you prefer and buy the rest here.

[Mr Nobody]

Currently, all my classes have computers and projectors. Lovely. I second about the software, but one thing is that if you run english software the local computer people can't fix it. You have to fix it yourself. For some reason, they can't read english. And you probably can't read chinese.

[Crippler]

I have had mine fixed a couple of times in China and I live in small town. I have one bought in USA which was fixed here. I bought another in CHina with English OS.. No problems..