Anyone considering importing a Surface Pro?

Michael_10 · 11 Feb 2013 at 17:50

Just a thought, been waiting months for this device and really want to get my hands on one soon. I've been telling myself it would be good for uni but it's soon going to be the case that this year of uni will be over!

I wouldn't call myself impatient, I have been waiting since June for this device, and I'll give MS a while longer to get some info out on a UK release date.

Anyway, how would you go about it? I found a website (ReShip) that I send my parcel to and they then ship to the UK, they are in a state that doesn't charge a sales tax and their handling and shipping costs are only about $40. Looking at the VISA website, the $1000 charge for the surface pro converts to about £650 with the conversion fee, which is probably a lot cheaper than the price it will eventually go on sale for in the UK, so that means I do have the extra money to pay for the international shipping costs.

My only problem is the charges that Customs would charge once it gets to this side of the Atlantic. I assume there is the 20% VAT charge but would there be any other 'high' charges I'm not factoring in?

Thanks guys

Myshra · 11 Feb 2013 at 18:32

Honestly, I would highly advise against this. No warranty on a new, first generation device from a first time manufacturer alone would put me off aside from customs charges (import duty and vat IIRC).

You must be a fairly rich uni student to consider this over any decently specced laptop for the same price so the above may not put you off but unless you have loadsa money I think this is a mega waste when a standard laptop would suffice at uni, where you need to type a lot.

theheyes · 11 Feb 2013 at 20:55

It's not anything out of the ordinary really, you see enough expensive Macbooks around.

I'd sit tight. You don't know if there are any design defects yet (for example) and it could bite you in the ass just for the sake of not having to wait a few more weeks.

smokedog · 11 Feb 2013 at 21:45

Why would you want a Surface Pro. The verge review has well put me off. OS takes up 20gbs of storage, its quite thick, heavy and very poor battery life.

Glaucus · 11 Feb 2013 at 21:50

smokedog said:
Why would you want a Surface Pro. The verge review has well put me off. OS takes up 20gbs of storage, its quite thick, heavy and very poor battery life.

Then you have no idea what it's designed for.

Battery life isn't poor, it's what you would expect. Same with weight and size.
This is not an ARM tablet.

As for importing one, no. Import charges will be massive. Way to soon to even consider this.

Rilot · 11 Feb 2013 at 22:29

They are sold out across the US so you'd have trouble getting one anyway.
They will release it in the UK soon enough I'm sure. I shall be getting one as soon as they're available. These is currently nothing on the market at the moment that compares. The W700 is really close but I want the cover and kickstand. After having those on my Surface RT I couldn't deal with a tablet now that's without them.

Pawnless Endgame · 11 Feb 2013 at 23:02

I think the OP is essentially looking for a Windows tablet that is i86 or ia64-based so that it can open EXE files as opposed to ARM-based. Granted, Apple made the tablet business big 3 years ago, but Windows tablets have been around for years. Do a bit of digging around i.e. Dell Latitude ST.

Michael_10 · 12 Feb 2013 at 09:31

Thanks for all the comments guys. I'm going to give it a couple of weeks anyway to see if there is an announcement.

I know a few people are saying that I should just get a similar specced laptop, but I use OneNote a lot and a lot of my lectures involve diagrams and that, and the pen input would be really useful for that, so that's my main reason for wanting to Surface Pro

Rilot · 12 Feb 2013 at 10:51

There are other tablets available that have pen input and use Windows if you can't wait.
Samsung Ativ PC Pro
Sony Vaio Duo
Etc.