Shall I buy a laptop from the US?

Cheekykid · 23 Apr 2008 at 13:11

Because of the weak dollar i've decided to buy a sony laptop from the USA. Any idea if the warranty will still be valid in the UK?

Have been unable to find a contact number on Sony's website.

Glaucus · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:16

No idea about warranty but I would. But make sure the charger can take 110-240v or factor a new charger into the cost.

Greenlizard0 · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:18

Mm...not sure really. I know Apple's warrenties are valid world wide but have no idea about Sony. (Sorry that doesn't help).

Also would you have problems if you e.g. got a version of Windows Vista with it?

Cheekykid · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:37

Greenlizard0 said:
Also would you have problems if you e.g. got a version of Windows Vista with it?

Why would I? My biggest concern is warranty and dead pixels.

uv · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:37

only problem you'll have is the '£' and '@' will be in the wrong places :/

stupid American keyboard layout!

BoomAM · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:51

uvmain said:
only problem you'll have is the '£' and '@' will be in the wrong places :/

stupid American keyboard layout!

Or if your have an Apple, that happens regardless.

.
At least it does on my AppleProUSB keyboard.

.

Cosimo · 23 Apr 2008 at 15:20

Danger, they are notorious for their warranties, you will probably have to ship it to them for a repair. What is the problem with buying a laptop from the UK, it does not have to be the “S” people.

Cheekykid · 23 Apr 2008 at 15:24

simulatorman said:
Danger, they are notorious for their warranties, you will probably have to ship it to them for a repair. What is the problem with buying a laptop from the UK, it does not have to be the “S” people.

In the rip off britain the same laptop costs couple of hundred more.

Aod · 23 Apr 2008 at 15:32

when i got my toshiba, i got the U-205. when i bought it, it was $1200 in the US, and £900 here!

the spare £300 was very handy.
the warranty was international, as was the carger.

unfortunately, the warranty didn't cover accidental damage...

Energize · 23 Apr 2008 at 15:40

Aod said:
unfortunately, the warranty didn't cover accidental damage...

No warranty covers damages of any kind, a warranty is a guarantee of performance.

Glaucus · 23 Apr 2008 at 15:41

do you still get paypal protection if the buyer is in America? Some very tasty laptops for uber cheap.

InvaderGIR · 23 Apr 2008 at 15:45

One thing to watch out for, is customs charges. If you are unlucky you'll be hit with higher charges than you are trying to save.

InvG

Aod · 23 Apr 2008 at 15:52

InvaderGIR said:
One thing to watch out for, is customs charges. If you are unlucky you'll be hit with higher charges than you are trying to save.

InvG

well, if you have it posted, yes. i brought mine back personally.

Energize said:
No warranty covers damages of any kind, a warranty is a guarantee of performance.

yeah, i know

it got dropped from a desk, which smashed a hole in the bottom plate, which dislocated the cooling system from the processor and chipset, making the entire laptop throttle to about 200HMz, and the repair bill was £240

InvaderGIR · 23 Apr 2008 at 15:57

Aod said:
well, if you have it posted, yes. i brought mine back personally.

I think the guys tempted in this thread would be buying online, so they would be shipped, hence comment.

If I did it, I'd have to do what Aod did, go to America anyway and pick one up whilst out there.

InvG

Glaucus · 23 Apr 2008 at 15:58

InvaderGIR said:
I think the guys tempted in this thread would be buying online, so they would be shipped, hence comment.

If I did it, I'd have to do what Aod did, go to America anyway and pick one up whilst out there.

InvG

It's worth the risk. 90+% of stuff comes through with no charges. However you should be prepared to pay them if needed.

InvaderGIR · 23 Apr 2008 at 16:02

Yup.

Thought I'd warn in case it hadn't been thought about.

InvG

lolwtfbbq · 23 Apr 2008 at 16:17

One thing to know: the batteries are rubbish. Otherwise, go for it.

LordSplodge · 23 Apr 2008 at 16:19

BoomAM said:
Or if your have an Apple, that happens regardless. .
At least it does on my AppleProUSB keyboard. .

All Apple keyboards do that.. Causes me grief going back and forth from Windows (work) and Mac (home)

CheekyKid said:
Because of the weak dollar i've decided to buy a sony laptop from the USA. Any idea if the warranty will still be valid in the UK?

Couldn't pick us up a MacBook for the missis, could you? Non of that Sony tat in our house (I had a Sony Vaio around 5 years ago. T'was crap.)

Cheekykid · 23 Apr 2008 at 17:08

LordSplodge said:
All Apple keyboards do that.. Causes me grief going back and forth from Windows (work) and Mac (home)

Couldn't pick us up a MacBook for the missis, could you? Non of that Sony tat in our house (I had a Sony Vaio around 5 years ago. T'was crap.)

I'll be ordering it online and they have guaranteed to me that i will pay no import tax. I wouldn't mind buying a UK charger but I would mind if am with no guarantee here. Laptop is VGN-SZ780(US model)

TheVoice · 23 Apr 2008 at 17:29

uvmain said:
only problem you'll have is the '£' and '@' will be in the wrong places :/

stupid American keyboard layout!

And the single-height Enter key. I don't think I could own a US keyboard/laptop for that reason alone, regardless of money saved. The keyboard I've got at the moment is US International so although it's got no £ sign key, it does have the double-height Enter key at least.