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Buying Mac mini from Japan
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I'm looking at the Apple Japan website right now and the price of the base Mini is 94,800¥, tax included. That's $507 vs the US price of $599 plus tax. Keep in mind that if you buy the computer in Japan you won't get Applecare support in the US. But if that doesn't matter to you, go for it. I'm pretty sure you'll get a Japanese power cable, but the difference between that and US plug are minimal and won't affect anything. It'll work fine.
The base m4 Mini is currently $509 from the US Apple refurb store. Have bought quite a few Macs there, all were all "like new" and included the same warranty as a new Mac. Here in the US, that seems like a much less complicated option, but maybe the equation is different if you're in another country?
Or try Microcenter . They just had a sale where base mini was $399.
I remember "back in the day", the US had different Wi-Fi frequencies from everywhere else. Is that still a thing, or is that firmly in the 802.11b/g era?
I’m actually holidaying in Japan. So it seems like a good deal to me
It’s tax free for foreigners shopping in Japan. Can I purchase the AppleCare in my country that I’m residing in?
That was never the case for WiFi. It was for cellular, tho. Longer for Verizon than other carriers.
Are you sure? e.g. This article, which, assuming the date is correct, predates AI slop.
I think in routers you'd have to set a region (eg US or Europe), I assume that a reinstall of macOS to use US location would help in that instance but would need independent confirmation.
maybe.....maybe not....it appears that the version(s) of AppleCare that will be available for purchase depends on which country you live in.
You'll need to ask a seller in the country where you're residing
Buy it and enjoy the savings. You won't have any issues at all. When you boot it in your residence country you will get the same privileges as if you purchased the unit in your country. Apple will not ask for your receipt of purchase, they never do with any of their devices, I live in Thailand but us my Apple ID from USA. They go by your Apple ID.... So nothing to be concerned with and take advantage of the tax and exchange savings you are receiving!!!
Why even consider it, when Microcentre wants $399 for a Mini - with full 12 months US warranty.
If it were a $10,000 Studio, then I could understand that finding a barely-used bargain would be attractive - but $399? Come on, really?
If it were a $10,000 Studio, then I could understand that finding a barely-used bargain would be attractive - but $399? Come on, really?
Big deals like that are rare outside of the US though. Best prices I have seen in the UK are £509 usually from places like Amazon. Other retailers price their deals a little higher than that and Apple UK refurbished is usually around that level.
Amazing price TBF. Pity custom builds only come from Apple direct.
I don't like to overspec Macs, the value is in base SKUs. A base spec Mac Studio M2 Max is decent value if deals can be had.
I agree with "sublunar" I purchased the base model mini M4 and then spent my savings from the sale on a Qwiizlab dock with a 1TB NVME SSD, it really hums compared to my old 2018 intel
Different channels, which are configurable normally.
Pretty sure most devices just use channels 1, 6, 11 anyhow to get the least frequency overlap on the 2.4 band - even outside of the USA. I’ve never used or seen used 12, 13 or 14.
I don’t recall any issues using my Aussie iphone either celllular or wifi in the USA or Canada when i was last there.
Pretty much all of my devices have been purchased like this and you won't find any hardware problems - I had to change the plug on my Mac mini, but that was a 1 minute job. ( since Apple stopped putting chargers in most products you don't even have a plug problem with the mobile kit) The stuff is way cheaper and Apple have always supported it in my experience ( including swapping one out when I took into an Apple Store)