Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

spiff101

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 11, 2006
33
0
A friend is going to beijing soon, and I was wondering if I could save money by getting him to buy a MacBook for me there (as opposed to my buying it in the UK). Anyone know prices, any issues to be aware of?
 
reflex said:
Issues: different keyboard layout, different power adapter, warranty, ...


Good point- unless you are okay with having a keyboard in chinese, you might want to think twice about buying one in Beijing. :eek: :)
 
But basically there is no such thing like "chinese keyboard" -- what you get is usually the international english keyboard, whether it is different from the british keyboard I have no idea. The warranty is probably valid globally, though it is safer if your friend ask for you personally. You will definitely nee a power adapter because the chinese plug is something like the american one.

However, the price of apple machines in mainland china seems to be not attractive at all, at least when compared with the euro price in france (the place where I am now), which is by itself high. You may get taxfree when your friend exit China with the machine.

But alternatively, HongKong would be a perfect place to buy the laptop, where you can get the lowest price, the best-fitted power adaptor and the warranty, I think.
 
I agree. Hong Kong is always teh best place to get electronics for a bargain. Just beware of counterfeit products. They tend to have tons there.
 
dmw007 said:
Good point- unless you are okay with having a keyboard in chinese,



it would be damn near impossible to fit all the chinese characters on one keyboard for a laptop
 
If you intend to bring it back and make customs aware of this fact, you will be paying tax and then the price will almost equal that of buying it in the UK. £50/£80 Max?

If you don't - be aware that UK customs are truly evil and have all seeing eyes. If they have an inkling as you come back through the airport, you will be paying tax on it.

I don’t think it’s worth it – As you will then have to buy the correct power adaptor, possibly a keyboard change (If that is even possible with the MacBook?).

tonfisk said:
what you get is usually the international english keyboard, whether it is different from the british keyboard I have no idea.

Our keyboard has the @ key where the international keyboard has the " key. Also, we obviously have the pound coin on a number key so it's easily available where as the international version just has the Dollar and the Euro I believe.
 
tonfisk said:
But basically there is no such thing like "chinese keyboard" -- what you get is usually the international english keyboard, whether it is different from the british keyboard I have no idea. The warranty is probably valid globally, though it is safer if your friend ask for you personally. You will definitely nee a power adapter because the chinese plug is something like the american one.
wako said:
it would be damn near impossible to fit all the chinese characters on one keyboard for a laptop


Oops, I was not aware of this....... :eek: :eek: :eek:
 
spiff101 said:
A friend is going to beijing soon, and I was wondering if I could save money by getting him to buy a MacBook for me there (as opposed to my buying it in the UK). Anyone know prices, any issues to be aware of?
Give me certain style,I will give you a price list in beijing
 
I might have the same problem when I bring my Refurb MBP from the US to CA. Hopefully I can cover up my trails by making it look like I brought it over the boarder to the US and am just bringing it back. I will throw out the box, stash the manuals and discs somewhere else and just have the laptop inside my backpack. I don't want to pay these silly Canadian taxes. Thats why I bought it in the US anyways, HALF the taxes 7% in North Carolina as apposed to 14% here in Toronto Ontario! Plus they didnt have the low end MBP refurb here in Toronto they only have the 1GB RAM, 100GB HDD, and 256VRAM which was way to costly. $2249+14%tax i think. yeah terrible, i know.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.