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oililymad

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 5, 2009
408
0
UK
Welcome.
Just to add that IF you get your broadband from BT you can access BT Fon/Openzone most places for free wifi-if you're not a BT bod you have to pay for it. Also Starbucks & others offer free wifi in the city.
I've just bought my 19month old a laptop (toy) & he loves it. I think it's great to introduce youngsters to technology early 'cos soon there will be very different ways of learning.
Me, I'm struggling to think when I might need the 3G version since I work from home & when away I have my iPhone.
I think you might be pleasantly surprised by the student discount & if you (& he) want your iPad quickly don't order Applecare from Apple 'cos you'll get into 'merge in transit' that delays European orders.
Good Luck


thanks for the apple care warning. i am with bt so will go and look at this now never heard of it!!
 

iWoz

macrumors 6502a
Jan 12, 2009
686
0
East Midlands, U.K
Mifi is a wireless broadband dongle/router that you can get on the 3 network.

PAYG the Mifi is about £50, free on contract - cheapest contract is about £10 per month. Its certainly my plan to get one when the iPad comes out - not waiting/paying extra for built in 3g. Also, you can use it with your other devices and share the connection between multiple users.

Unless the iPad is coming out for free or v v cheap with a data contract, I don't see the point of a 3G + Wifi model.

This sounds awesome, Thanks for the heads up..

Just out of curiosity, Coming from an amateur.. When you use this device on say for eg a macbook does it recognise a 3g connection as WIFI? and would you pick up 3g signals on all networks? ie vodafone/o2/orange

Thanks
 

TheBritishBloke

macrumors 68030
Jul 21, 2009
2,532
0
United Kingdom
This sounds awesome, Thanks for the heads up..

Just out of curiosity, Coming from an amateur.. When you use this device on say for eg a macbook does it recognise a 3g connection as WIFI? and would you pick up 3g signals on all networks? ie vodafone/o2/orange

Thanks

The MiFi shows itself as a WiFi hub, so you'd connect to it as you normally would.

Many companies share their 3G signal, I believe 3 has a contract with T-Mobile, but it would still only work with '3' sim cards.
 

OllyW

Moderator
Staff member
Oct 11, 2005
17,196
6,800
The Black Country, England
And also it has to be a PERSONAL item which you've owned for over 12 months, and you'd have to prove this.

Don't break the law..

Rubbish!

It has to be for personal use but you don't have to own it for 12 months first!

I'm fully aware of the restrictions for posted goods, I was just highlighting the error in your original post that stated it was illegal to import goods without paying tax and duty.
 

TheBritishBloke

macrumors 68030
Jul 21, 2009
2,532
0
United Kingdom
Rubbish!

It has to be for personal use but you don't have to own it for 12 months first!

I'm fully aware of the restrictions for posted goods, I was just highlighting the error in your original post that stated it was illegal to import goods without paying tax and duty.

I have Insomnia atm, so Sorry if I've misunderstood your posts.

But as you said, it's for when you're flying into the UK after you've been on holiday/business trip to the states, and you're bringing it back with you. It doesn't apply to the Postal Service, where you can only get off Tax Free if you've owned it for over 12 months.
 

teidon

macrumors 6502
Dec 22, 2009
443
213
this is what i thought!!
i can get one posted after all
its far far cheaper. i just hope apple "get this" and price as i already said accordingly here.
wishful thinking but...
I dont know how it's in the UK, but I think that in most countries there are different allowance limits for importing goods if you bring them with you (traveling) or if you order it online.

For example in Finland you can bring 430€ worth of items with you from outside EU, but if you order online, the limit is around 40-50€. Over that, and you have to pay tax.

Also when ordering online, the shipping and packaging fees are included in the total price. So if I order something that costs 100€ and shipping is 30€, I have to pay 130€ * 22% (VAT in Finland) + customs duty.


Also notice, that if you order from outside EU, the items won't have warranty within EU. So if you order something from USA and one week later it breaks, you would have to send it to USA for warranty repairs, and you are the one paying the shipping fees - both ways.
 

OllyW

Moderator
Staff member
Oct 11, 2005
17,196
6,800
The Black Country, England
Also notice, that if you order from outside EU, the items won't have warranty within EU. So if you order something from USA and one week later it breaks, you would have to send it to USA for warranty repairs, and you are the one paying the shipping fees - both ways.

Most Apple products have worldwide warranty cover. iPhones don't and I'm unsure about the desktop computers but all the other portable products are covered.
 

iSlate Fanboy

macrumors member
Jan 17, 2010
43
0
I do like the sound of the MiFi option. I wasn't even aware it was available in the UK yet. You never know though, as with a lot of mobile products the iPad may be 'free' if you sign up for a £30 per month data contract for 2years!
 

TheBritishBloke

macrumors 68030
Jul 21, 2009
2,532
0
United Kingdom
Most Apple products have worldwide warranty cover. iPhones don't and I'm unsure about the desktop computers but all the other portable products are covered.

I got my iPhone replaced in Germany when it broke? I live in the UK.

I also got told by an AppleCare representative that the iMacs are covered worldwide, however they may take longer as they'd have to order some country specific parts such as the PSUs?
 

TraceyS/FL

macrumors 601
Jan 11, 2007
4,174
316
North Central Florida
To the op, I'm a mom to a special needs kid too and see some great opportunities for her with the iPad. My oldest has some minor issues, related to writing and is currently using a Touch to take notes and it is working great for her. She got a picture of an ipad for her birthday yesterday! Lol!
 

rogerram

macrumors regular
Jul 12, 2008
194
0
Deepings, UK
Bt Fon

BT only offers USB Mobile broadband, the MiFi can be used anywhere with any device that has WiFi, the BT one would mean you'd have to be in a Cafe, train station etc.

I'm not talking about mobile broadband, I think you misunderstood:

"The Wi-Fi community built by you

BT FON is a growing community of people who share a small portion of their home broadband with other BT FON members. In return they get free access to hundreds of thousands of other member's Wi-Fi Hotspots around the world.

Connect to your broadband on the go

As a member of BT FON you'll never be far from a Wi-Fi Hotspot you can use to access the Internet. Whether you're at the bus stop, visiting friends or on holiday abroad, you'll always be able to find a Hotspot nearby."

And it's free for BT Broadband customers!!! You could check its availability on your iPhone & FON or Openzone hotspots are widespread & certainly not restricted to cafe's or stations.
 

iWoz

macrumors 6502a
Jan 12, 2009
686
0
East Midlands, U.K
One cool thing I wanted to mention, if he has issues with writing is the "Dragon speech" app, which allows you to talk to the device, and it translates speech to text. Very cool app and works rather well. As far as I know of one of the few that really work.

Hope your son has a happy bday :) He will enjoy his new iPad!

Thats a shame, wanted to have a play with this Dragon Speech App
 

oililymad

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 5, 2009
408
0
UK
i wanted to play with the dragon app too. maybe soon.


anyhow, i am in poo with the forum for defending myself, go figure.
 

badgerman

macrumors 6502a
Jun 9, 2008
546
1
Just to clarify, you can get the $499 from US and fly it back to UK no probs (legal as below duty level).

Might be worth trying to get it through Amazon.com to US friend then save on state n sales tax (certain states). then its just exchange cost.

guess then your at mercy of amazon having the ipad.

good luck
 

northy124

macrumors 68020
Nov 18, 2007
2,293
8
They can import it to UK tax free as found by Northy on the other UK thread.
As much as I'd like to take credit it was rsvrmille who said it first, I said it after him when trying to get ct2k7 to understand that you can get the basic one in without paying taxes :) (although I gave up in the end lol).
 

badgerman

macrumors 6502a
Jun 9, 2008
546
1
As much as I'd like to take credit it was rsvrmille who said it first, I said it after him when trying to get ct2k7 to understand that you can get the basic one in without paying taxes :) (although I gave up in the end lol).

well ta to both.

At least the real word is spreading.
 

tiguk

macrumors 6502
Jun 12, 2008
311
5
UK
Maybe I'm missing the point of this thread, but why would you want to import it?

Steve Jobs said in the Keynote that the WiFi version would get a worldwide release within 60 days..... to me that means it'll be available here the same day as it will in the US. Doesn't it?

The only unknown is when the 3G enabled version is released in other countries, as they haven't yet negotiated data only deals with other non-US carriers. He said it'd be released in the US within 90 days, but didn't give any timescale for anywhere else.
However, I've read news today that they've been talking with O2 about this already. I'm willing to bet the UK will get the 3G on the same day, or within a couple of weeks of the US release.
 

badgerman

macrumors 6502a
Jun 9, 2008
546
1
Maybe I'm missing the point of this thread, but why would you want to import it?

Steve Jobs said in the Keynote that the WiFi version would get a worldwide release within 60 days..... to me that means it'll be available here the same day as it will in the US. Doesn't it?

The only unknown is when the 3G enabled version is released in other countries, as they haven't yet negotiated data only deals with other non-US carriers. He said it'd be released in the US within 90 days, but didn't give any timescale for anywhere else.
However, I've read news today that they've been talking with O2 about this already. I'm willing to bet the UK will get the 3G on the same day, or within a couple of weeks of the US release.

i guess the clue is in the title, likely that the 16GB wifi will be more than £308 ($499). hence prob cheapest is to import from US if want most basic version, otherwise will be above import level for tax free.
 

tiguk

macrumors 6502
Jun 12, 2008
311
5
UK
i guess the clue is in the title, likely that the 16GB wifi will be more than £308 ($499). hence prob cheapest is to import from US if want most basic version, otherwise will be above import level for tax free.

$499 = £318 at current exchange rate

As Xenoxide mentioned earlier, in comparison, the Time Capsule 2TB costs $499 in the US and £388 here (including VAT), which is a good indication.

That's a difference of £60, with which to pay State sales tax (in most States) and ship the device. Plus, you would have a delay getting it to the UK whichever way you did it.

Is it really worth all the effort? If you happened to be in the US at the time, I guess that's a different story. But for the sake of maybe £30 saving, if you're lucky, I know I'd just queue at the local :apple: store like the rest of us.
 

badgerman

macrumors 6502a
Jun 9, 2008
546
1
$499 = £318 at current exchange rate

As Xenoxide mentioned earlier, in comparison, the Time Capsule 2TB costs $499 in the US and £388 here (including VAT), which is a good indication.

That's a difference of £60, with which to pay State sales tax (in most States) and ship the device. Plus, you would have a delay getting it to the UK whichever way you did it.

Is it really worth all the effort? If you happened to be in the US at the time, I guess that's a different story. But for the sake of maybe £30 saving, if you're lucky, I know I'd just queue at the local :apple: store like the rest of us.

Agreed, although I believe Amazon is tax free in certain states. If in no rush to get 16GB wifi, have a friend in US state that is tax free thru amazon and visiting them after late March it would likely be cheapest way to get one in UK, as requested.
 

EssentialParado

macrumors 65816
Feb 17, 2005
1,162
48
The exchange rate is horrible for the UK pound right now. It will barely make a difference to import it from the USA. It may end up being more expensive. Right now, technically, with the exchange rate, content off the App store (for example) is cheaper to buy in the UK.
 
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