new macbook questions

[bigbadnewill]

Ok, so i'm in the running for a new macbook. My wife recently bought a new 24" 2.8GHz iMac, and I want in on the fun! I am going back to uni in a few weeks, and require a laptop for that. (I currently have a hp nx6110) but the battery life isn't the best. Also, the macbook is smaller, and has a much better resolution, which is important to me.

I was thinking about just getting the bog standard macbook, and if anything upgrading the HDD.

I have seen that i can upgrade the HDD and RAM later if necessary, I have seen the guides. How much are the HDD's and RAM (i'm uk) and does it void warranty etc?

Also, I checked out the USA site, and I can get the same macbook for so much cheaper over there, even with my uk student discount. I have a friend who frequently travels to the USA and he said he'd pick one up for me. If I did get him to grab me one, would I need a Uk power lead, or just the final bit that plugs into the wall? I have seen that the magsafe adapters are £60..which would reduce my savings vastly if i had to buy one of those!

Any advice would be great.

 

[Eidorian]

1. Replacing the drive or adding RAM doesn't void the warranty. Check to see if it's not DOA before doing so though.
2. You'd only need the plug on the end to be compatible.
3. Good luck getting it back into the UK!

 

[majidf]

Just remember, as I understand he cannot bring the box with him back to the UK or you will have to pay taxes. So a tip is to buy a laptop sleve or something to bring it back in.

 

[bigbadnewill]

Yeah, there is the whole getting it back into the UK issue.

As for the power supply, does the magsafe psu just terminate into the american style 2 pins, and then i can get one of those funky travel jobbies to do the magic?

Anywhere good to buy ram or hdd?

Oh yeah, and do they come with the laptop sock thing? I saw a friend with one, but forgot to ask him whether it came with it or not?!

 

[flopticalcube]

Yeah, there is the whole getting it back into the UK issue.

As for the power supply, does the magsafe psu just terminate into the american style 2 pins, and then i can get one of those funky travel jobbies to do the magic?

Anywhere good to buy ram or hdd?

Oh yeah, and do they come with the laptop sock thing? I saw a friend with one, but forgot to ask him whether it came with it or not?!

The plug end is actually removable so either buy an adaptor or get a UK plug end from a UK Apple store (via the intl. kit, I believe).

The MacBooks don't come with a sleeve.

Just as a note, one surefire way to get caught at customs is to come back to the UK with a US plug and a US keyboard on your "supposed" UK laptop. Just a thought.

 

[Eidorian]

The plug end is actually removable so either buy an adaptor or get a UK plug end from a UK Apple store (via the intl. kit, I believe). They don't come with a sleeve.

It'd be used to carry the laptop back.

 

[xSOTYx]

Just got off the phone with Western Computers (Apple Reseller). Was just getting them to hold a MacBook by for me so I can pick it up on the way to work! I also asked about RAM and they said for me to upgrade to 2GB of RAM, Id have to buy two sticks of 1GB at £50 each, So thats an extra £100.

Hope thats helped.