Off to Japan in the middle of new mbp suspense

[shiv]

My wife and I are moving to Japan October 24. We currently live in Canada. Like many other committed and focused individuals, I've been waiting for the release of new MBP.

I, like most are hoping this next week will bring the intro of these new machines. However, I also know that there is a possibility that, if there is going to be a new mbp release, it may come later, maybe some time in October. Furthermore, if they do release it next week, I'm sure there is also a chance for quite a backorder on them.

I am ready to buy the day it is released. IF it is released, let's say next week, but they are really backordered by the time I try to get mine. The date of them shipping mine runs into days after we leave Canada. Can I, instead have it shipped to Japan or to a store in Japan where I could pick it up?

What IF the mbp does not get released till after my departure date. Can I order one with English keyboard in Japan? What is shipping costs, and extra charges, such as taxes in Japan for electronics? Altogether, is it more expensive to buy it in Japan vs. Canada.

Lots of questions in this post, but hope you can be of help with some of them!

Any tips or advice for my situation would be really appreciated.

 

[kgarchar]

i have a good feeling it will be released before that. if you plan to custom order, it may take longer, but almost every other laptop has C2D in it now except for apple. expect to wake up to a new macbook next week or something.

 

[suneohair]

I doubt you could have it shipped to Japan. Give Apple a call to be sure.

If you order in Japan, you dont have to worry about an English keyboard. The Japanese keyboard will have the english letters on them. You will just need to configure it so that english input is default. There will also be a button on the keyboard that looks like this:

英数　and is pronounced eisuu. That will allow you to turn on English input.
So you would be fine.

The MBP is probably more expensive in Japan. The low end MBP in Japan is 2,402.71 CAD. While it is 2199 in the CAD store. There is also no student discount in Japan.

You would be better off getting the Macbook Pro in Canada. IF they are updated next week, if you order it immediately you will have a good chance of getting it before you move.

Good luck in Japan. It is a great place. What are you going there for?

 

[sushi]

My wife and I are moving to Japan October 24. We currently live in Canada. Like many other committed and focused individuals, I've been waiting for the release of new MBP.

I, like most are hoping this next week will bring the intro of these new machines. However, I also know that there is a possibility that, if there is going to be a new mbp release, it may come later, maybe some time in October. Furthermore, if they do release it next week, I'm sure there is also a chance for quite a backorder on them.

I am ready to buy the day it is released. IF it is released, let's say next week, but they are really backordered by the time I try to get mine. The date of them shipping mine runs into days after we leave Canada. Can I, instead have it shipped to Japan or to a store in Japan where I could pick it up?

What IF the mbp does not get released till after my departure date. Can I order one with English keyboard in Japan? What is shipping costs, and extra charges, such as taxes in Japan for electronics? Altogether, is it more expensive to buy it in Japan vs. Canada.

Lots of questions in this post, but hope you can be of help with some of them!

Any tips or advice for my situation would be really appreciated.

Congrats on coming to Japan.

Most major cities have stores were you can purchase Apple computers. If in Tokyo, you can visit one of two Apple stores or a variety of other places.

In Japan, there is a 5% sales tax on everything.

For a cost comparison, I just purchased an iPod Nano 8GB at a local computer store (PC Depot) for 29,700 yen. Subtract 5% for sales tax, that would be 28,215 yen. Convert to US dollars at 112 to the dollar would be $251.92 which is pretty close to the US Apple store price of $249.

YMMV.

English keyboards are another issue. Not sure on the MB or MBP. However, with the iMac, the Apple store wanted to charge for the US keyboard. So you would end up with two keyboards.

Personally, I like the Japanese style keyboard used on Apple computers. You can set to US if you want or just use the Japanese layout. If you are a touch typer the former is probably the easier to use.

One advantage of purchasing in Japan, is warranty support. Many retail stores will just replace a defective computer, iPod, monitor, etc. The Apple stores on the other hand tend to send away to the depot where the computers are fixed so you have to wait 5-7 days.

On a side note, where are you going to live? What are you going to do?

 

[kalun]

I doubt you could have it shipped to Japan. Give Apple a call to be sure.

If you order in Japan, you dont have to worry about an English keyboard. The Japanese keyboard will have the english letters on them. You will just need to configure it so that english input is default. There will also be a button on the keyboard that looks like this:

英数　and is pronounced eisuu. That will allow you to turn on English input.
So you would be fine.

The MBP is probably more expensive in Japan. The low end MBP in Japan is 2,402.71 CAD. While it is 2199 in the CAD store. There is also no student discount in Japan.

You would be better off getting the Macbook Pro in Canada. IF they are updated next week, if you order it immediately you will have a good chance of getting it before you move.

Good luck in Japan. It is a great place. What are you going there for?

Agree with the keyboard setup, it is relatively easy to switch to English input. However, please beware there some of the keys are layouted differently on a Japanese keyboard, for example, characters like: {}*`_?>|\

About the cost, there ARE student discount! If fact, you just have to go to the Japan Apple online store (http://www.apple.co.jp) and click on the educational discount page! It is much easilier than Canada's webpage, which ask you to prove that you are a student (ie, you have to give your student ID).

correction about the comment on the price, I think the canadian store includes tax in their price.

 

[suneohair]

Agree with the keyboard setup, it is relatively easy to switch to English input. However, please beware there some of the keys are layouted differently on a Japanese keyboard, for example, characters like: {}*`_?>|\

About the cost, there ARE student discount! If fact, you just have to go to the Japan Apple online store (http://www.apple.co.jp) and click on the educational discount page! It is much easilier than Canada's webpage, which ask you to prove that you are a student (ie, you have to give your student ID).

correction about the comment on the price, I think the canadian store includes tax in their price.

Sorry about that. I completely missed the 学生 at the bottom. Looks like it is 10% off for the MBP.

 

[shiv]

Wow, thanks with the great input everyone!

So, with the Japanese models, they have the same english writing on the keyboards with japanese kanji/kana as shift buttons? I don't really look at my keyboard when I'm typing, but different placement of keys like "/,;:" and such might be challenging to get used to at first.

That's interesting that the tax is worked in on the Japanese site. I noticed the prices and I thought it would be about 200 more before taxes. With the worked in tax, it makes it very comparable. We're in Alberta so we pay 6% tax. With tax, I would be paying $2330 CAD in Canada. 249,800 yen works out right now to about $2400.00 CAD. So the price difference isn't as bad as I thought it would be.

My wife and I are going to be teaching English in Osaka, the Minami area. I should start looking for apple stores in Osaka.

It's funny, I've been waiting to buy an apple notebook since about November of last year. With the Macbook Pro first coming out and being the first rev, I've been biding time. Finally when things seemed to being more reliable with them, merom and talks of the rev b starts abrewing. I can't believe how close my major deadline (departure date) and the suspensed release are.

If there aren't too many disadvantages to buying in Japan, I would like to carry on and wait to buy the updated version of the mbp if the date is after October 24th. I've waited this long already.

Like everyone else, fingers crossed for this Monday/Tuesday.

Oh! and thanks for the best wishes! I went to Osaka almost 8 years ago, and I finally get to return and show my wife a culture I adore.

 

[kalun]

Sorry about that. I completely missed the 学生 at the bottom. Looks like it is 10% off for the MBP.

lol, everybody makes mistakes....especially for 外国人 like us.

By the way, if the OP is worry about the Japanese keyboard, you can always select an English keyboard instead. There should be a キーボード option where you can select a US keyboard.

 

[GavinT]

Apple prices in Japan seem to be quite similar to the US/Canada... compared to Europe and to some extent Australia. Normally, stuff in Japan is pretty expensive, and in the same sort of price bracket as Euro countries (making US/Canada seem cheap).

I wouldn't worry about the keyboard to be honest.

First, you can specify to have a US keyboard if I recall correctly. I'm guessing the US keyboard is similar to the Canadian one (US a fair bit different to the UK one, which is what I grew up on).

Most Mac keyboards seem to be very similar (comparing a US, Japanese and an Australian one). The only notable differences I saw in the Japanese to Australian (my MBP is an Australian version) is the 2 additional keys for controlling Japanese input methods, and that the Caps Lock is where the Fn key is, the Fn key is where the CTRL key is, and the CTRL key is where the Caps Lock is (or something like that).

To be honest, even though it's pretty easy to switch Japanese input methods using other key-combos, having the dedicated extra keys would be quite useful.

 

[sushi]

Apple prices in Japan seem to be quite similar to the US/Canada...

Yep, this is quite a change from 10 years ago when Apple Japan's prices were greatly inflated.

 

[kalun]

My wife and I are going to be teaching English in Osaka, the Minami area.

Nice, 関西 area. Remember to try Kobe Beef and 懐石料理!

Best of luck dude.

 

[shiv]

Thanks, we're both really excited!
I think I'm looking forward to the Takoyaki (Here is where those Kanji dedicated keys could be very nice I guess!) the most!

Another question I forgot to ask is about the energy outlets. From what I've been reading on other general sites, the Japanese wattage on the outlets is a little bit weaker than here in Canada. If I purchased a Japanese spec MBP, would I have to use a converter when I come back to Canada? Vice versa to that, if I buy a Canadian spec MBP, would I have to get a converter to use it in Japan?

 

[kalun]

Thanks, we're both really excited!
I think I'm looking forward to the Takoyaki (Here is where those Kanji dedicated keys could be very nice I guess!) the most!

Another question I forgot to ask is about the energy outlets. From what I've been reading on other general sites, the Japanese wattage on the outlets is a little bit weaker than here in Canada. If I purchased a Japanese spec MBP, would I have to use a converter when I come back to Canada? Vice versa to that, if I buy a Canadian spec MBP, would I have to get a converter to use it in Japan?

So far, every piece of electronics that I brought from Canada seems to work. My friend brought his macbook pro from Canada, and that seems to work without a converter.

I am not sure if the reverse holds true, but I would suspect so.

One thing to note, however, is that Japanese wall plugs often only accept the 2 prong types of plug and you may need a travel adaptor if your any of your electronics have the 3 pronged type of plug.

 

[generik]

lol, everybody makes mistakes....especially for 外国人 like us.

By the way, if the OP is worry about the Japanese keyboard, you can always select an English keyboard instead. There should be a キーボード option where you can select a US keyboard.

Am I missing something? Foreigner looks exactly like the chinese characters for "Wai Guo Ren"

Thanks, we're both really excited!
I think I'm looking forward to the Takoyaki (Here is where those Kanji dedicated keys could be very nice I guess!) the most!

Another question I forgot to ask is about the energy outlets. From what I've been reading on other general sites, the Japanese wattage on the outlets is a little bit weaker than here in Canada. If I purchased a Japanese spec MBP, would I have to use a converter when I come back to Canada? Vice versa to that, if I buy a Canadian spec MBP, would I have to get a converter to use it in Japan?

The Macbook Pro has a universal power adapter that works for 110V and 220V so no worries there, you need to get these instead

 

[miles01110]

I believe I saw the Apple Store in Osaka when I visited there. Also, try the okonomiyaki....it's delicious. The aquarium is pretty cool too.

 

[sushi]

Another question I forgot to ask is about the energy outlets. From what I've been reading on other general sites, the Japanese wattage on the outlets is a little bit weaker than here in Canada. If I purchased a Japanese spec MBP, would I have to use a converter when I come back to Canada? Vice versa to that, if I buy a Canadian spec MBP, would I have to get a converter to use it in Japan?

Apple uses universal power supplies. A class act!

These power supplies will work:
- Line voltage: 100V to 240V AC
- Frequency: 50Hz to 60Hz

I believe that the Kansai area is 100 volts at 50Hz so no worries. Additionally, it will work fine when you return to Canada.

If you like electronics, you will find that electricity in Japan is expensive and the breaker box has a low AMP rating. You can usually upgrade a bit via the electric company. But it is still limited. Many apartments have 30 AMP main fuzes. You can get up to 60 or 80 in some cases. Not at all like the states, or I assume Canada.

 

[shiv]

If you like electronics, you will find that electricity in Japan is expensive and the breaker box has a low AMP rating. You can usually upgrade a bit via the electric company. But it is still limited. Many apartments have 30 AMP main fuzes. You can get up to 60 or 80 in some cases. Not at all like the states, or I assume Canada.

I definately like electronics. Currently, the company we're working for will have an apartment ready for us. If it's not satisfactory, we want to find an apartment ourselves. So, I'm hoping that we can find a place with electricity included. Is it a possibility to find rental apartments that offer this in Japan?

oh! and yes, I can't wait for Okonomiyaki as well!

 

[meepm00pmeep]

lucky you to go to Japan

 

[puckhead193]

can you have it shipped to a friend/family member in canada and when it arrives have it shipped to you in japan... and just pay them back for the shipping costs... that's seems simplest to me. When you order online you can have a billing address and a shipping address.

 

[dwdrummer959]

私も！

I too am going to Japan soon (Oct. 2, for a year) and am also desperately awaiting the Merom MBPs. I'm really hoping it happens Monday w/ immediate availability as I really don't want to go with out a computer (the plane might have wifi!!!) nor do I want to pick up a Yonah MBP when Meroms are clearly right around the corner. Fingers crossed!

 

[shiv]

dwdrummer: I definately feel your anxst, but I think you're in need of immediate release even more than I am. On the other hand, after hearing what everyone's saying about the japanese spec version, and its pricing, I may even not mind waiting till I go to Japan to pick one up now.

I could get it shipped to my family here in Edmonton and have them ship it to Japan, but I wonder how much that will cost and how much insurance I would have to put on the post and all that. If it were being shipped by Apple to Japan, I would feel a little bit more at ease (presuming they would be liable if the equipment was wrecked when it arrives or if it were lost) If I were to get my family to ship it from Canada to Japan, I presume I would be liable for lost equipment or damaged en route.

 

[freebird]

I too am going to Japan soon (Oct. 2, for a year) and am also desperately awaiting the Merom MBPs. I'm really hoping it happens Monday w/ immediate availability as I really don't want to go with out a computer (the plane might have wifi!!!) nor do I want to pick up a Yonah MBP when Meroms are clearly right around the corner. Fingers crossed!

Me three! October 6th, for two months. My current laptop is a 300mhz iBook clamshell... not gonna do the job. My money is on a Monday release though, but then who knows how long until they are actually available...

 

[dwdrummer959]

wow, it really is a small world after all!

Apple got the Merom iMacs out quite soon, so hopefully they'll be able to do the same with the MBPs...I was at a Best Buy yesterday and they had a Sony laptop with Merom on display...Come on Apple!!!

I wouldn't be totally against picking one up in Japan. It would be kind of cool to have Kana/Kanji on the keyboard. However, I'm not sure if I can survive with out having a computer for a few days.

Does anyone know what the wifi situation is in Japan? Is it really widespread like it is here?

 

[YS2003]

Do you ned the world travel kit for US/Canada Mac in Japan

I thought the plug types in Japan and USA/Canada are the same. Do you really need to buy the World Travel Kit for Macs purchased in USA/Canada?

 

[puckhead193]

I thought the plug types in Japan and USA/Canada are the same. Do you really need to buy the World Travel Kit for Macs purchased in USA/Canada?

i didn't need it when i went to China. i know its different country... just some input...