Buying a lap top, Here or the UK?

stockiefan


Joined: 04/05/2009
Posts: 574

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 09:23

Sorry if this has been discussed before. Thinking of purchasing a lap top, the question is do I buy in the TRNC, go the the "dark side" or the UK? Can anyone advise on a model please? Dont want all singing and dancing bells and whistles, Just a bog standard one for E mails and browsing.

Thanks in advance.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 11:38

Servicing and backup - in theory as close to where you live / work as possible

Price and how up to date knowledge / spares levels I leave to someone else.

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 11:42

They are very expensive here, my Son brought one over for me in March from the UK and it will be going up for Sale Mid/End of January as leaving its a Toshiba one of the best makes will be selling for £250

Sheila

StGeorgeI


Joined: 27/08/2009
Posts: 973

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 11:49

We ordered ours online at http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/ and had them delivered to family in the UK who brought them over for us. Done this twice and had no problems at all - very good company and cheaper than on the UK high street.



Over twice the price here i'm afraid...

MaggieAndBernie



Joined: 26/07/2008
Posts: 2012

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 12:06

Friend of mine bought one recently from the 'dark side' We looked at the in TRNC and they weren't that bad if you shop around - one thing to look out for is that it has an english keyboard rather than turkish! If you go along Tin Pan Alley to nearly the end there is a shop around there that sells Dell laptops at reasonable prices. If you cross over to Nicosia there are bargains to be had but not sure what you do about paying duty when bringing it back - we had to unwrap my friends & put it in a back pack to make it look as if she'd taken it over with her.

parky


Joined: 13/06/2009
Posts: 182

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 12:07

Expect to pay couple of hundred pounds extra if you buy one here.

marcosthechef



Joined: 30/11/2009
Posts: 646

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 12:10

For defs get it in the uk coz you wont have to deal with the turkish keyboard, which you do get used to after a while, its just i cant ever find the @ sign ahhhhhhhhh so annoying.

And they are much cheaper in the uk, just make sure you make it look used so the man at ercan doesnt want his duty lol

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 12:15

thats why I had my one bought over for me, but as I say if anyone wants a Toshiba Laptop end of January before I go back let me know £250

NCMan



Joined: 19/09/2009
Posts: 670

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 12:30

Hi Smithy'

What model Toshiba is it please.

If you can give all info i would appreciate it.

Does it have a built in Web cam!!

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 12:35

NCMan Model number

PSACIE-04W00VEN

No built in web cam my one sits on the top I like to able to move it around when the children are on skype

stockiefan


Joined: 04/05/2009
Posts: 574

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 13:40

Smithy, you have a done deal, no haggling, 250 quid. Mail me if you get chance, cheshiresteve@yahoo.com

cheers

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 13:50

I will send you an e mail Steve off board

stockiefan


Joined: 04/05/2009
Posts: 574

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 14:12

Thanks to all for your postings, much appreciated.

Oleander


Joined: 03/05/2009
Posts: 302

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 14:32

I recommend Laptops Direct if you buy in the UK. However, I don't recommend built in webcams - they always seem to get problems down the line.

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 14:56

Let me know if you dont receive my e mail Steve

sheila

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 15:24

The other thing to bear in mind when buying any computer out here in the TRNC is that you might not end up with an official version of the operating system be it Windows XP/Vista or Win 7 and that would certainly cause you problems when upgrades are required.

AJ

zerochlor


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 4024

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 15:29

This is a cracking deal at the moment with curry,s. the same but Dell brand is now £500 plus

3gb of ram.quite a fast laptop,built in webcam. £349



http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/product/305425

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 16:24

I bought a super laptop from UK as I didn't want a turkish keyboard and the south was far too expensive.



If you are worried in case of any problems when you get it here you can always check to see if there is a registered service engineer or similar in the south.



Alternatively, look on the For Sale board, I have seen a few there.

stockiefan


Joined: 04/05/2009
Posts: 574

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 16:39

Thanks Sheila, got it and replied.

joanie1


Joined: 25/07/2008
Posts: 164

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 16:46

I bought a Packard Bell in Currys in Oxford in August 4GB and built in Webcam for £399.99 - really pleased with it.



Joan

HNComputers


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 472

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 17:05

Hello Hello



Yes i agree laptops are extremely pricey over here...reason being we have to pay alot of custom goods when importing.



I would just like to correct AlsancakJack that laptops bought over here are actually built-in with Genuine Windows, especially if you buy them brand new, they also come with a recovery disc if you have to reformat your laptop in such case.



As much as I like to say that UK prices are cheaper, the only problems you could come across is if the laptop would need a repair within its year of gaurantee...

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 17:14

Hi H&N

Please do not misunderstand my statement: 'you might not end up with an official version of the operating system'. Of course I am not saying that every dealer supplies computers with unofficial copies of operating systems but I do know that it does happen out here.

AJ

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 17:27

My laptop is now sold

thanks Steve

HNComputers


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 472

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 17:31

Hey Alsancakjack



Hmm it's true, I mean we provide ungeniune copies and we have geniune copies too...but generally brand new laptops do come with geniune windows.



Computers is a different question....as they are mostly built by personal specifications.

Whistler


Joined: 28/07/2008
Posts: 1332

Message Posted:
01/12/2009 18:10

I had a new computer here built by Bortec and it has a pirate version of windows XP. I cannot get Windows Media Player on it and it is frequently telling me I have a pirate copy. So as Alsancakjack says - be careful.

HNComputers


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 472

Message Posted:
02/12/2009 10:12

Whistler...most robably whats happened is that you've updated your windows -(automatic updates) there are some versions of windows that are sold here that you cannot do the automatic updates.



But it is true especially for desktop computers that most versions of windows is not genuine (by the way I don't do this! Most versions of windows I provide is genuine and updatable)

Pippie


Joined: 02/12/2009
Posts: 1288

Message Posted:
02/12/2009 19:19

Hi,

For the guy who couldn't find the '@' on his Turkish keyboard, try this:

You can insert any symbol that is listed in an ASCII table (check out http://www.asciitable.com/). To do this, type the ASCII number for the desired symbol. An ASCII number is a three or four digit code number that represents the character like ñ is 0241 and å is 0229. In order to type in as ASCII code, hold down the 'ALT' key while typing the numbers using the numeric keypad. The numeric keypad, on a full size keyboard is usually the separate numbers on the right side of the keyboard. If you are using a laptop you must first find and select the number lock [Num Lk] key. You then will use the letter keys on your keyboard that now represent numbers along with the ALT key (on mine 0 is M, 1,2,3 is jkl etc.). To type @, hold down Alt and type 0044 or on a laptop press numlk, hold down Alt and type MMUU. Hope this helps!

Joe Soap


Joined: 17/10/2008
Posts: 170

Message Posted:
03/12/2009 12:38

If you do buy a laptop in the UK make sure you get a VAT refund. The supplier needs to sign the relevant Customs refund form and sign it, all sections.



Not all suppliers are registered to do this.......... PC world, Curry's group are, but check first. PCW did prevaricate about providing the form, so you may have to stand your ground. They also make a "admin charge"



At Stanstead there is no Customs office just a letter box where you have to deliver/post your refund application. Just after you go through passport check, but suggest you enquire with the Information Centre first, in casr changes have been made. I found the person there very helpful.



Hope this helps

Ballyboffin


Joined: 25/08/2007
Posts: 903

Message Posted:
03/12/2009 19:55

stockiefan,



Go to Curry's, PC World or Laser on Boxing Day and take out the insurance with a UK address.



Ballyb.



AKA.



Pat xx

scruff


Joined: 15/07/2008
Posts: 1070

Message Posted:
03/12/2009 20:32

I also bought a good Toshiba in the UK. Someone brought it over. It now over 2 years old & outside guarantee period & has been fine. As well as the ridiculous prices here in the North & the same too in the South, there's a very limited choice of makes & models especially in the North.

I'd totally disagree with Tom about buy near where you live. May be true for UK. but not for here. There isn't the backup & repairs in Cyprus either side. Guarantees are rarely honoured here either. Not much better in the South. Then if you buy South side there is the risk of getting caught for duty which makes it pointless buying in the South in the first place, except for slightly greater choice.

scruff


Joined: 15/07/2008
Posts: 1070

Message Posted:
03/12/2009 20:33

A friend, who regularly returns to UK. bought a Toshiba (quite a low spec.) in John Lewis. It went wrong during the first year, whilst still under guarantee. He took it back to John Lewis when he was in the UK.

& made it clear that time was of the essence, as far as repair was concerned, since he was only going to be in the UK. for 2 weeks. When he went back to JL he discovered that it was still in the store's loading bay & hadn't even been sent for repair. He was not amused. John lewis agreed that they were at fault & agreed to change the machine for a new one.

He decided that he'd prefer a better model & a larger screen. No problems - he paid the extra & got a brand new machine. Sorry to say nothing like that would happen here. No Sale of Goods act either side.

Very few outlets, especially smaller firms, even understand the word guarantee, let alone honour it.