Advice re: iMac

[appletime]

Hiya,

I need a bit of help. I am planning to go on vacation next month to Hong Kong and I'm thinking on buying an iMac while I'm there. But I was wondering if it's possible (not to mention safe) to take it back home with me? Has anyone tried this out before?

I'm not sure how this exactly works. If anyone can offer advice it would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

 

[Wellander]

Hi,
What country do you live in?
We will need to know that.
Thanks.

 

[appletime]

Hey Wellander,

I live in Dubai (don't know if you've heard of it)... it's basically in the Middle East.

Cheers

 

[EricNau]

What is your reasoning for buying an iMac in Hong Kong?

Is there any other way you could obtain a Mac (online stores, phone, etc.)? If so, I would go with that.

 

[appletime]

A couple of reasons to be honest. For one, it's pretty difficult to find a Mac in the city and second, if you do manage to find one they cost about as double their average worth. I'll be saving about 40% if I buy overseas. And since I'm travelling to Hong Kong I thought it might be a good try if I get the iMac from there itself.

I'm afraid there are no online stores selling Macs in this country, let alone through phone.

 

[Wellander]

Hi,
Thanks for the reply.
Is the power the same?
Are the outlets that you plug items into the same?
And yuo might want to see what you are allowed to bring in to your country (as far sa laws).
Other then that I do not see a problem with it.
B.T.W. Is it cheaper for you to buy it there?

 

[dmw007]

A couple of reasons to be honest. For one, it's pretty difficult to find a Mac in the city and second, if you do manage to find one they cost about as double their average worth. I'll be saving about 40% if I buy overseas. And since I'm travelling to Hong Kong I thought it might be a good try if I get the iMac from there itself.

I'm afraid there are no online stores selling Macs in this country, let alone through phone.

To save 40% it sounds like a good idea to buy an iMac in Hong Kong- as long as you will not have any problems getting it back home to Dubai.

 

[appletime]

Hi,
Thanks for the reply.
Is the power the same?
Are the outlets that you plug items into the same?
And yuo might want to see what you are allowed to bring in to your country (as far sa laws).
Other then that I do not see a problem with it.
B.T.W. Is it cheaper for you to buy it there?

Heya,

I thought the iMacs were given a Universal power cord?

From www.apple.com/imac (under tech specs):

Electrical and environmental requirements

* Meets ENERGY STAR requirements
* Line voltage: 100-240V AC
* Power cable Frequency: 50Hz to 60Hz, single phase
* Maximum continuous power: 180W
* Operating temperature: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)
* Storage temperature: -40° to 185° F (-40° to 85° C)
* Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
* Maximum altitude: 10,000 feet

Dubai runs on 220 volts so I reckon that the machine will work fine?

 

[appletime]

To save 40% it sounds like a good idea to buy an iMac in Hong Kong- as long as you will not have any problems getting it back home to Dubai.

Hey there,

Yes, I do believe its a good idea, however I'm just not sure how to put it into action. Will I declare the iMac as a carry on when I arrive at the airport?

 

[dmw007]

Hey there,

Yes, I do believe its a good idea, however I'm just not sure how to put it into action. Will I declare the iMac as a carry on when I arrive at the airport?

That sounds like that should work. I certainly would not want it stowed underneath the plane as it could easily become damaged (I know what they can do to suitcases, not to mention computers ).

 

[skubish]

Heya,

I thought the iMacs were given a Universal power cord?

From www.apple.com/imac (under tech specs):

Electrical and environmental requirements

* Meets ENERGY STAR requirements
* Line voltage: 100-240V AC
* Power cable Frequency: 50Hz to 60Hz, single phase
* Maximum continuous power: 180W
* Operating temperature: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)
* Storage temperature: -40° to 185° F (-40° to 85° C)
* Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
* Maximum altitude: 10,000 feet

Dubai runs on 220 volts so I reckon that the machine will work fine?

Sounds like the power will be OK but you will probably have to buy an adapter for the plug if it is different from Hong Kong.

 

[appletime]

That sounds like that should work. I certainly would not want it stowed underneath the plane as it could easily become damaged (I know what they can do to suitcases, not to mention computers ).

Haha, yeah. Do airlines usually allow personal computers as a carry on? I know the 20 inch iMac weighs around 10kg and the 17 inch around 7kg.

And hey, you're from Lebanon. Not too far from Dubai. Ahlan!

 

[dmw007]

Haha, yeah. Do airlines usually allow personal computers as a carry on? I know the 20 inch iMac weighs around 10kg and the 17 inch around 7kg.

I am pretty sure that you can bring it aboard as a carry on item (call the airline and check to see if this will be okay first). On my recent trip to Miami, Florida I brought two laptops with me (iBook G4 & MacBook Pro) so I am pretty sure you could bring one iMac onboard with you.

And hey, you're from Lebanon. Not too far from Dubai. Ahlan!

Yes, I am from Lebanon- Lebanon County, PA, USA.

 

[Macky-Mac]

if it meets the size requirements for the airline you're traveling then you can carry it on

one thing to consider though, what's the warranty coverage on an imac as far as where it's covered? I know portables have a worldwide warranty but I thought Apple's desktops were only covered in the country of purchase which would mean that you might have to send it back to HK for warranty service........better check that out

 

[appletime]

Yes, I am from Lebanon- Lebanon County, PA, USA.

Oops, sorry there buddy! Pretty cool to know that there's a place called Lebanon in PA.

 

[appletime]

one thing to consider though, what's the warranty coverage on an imac as far as where it's covered? I know portables have a worldwide warranty but I thought Apple's desktops were only covered in the country of purchase which would mean that you might have to send it back to HK for warranty service........better check that out

I'm not sure, exactly. Isn't Applecare's warranty worldwide?

 

[dextertangocci]

A couple of reasons to be honest. For one, it's pretty difficult to find a Mac in the city and second, if you do manage to find one they cost about as double their average worth. I'll be saving about 40% if I buy overseas. And since I'm travelling to Hong Kong I thought it might be a good try if I get the iMac from there itself.

I'm afraid there are no online stores selling Macs in this country, let alone through phone.

Don't they have a kind of generic Apple Store in Dubai (the Macstore I think it's called)?

 

[appletime]

Don't they have a kind of generic Apple Store in Dubai (the Macstore I think it's called)?

Yeah, there's a Mac store in one of the malls here. But the prices are so much higher than what the original prices are it's somewhat frustrating to purchase from the shop.

 

[mduser63]

I'm not sure, exactly. Isn't Applecare's warranty worldwide?

Yes, I believe AppleCare is worldwide. If you're going to take your iMac as carry-on, you're going to want to take it out of the box and put it in some kind of smaller case. The box is much too big for carry-on, but the iMac itself isn't too bad. There's a case called an iLugger that's specifically made for carrying iMacs, but I'm not sure if you'd be able to buy one of those.

 

[dextertangocci]

Yeah, there's a Mac store in one of the malls here. But the prices are so much higher than what the original prices are it's somewhat frustrating to purchase from the shop.

Yeah, same here in South Africa.

 

[Eidorian]

Yes, I believe AppleCare is worldwide. If you're going to take your iMac as carry-on, you're going to want to take it out of the box and put it in some kind of smaller case. The box is much too big for carry-on, but the iMac itself isn't too bad. There's a case called an iLugger that's specifically made for carrying iMacs, but I'm not sure if you'd be able to buy one of those.

I believe this comment has cropped up before but the 17" iMac somehow manages to meet carry on size. Still, your milage may vary.

AppleCare on laptops was the only one with worldwide coverage. They might have changed this to include desktops recently though.

 

[benthewraith]

Just curious but won't you have to pay a duty tax on it? Or maybe not. :S

 

[codo]

Just curious but won't you have to pay a duty tax on it? Or maybe not. :S

I would imagine so? - But surly it won’t be as high as 40% so it’s probably still a saving.

 

[generik]

Yes, I believe AppleCare is worldwide. If you're going to take your iMac as carry-on, you're going to want to take it out of the box and put it in some kind of smaller case. The box is much too big for carry-on, but the iMac itself isn't too bad. There's a case called an iLugger that's specifically made for carrying iMacs, but I'm not sure if you'd be able to buy one of those.

Hang on there a second, I was afraid someone would say just that.

Applecare is worldwide for laptops only, for desktops they are country specific. There was a previous poster on MR forums who brought his iMac from US to the UK and got hit by exactly this when he tried to send it in for servicing.

I am not too sure if the normal warranty coverage is country specific as well, but Applecare is definitely out (ie: you can't buy Applecare from Apple US and have it work in the UK for desktops)

 

[mduser63]

Hang on there a second, I was afraid someone would say just that.

Applecare is worldwide for laptops only, for desktops they are country specific. There was a previous poster on MR forums who brought his iMac from US to the UK and got hit by exactly this when he tried to send it in for servicing.

I am not too sure if the normal warranty coverage is country specific as well, but Applecare is definitely out (ie: you can't buy Applecare from Apple US and have it work in the UK for desktops)

Thanks for the correction. Personally I find this sort of stupid on Apple's part. Just sounds like a way to save money at the expense of their customers.