Going to US in Feb, some questions!

[Tanax]

The NYC stores have lots of BTO options. I purchased my 8GB 11" i7 at Grand Central the day it came out. You have better luck with the "loaded up" options (in other words, don't be surprised if they don't have an 8GB i5 with 128GB SSD, but do have an 8GB i7 with 256GB SSD). Don't go by what's on the website for in-store pickup. They might say a model won't be ready for 1-2 weeks, but the store might have them in stock anyway.

I don't know about the alternative keyboards, though, since I have never asked about them.

I have not inquired about going into a store and asking if they can order a BTO for you. You might try calling up one of the stores before you come here and see if they can do that and place a hold on your card. NYC stores get more tourists, so they may be more familiar with the process.

There is no harm in trying to see if you can order one online and have it shipped to your hotel with a European card. The worst it can do is reject it.

Ah, that's what I originally thought! I'll have to check it out then.

NY stores are probably my best bet as far as that goes. Hopefully they won't reject it, lol.

Regarding alternative keyboards, can someone in US call an Apple Store and see if they can order a MBA with Swedish keyboard? It's pretty difficult for me to call them from Sweden right now(and obviously I can't call the Swedish Apple Store and ask them about buying something over in US).

I've heard some people say that some larger stores stock BTO options, but the main store in Toronto certainly doesn't. I don't know if it's a New York only thing or not.

The websites for both the US and Canada specify that BTO options are sold online only, but obviously from KPOM's post above mine, that's not necessarily the case.

Website says

Configure your MacBook Air to order with these options, only at the Apple Online Store:
2.0GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz)
8GB memory upgrade
256GB or 512GB of flash storage
2.0GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz)
8GB memory upgrade
512GB of flash storage

you can order this keyboards:

Backlit Keyboard (English) & User's Guide
Backlit Keyboard (Western Spanish) & User's Guide
Backlit Keyboard (French) & User's Guide
Backlit Keyboard (Japanese) & User's Guide

Here you can check the layout of each one:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2841 ( not sure if updated )

The French sucks because is an AZ... instead of QWERTY ( EDIT: I check in the URL above and the French Canadian is QWERTY and with the same format as the Spanish one)

The Spanish is probably the best option:

Image

But, If I was you, I would buy the american keyboard, and then used with short cuts to the specials characters. After a while you will get used and type really fast.

But this option is not that good if 99% of your time you will writing in Swedish.

Luckily I will only be visiting larger stores!
The Spanish keyboard was awesome. It's exactly the same, cutout-wise, to the Swedish keyboard! Cheers for that!

I will be writing Swedish a lot as well as English so I really prefer the Swedish layout.

 

[kronborg]

Isn't it plausible that they'll catch you back in Sweden in customs, and charge you Swedish VAT + fine you for not declaring your goods? Making the American bought MBA more expensive than a Swedish one would have been in the first place. Here in Copenhagen it's my impression that especially travellers from the States are inspected in customs. But they surely can't check everyone

 

[Tanax]

Isn't it plausible that they'll catch you back in Sweden in customs, and charge you Swedish VAT + fine you for not declaring your goods? Making the American bought MBA more expensive than a Swedish one would have been in the first place. Here in Copenhagen it's my impression that especially travellers from the States are inspected in customs. But they surely can't check everyone

When I bought the iPad2 in NY last time, they did not check me when we got back. In fact, I didn't see anyone get pulled in by the customs services. Of course, this isn't foolproof so you might just be that "unlucky one" who gets pulled in.

If I send the box via regular mail to some relative with different last name or a friend, and then bring the MBA in my backpack I can say that I had it with me from Sweden when I left to US. This will be difficult though if I can't get a Swedish layout of the keyboard. Also I'm not sure if they will ask me where I bought it and call that store and check customer ID's or whatever.

However, as far as I know, you're not fined anything if you're caught. You simply have to tax and pay the customs fee for it, nothing else. At least, that's what I've heard from people buying guitars in US and then being pulled in by customs services when they got back(when trying to sneak past).

Also, as said before, even if I have to tax for it, it will still be about $250~ cheaper than in Sweden

 

[checkitout]

you can order this keyboards:

Backlit Keyboard (English) & User's Guide
Backlit Keyboard (Western Spanish) & User's Guide
Backlit Keyboard (French) & User's Guide
Backlit Keyboard (Japanese) & User's Guide

The best option is actually the "international" keyboard.
It has a US assignment of keycaps, but has the full set of keys (as opposed to the limited US keyboard). For most typers, it doesn't matter whether the keycaps show the right things, having the right keys is important.

Oh, and for soldered-in RAM, *always* buy the max that may be orderable.
RAM is the main mechanism for planned obsolescence.

 

[gnasher729]

When I bought the iPad2 in NY last time, they did not check me when we got back. In fact, I didn't see anyone get pulled in by the customs services. Of course, this isn't foolproof so you might just be that "unlucky one" who gets pulled in.

1. Claiming you are a US student to get a US student discount as someone suggested is fraud.
2. Going through Swedish customs without declaring an imported MacBook will be some kind of crime; Swedish customs will know better than I what kind.
3. You'll get a MacBook with a lets say unusual keyboard. Everyone will hate using it. You will hate using any other computer.
4. You lose all the nice EU consumer protection.
5. If there are ways to deduct the computer from tax, you won't be able to do it.

 

[Wokis]

Isn't it plausible that they'll catch you back in Sweden in customs, and charge you Swedish VAT + fine you for not declaring your goods? Making the American bought MBA more expensive than a Swedish one would have been in the first place. Here in Copenhagen it's my impression that especially travellers from the States are inspected in customs. But they surely can't check everyone

A fool proof way not to worry about it is to actually unbox it (and discard the packaging) in the US and only bring the actual device and peripherals back to Sweden. Then it is simply your laptop as far as the customs are concerned.

 

[KPOM]

What's the traveler allowance in the EU? In the US, I can bring back up to $800 of goods without paying customs, and the agents can (and usually do) waive small amounts above that. They are mostly concerned about enforcing restrictions on agricultural products, drugs, etc.

One difference I've noticed is that the US makes everyone fill out a form and hand it to an agent, while the EU has the separate lines for people declaring or not declaring goods.

 

[kronborg]

However, as far as I know, you're not fined anything if you're caught. You simply have to tax and pay the customs fee for it, nothing else. At least, that's what I've heard from people buying guitars in US and then being pulled in by customs services when they got back(when trying to sneak past).

I can only speak for Denmark, but here the customs can fine you double the amount of the VAT, and then let you pay the actual VAT (25%), resulting in a 75% increase in price.

But I don't know how comparable Danish and Swedish laws are in this area. You should be able to find out somewhere online, to make sure.

A fool proof way not to worry about it is to actually unbox it (and discard the packaging) in the US and only bring the actual device and peripherals back to Sweden. Then it is simply your laptop as far as the customs are concerned.

Again in Denmark; you will have to prove that the computer wasn't bought in the States, i.e. document where it was bought. This is actually one of the few examples of reverse onus in Danish law.

Maybe Denmark's just super strict when it comes to customs. In that case, consider me a bit off topic!

 

[vodkaPT]

The best option is actually the "international" keyboard.
It has a US assignment of keycaps, but has the full set of keys (as opposed to the limited US keyboard). For most typers, it doesn't matter whether the keycaps show the right things, having the right keys is important.

Oh, and for soldered-in RAM, *always* buy the max that may be orderable.
RAM is the main mechanism for planned obsolescence.

I agree with you.
But does the interregional keyboard still available in the US? Is not on Apple Store US list. In my country the UK layout and International English are also available in the Apple Store.

 

[KPOM]

I agree with you.
But does the interregional keyboard still available in the US? Is not on Apple Store US list. In my country the UK layout and International English are also available in the Apple Store.

I don't believe it is. That's why some of us have been suggesting the French or Spanish layouts, as they are international versions.