Honey I fried the new iMacG5

[StarbucksSam]

Those of you who are being mean, that's not cool. It was a simple mistake, and while we can argue over which of the involved parties is to blame, that is an exercise in futility, and kindness is probably a better option.

Ma'am, I'm really sorry you had this unfortunate experience, and I wish I could help you in some way, but there is obviously nothing I can do. I wish you best of luck in resolving your problem, and remember: don't kick yourself too much. We all make mistakes. ALL OF US.

 

[jxyama]

Not all americans live in America, and the whole world does not live on 110 volt.

i don't think apple is to blame for assuming that the american models be used in america. if companies cannot make such an assumption, does she realize that she's asking every company making any sort of electronics devices to label/design all of their products for the remote possibility any of them ever goes overseas?

if she said, this is what happened and i'm just venting, then people would have been more sympathetic. trying to shift this much blame is in pretty poor taste.

anyway, yeah, iMac should still be dual voltage. and you should definitely complain. but there are reasons some posters haven't been too sympathetic. while it's not to same degree, how would people react to people who drops their iBook, breaks it and blames apple for not making it "durable enough"?

 

[Rod Rod]

i don't think apple is to blame for assuming that the american models be used in america. if companies cannot make such an assumption, does she realize that she's asking every company making any sort of electronics devices to label/design all of their products for the remote possibility any of them ever goes overseas?

if she said, this is what happened and i'm just venting, then people would have been more sympathetic. trying to shift this much blame is in pretty poor taste.

anyway, yeah, iMac should still be dual voltage. and you should definitely complain. but there are reasons some posters haven't been too sympathetic. while it's not to same degree, how would people react to people who drops their iBook, breaks it and blames apple for not making it "durable enough"?

That's the best example of doublespeak I've seen / read / heard in a while. Have your cake and eat it too.

 

[jxyama]

That's the best example of doublespeak I've seen / read / heard in a while. Have your cake and eat it too.

well, i meant complain to apple.

in the first part, i was just trying to give reasons why some people haven't been sympathetic. the second part, i kinda gave my own opinion.

 

[Rod Rod]

well, i meant complain to apple.

in the first part, i was just trying to give reasons why some people haven't been sympathetic. the second part, i kinda gave my own opinion.

Now that you said that, it makes sense. It's odd how the rest of the world gets switching power supplies but the U.S. and Japan gets 110V/60Hz only.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

Now that you said that, it makes sense. It's odd how the rest of the world gets switching power supplies but the U.S. and Japan gets 110V/60Hz only.

It's called protecting your distribution network. I am not sure how the overseas units are setup. Many other companies require overseas units to purchase from the parent company, and provide the costs for warranty repairs.

In the US the iMac G5 starts at 1299USD. In the Uk that would work out to be about 675GBP; a savings of 108GBP. These numbers do not include VAT for the UK. So there could a great advantage to import from the US to the UK (not sure how taxes and such would eat into the bottom line).

 

[Rod Rod]

Chip NoVaMac, that may be what it's called, however the taxes (as you mentioned) more than make up for the difference. The only way around the taxes is people being dishonest in marking items as gifts (eBay sales) or the typical tourist buying a laptop over here and claiming upon their return that it was with them when they left their home country. Otherwise, all legitimate retailers will either not sell outside the U.S. or if they do, they'll mark the customs forms appropriately. By the way, my policy for international eBay sales is that I will always declare the full bid value on the customs form and I'll never mark it as a gift. That has blocked some potential sales and profits but I'd rather not play the game of defrauding governments.

 

[jwolf]

Thanks for saving my son's G5

We too have many desktop Macs in APO AE. For years they have been auto voltage switching, up through a G4 swivel arm. Thanks for saving the G5 that arrived yesterday for my son.

PS: Beware of the "Worldwide Warranty" included with the G4 and G5. Apple says that the world isn't always wide for desktop repairs.

 

[YoYoMac]

Chip NoVaMac, that may be what it's called, however the taxes (as you mentioned) more than make up for the difference. The only way around the taxes is people being dishonest in marking items as gifts (eBay sales) or the typical tourist buying a laptop over here and claiming upon their return that it was with them when they left their home country. Otherwise, all legitimate retailers will either not sell outside the U.S. or if they do, they'll mark the customs forms appropriately. By the way, my policy for international eBay sales is that I will always declare the full bid value on the customs form and I'll never mark it as a gift. That has blocked some potential sales and profits but I'd rather not play the game of defrauding governments.

Okay, this entire post is very relevant to me right now. For two reasons.

1. My father is buying me an iMac for Christmas. Surprisingly, I was going to buy one myself, but he is going to for me. I live in China. I have looked everywhere on the internet for taxes or customs or VAT that would be charged on an iMac/Desktop/screen whatever you want to call it. Rod Rod, you said that people mark it as a gift and it doesn't get charged that? Please let me know becuase it really is a gift, and I wouldn't want to be charged some kind of tax if I didn't need to be.

2. I live in China ~ 240 volt. iMac coming from America. Is there any way to buy a powersupply from Apple? If so, how much would it cost. Anyone know? I read that she got her's replaced for 40 pounds or something? If anyone could help me that'd be great.

 

[Rod Rod]

Okay, this entire post is very relevant to me right now. For two reasons.

1. My father is buying me an iMac for Christmas. Surprisingly, I was going to buy one myself, but he is going to for me. I live in China. I have looked everywhere on the internet for taxes or customs or VAT that would be charged on an iMac/Desktop/screen whatever you want to call it. Rod Rod, you said that people mark it as a gift and it doesn't get charged that? Please let me know becuase it really is a gift, and I wouldn't want to be charged some kind of tax if I didn't need to be.

2. I live in China ~ 240 volt. iMac coming from America. Is there any way to buy a powersupply from Apple? If so, how much would it cost. Anyone know? I read that she got her's replaced for 40 pounds or something? If anyone could help me that'd be great.

Hi YoYoMac,

You might want to ask someone at your nearby U.S. consulate or embassy about the customs duties / gift question. They should be reachable via email. Here's the embassy in Beijing. That page has links to the consulates (Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenyang).

I don't know how easy or difficult it would be to buy the auto-switching power supply from Apple. Hopefully it won't be impossible. The key thing is that you still have your U.S. warranty intact with the 110/220 power supply, and for that your dad will probably have to get the local Apple store or Apple authorized service center to perform the operation.

I hope this helps!

 

[G5orbust]

Im using my 12 inch, rev. A powerbook G4 in Japan right now with no problems. Since Japan and the US use the same plugs but different voltages, it was easy, though I bought the international travel kit from Apple (sucks for the extra purchase, but thats probably what killed your computer) just to be sure. It is really unfortunate that such a simple thing as plugging in a device can do hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in damage to it.

Dont worry about the caustic speech of the self proclaimed "übergeeks", because theres no doubt in my mind that theyve made even more simple mistakes in their lives, as we all have. So please, guys and gals, dont use such harsh tones next time. It only leads to trouble.

 

[Macky-Mac]

Okay, this entire post is very relevant to me right now. For two reasons.

1. My father is buying me an iMac for Christmas. Surprisingly, I was going to buy one myself, but he is going to for me. I live in China. I have looked everywhere on the internet for taxes or customs or VAT that would be charged on an iMac/Desktop/screen whatever you want to call it. Rod Rod, you said that people mark it as a gift and it doesn't get charged that? Please let me know becuase it really is a gift, and I wouldn't want to be charged some kind of tax if I didn't need to be.

each country has it's own rules but most countries limit the value of tax free "gifts".....and it's typically going to be more in the range $50 and not something expensive like an iMac. "Gifts" (even real gifts) over the value limit typically are charged import duty. You would have to check with the Chinese government to find what the rules are for China.

You say you live in China but you don't say if you are a Chinese citizen or if you are from another country....in most countries a temporary foreign resident is allowed to bring personal possessions, like a computer, with them without paying an import duty...as long as those possessions are not for resale and are taken out of the country when the temporary resident leaves the country.....would that apply to you? Again, you would have to check with the Chinese government to find out the details of Chinese regulations

 

[sjpetry]

It's an understandable thing to do, but I think it is also understandable that Apple uses non-auto-switching power supplies for the U.S. iMac.

The iMac is rather big and is not something people will bring with them on pleasure travels abroad, the iBook on the other hand is something that people will bring with them. That's why the iBook has an auto-switching power supply and not the iMac.

I agree, but I also think it is not her fault.

 

[cawiddis]

Airport Express has an Auto-Sensing power supply. Take it to USA (110V), Europe (220V), Philippines (110 or 220V), Australia (240V) no problem at all.

And its total size is about the same as 2 decks of cards... granted its power throughput isn't as much as a G5...