Laptop

[ponyespresso 0]

Hello everyone, just a quick question if anyone knows.

I'm a USC who has lived in the UK for the past seven years, so I'm very familiar with the differences between the two countries in terms of appliances and videotapes/DVD's etc.

However, what about computers. I own a Hewlett Packard HP530 laptop, which I bought here in the UK. Would I be able to use this in the states, would I be able to buy an extension that would fit US outlets or would I just need to buy an adapter or my current lead?

Or would it be just too much hassle and I should just get a new laptop when I get back to the US?

Any advice or experiences would be appreciated!

Cheers!

[payxibka 10,045]

Hello everyone, just a quick question if anyone knows.

I'm a USC who has lived in the UK for the past seven years, so I'm very familiar with the differences between the two countries in terms of appliances and videotapes/DVD's etc.

However, what about computers. I own a Hewlett Packard HP530 laptop, which I bought here in the UK. Would I be able to use this in the states, would I be able to buy an extension that would fit US outlets or would I just need to buy an adapter or my current lead?

Or would it be just too much hassle and I should just get a new laptop when I get back to the US?

Any advice or experiences would be appreciated!

Cheers!

I have used my laptop in Ukraine... AC plug adapter needed for difference in outlets design but that was all...

[StillThePrettiest 3]

I brought my UK laptop and it's been just dandy

I used a plug adapter for the first couple of weeks, but then we bought an extra power cord - just the part that goes from the wall into the adapter box thingy, not the whole thing; it cost a couple of dollars - it changes the power supply automatically, so I didn't even need to flip a switch or nuffin

[payxibka 10,045]

unless of course you want a new one then it is "Honey, .... I need a new laptop"...

[Sal and Jay 2]

Hello everyone, just a quick question if anyone knows.

I'm a USC who has lived in the UK for the past seven years, so I'm very familiar with the differences between the two countries in terms of appliances and videotapes/DVD's etc.

However, what about computers. I own a Hewlett Packard HP530 laptop, which I bought here in the UK. Would I be able to use this in the states, would I be able to buy an extension that would fit US outlets or would I just need to buy an adapter or my current lead?

Or would it be just too much hassle and I should just get a new laptop when I get back to the US?

Any advice or experiences would be appreciated!

Cheers!

My laptop works fine with a plug adaptor, however I had to have a new power box for the desktop but that was pretty cheap also.

[MonkeyJuice 3]

If I brought my UK laptop to USA can I watch BBC iplayer? I've been in US on VWP for nearly 3 months & i'm sooo missing Coronation St!

[StillThePrettiest 3]

unless of course you want a new one then it is "Honey, .... I need a new laptop"...

yes, because after the costs of all the paperwork, and the flights and so on, and uncertain months without a second salary, that's when you want to be spending more money

[payxibka 10,045]

unless of course you want a new one then it is "Honey, .... I need a new laptop"...

yes, because after the costs of all the paperwork, and the flights and so on, and uncertain months without a second salary, that's when you want to be spending more money

some of us can live on one paycheck

[kiwiana 2]

I brought my UK laptop and it's been just dandy

I used a plug adapter for the first couple of weeks, but then we bought an extra power cord - just the part that goes from the wall into the adapter box thingy, not the whole thing; it cost a couple of dollars - it changes the power supply automatically, so I didn't even need to flip a switch or nuffin

Do you know where (which store in the US) one could buy the extra power cord for the adaptor box thingy? I want to take my laptop with me also when i head to the US and this definitely seems the cheapest way to go by replacing the extra power cord only.

[payxibka 10,045]

I brought my UK laptop and it's been just dandy

I used a plug adapter for the first couple of weeks, but then we bought an extra power cord - just the part that goes from the wall into the adapter box thingy, not the whole thing; it cost a couple of dollars - it changes the power supply automatically, so I didn't even need to flip a switch or nuffin

Do you know where (which store in the US) one could buy the extra power cord for the adaptor box thingy? I want to take my laptop with me also when i head to the US and this definitely seems the cheapest way to go by replacing the extra power cord only.

Radio Shack comes to mind.... Possibly even eBay

Edited November 21, 2008 by payxibka

[StillThePrettiest 3]

some of us can live on one paycheck

some of us can live on one paycheque, but still don't see the sense of spending more on something when the one you have works perfectly well

Do you know where (which store in the US) one could buy the extra power cord for the adaptor box thingy? I want to take my laptop with me also when i head to the US and this definitely seems the cheapest way to go by replacing the extra power cord only.

I think it was just somewhere like Fry's... or yes, I'm sure Radio Shack would have something similar

it wasn't difficult to find, wherever he got it

ah, he just texted me and said you can get them on Amazon for $1.50

he said to search for 'figure 8 cord' and you'll find what you need

[kiwiana 2]

I think it was just somewhere like Fry's... or yes, I'm sure Radio Shack would have something similar

it wasn't difficult to find, wherever he got it

ah, he just texted me and said you can get them on Amazon for $1.50

he said to search for 'figure 8 cord' and you'll find what you need

Thank You! so much StillThePrettiest!! (and payxibka) for the information. It will definitely makes things easier and cheaper this way!!

[Laura+Tom 2]

If I brought my UK laptop to USA can I watch BBC iplayer? I've been in US on VWP for nearly 3 months & i'm sooo missing Coronation St!

No it doesn't work I'm afraid!

[SunDrop 59]

If I brought my UK laptop to USA can I watch BBC iplayer? I've been in US on VWP for nearly 3 months & i'm sooo missing Coronation St!

No it doesn't work I'm afraid!

Laura's right, coz it works off your IP address and that's dependent on your geographical location where you're connected. Same way we can't watch Lost or Heroes when they're uploaded onto the US TV network websites.

However, something I discovered recently. You CAN switch your laptop region (for DVDs) from one to another but the catch is, there's a maximum number of times you can do this in the life of the machine. So basically, any machine that was bought in the UK is automatically set to Region 2. But once you're in the US, you can use american dvds, but you need to permanently switch your laptop over to Region 1. What I don't know is how if one is very clever, you can save your UK DVDs onto your laptop, then switch over to Region 1 and save your films back onto REgion 1 DVDs so you're personally converting them?

Probably totally illegal, I'm sure! lol

[Laura+Tom 2]

If I brought my UK laptop to USA can I watch BBC iplayer? I've been in US on VWP for nearly 3 months & i'm sooo missing Coronation St!

No it doesn't work I'm afraid!

Laura's right, coz it works off your IP address and that's dependent on your geographical location where you're connected. Same way we can't watch Lost or Heroes when they're uploaded onto the US TV network websites.

However, something I discovered recently. You CAN switch your laptop region (for DVDs) from one to another but the catch is, there's a maximum number of times you can do this in the life of the machine. So basically, any machine that was bought in the UK is automatically set to Region 2. But once you're in the US, you can use american dvds, but you need to permanently switch your laptop over to Region 1. What I don't know is how if one is very clever, you can save your UK DVDs onto your laptop, then switch over to Region 1 and save your films back onto REgion 1 DVDs so you're personally converting them?

Probably totally illegal, I'm sure! lol

How do you switch your laptop to Region 1? Does it do it automatically? I want to try and keep my laptop Region 2 so I can watch the DVD's I'll be bringing over or I'll just have to buy a muti-region DVD player.