[H-GEN] Laptops

[Frank Brand]

James McPherson wrote:
> 

> 
> my dad managed to get a Tecra 500CD? from New Hampshire early last year for
> bugger all (tm). NH doesn't have sales tax, so a configuration of
> {P166,32Mb,2.1Gb,CD} and win95+office95 cost him $1800US. His warranty is good
> for over here and I don't think he's got any complaints about it at all.
> 
Some important points to remember here:-

1. $1800 USD is $3000 AUD - doesn't matter whether you earn it there or
take it with you. Just because you make the money there, it does not
increase or decrease its real value.

2. I reckon I can get better value than this in Australia now but you
can in the US too - the dynamics of the computer commodities markets,
James is talking 18 months or so ago and prices move. A Toshiba
Satellite 2505 CDS 233 MMX MHz, 32 Mb RAM, 2Gb HDD, 20X CD ROM, Modem,
12" screen and LI Battery is about $1400 USD best price (about $2400
AUD) - you may have to pay extra for the case in the US, the discounters
are very crafty. I can pick up a later model Toshiba 330 similar specs
for about $2700 (all tax and duty paid). Just a bit questionable whether
it is worthwhile when you consider you may be up for 20% duty on return
to Australia.

3. Even if you buy it duty free over there, Syd was right, you only get
$400 per person duty free into Australia and it will be subject to duty
on return. You can take the risk and not declare it or you can declare
it and take the risk on them charging you the duty.
-- 
Frank Brand
E-mail: fbrand at uq.net.au
Homepage: http://www.uq.net.au/~zzfbrand