hi apple people

am in US now and will be able to purchase Apple stuffs under the education program. At moment, am budgeting to get a MacPro..
pricing here about 9999 and i can get it for about RM1k-1.3k cheaper.

i dont mind the hassle of carrying it around during flight but my big question is will there be any problem in airport? I'll be going through Penang airport not KLIA.

those of you who have bought back bulky electronics, care to share?

im not sure about desktops, i for one would love a mac pro, especially for a media server that runs my photoshop and video editting work and stuff for school. Bringing back from the US as u say undoubtedly is cheaper, but i know pretty much for certain that they wont kacau u if u bring a notebook pc.. just remove the box and everything before u balik lah... desktop not so sure... since it is big.. besides equipment like that i scared broken in transit mah.. hahah and also if the voltage is not set correctly, say 110V as oppose to 220/240V, it will go kaboom. i think mac uses universal power supplies though but im not sure so doublecheck on that, the notebooks im pretty sure do as they are portable what.. logic mah...

i guess if you say its used,you are good to go

Some clarification:

Computers are TAX FREE in Malaysia. So it does not matter if it is used or new, you can bring it in and it WILL NOT be taxed. Strangely, computer PARTS are taxed but not a whole working computer.

Apple computers (portables and desktops) ALL have international power supplies/adapters. It doesn't matter where in the world you buy/use them, plug them into a wall socket and you're good to go.

The major problem you'll have is shipping it back to Malaysia. If you check it in as luggage; the baggage handlers would likely smash your lovely aluminum enclosure and likely all the stuff inside. Don't even dream of bringing the MacPro on a US Flight. They'll insist that all carry-on luggage fit into the dimensions allowed and there is no way the MacPro qualifies.

can make order via u aa

i think for the saving you can still use courier serivces to send it back. but it would ended up not much difference from buying here.

remove the HDD and carry it with you..

I just had the joke of the day.

seriously? it has to be checked into the luggage? oh dear...there goes my big plan...i thought since the MacPro is nicely packaged by Apple, it should be easier to carry....

When i was studying in england, my friend took his desktop(some funny iron-like casing with a handle) via hand carry to england, and he brougt it back to malaysia....

he didnt have any problems with the customs....the guy just asked if he was a student and that's it...

this was about 4 years ago...so i dunno if u can do it now.....

but RM1-1.3 is not a lot based on the stuff u have to worry about and the trouble you have to go through....I'd just get it here in malaysia and eat maggi for 1 month...hehe.

Hmm..that's nice to know that compyter (as a whole) is tax free. But if really bring back a let say MacbookPro, and the kastam insist wanna tax us, we also cannot do anything :-(

Is there any official Kastam Malaysia website to refer ka?

i've brought back pc from germany to malaysia and again from malaysia to germany.

from germany to malaysia, i carried it onboard with pc bag, got a few of scan that u have to pass and i imaging US will be more strick..

from malaysia to germany, cannot bring onboard again. The check-in people did't want the let me go with the pc onboard. Luckily i brought Box with me (i hide it first), packed it and put in cargo with 'fragile tag' .. arrive in working condition, but my water cooler system got crack on CPU heatsink..btw, i took out hdd and put it on my backpack..

here is my suggestion,
before you give ur pc/mac pro to airport crew to handle it, take out hdd, graphic card, ram and everything that attach to motherboard.This to avoid broken..then ask them to be really careful with ur pc/mac pro..ask for fragile tag..pack ur pc/mac pro nicely..

good luck..

Hi, MacDaNife's advice is good, there are no duties for PC's even if there is you can declare it as personal effects so no problem. Customs are more interested on smuggled goods, controlled items etc. The rest u already know from this thread.

hi.. i had experience bringing back my compaq pc from Iowa (US) to Malaysia (back to year 2000). I put both monitor and cpu inside a box. Just make sure the pc are not closely intact with the box. Put polisterine or your cloth in between. If possible, wrap everything with thick cloth. Don't leave any space inside it.

As for tax, I didn't face any problem with custom.

Gud luck!

You guys are superb!!!!

1. if possible, i still wanna save the 1k plus and get it from here...somemore got free ipod nano...hehehe...eating maggie mee for 1 month not an option .

2. i checked the airlines requirement for baggage...dimension allowed is (from their website) is "should not be more than 9" x 14" x 22" (length + width + height) or 45 linear inches (the length, height and width added together)". Apple's website revealed that MacPro dimension is
Height: 20.1 inches (51.1 cm)
Width: 8.1 inches (20.6 cm)
Depth: 18.7 inches (47.5 cm)
and this is only the unit, not inclusive of the box, so I dont think it will be allowed as baggage...

3. looks like i need to consider checking it as luggage then....thanks for the many good advice. it seems that taking out the HDD, Graphic card is good idea....however, do we really need to put something in between the CPU and box, since in theory, the CPU is padded with styrofoam that comes with packing?
saw this online but at the end, the cost doesnt justify : http://www.casesbypelican.com/apple-g5-1640.htm


worse come worse, may consider a Macbook Pro instead. easier and no problem. but then, need to go into the whole debate of desktop vs notebook again...



4. bro kevler..wish i can help but i really have loads to carry...relatives, friends, semua minta tumpang.....hehehehe

This post has been edited by nando: Jun 22 2007, 09:02 PM

haha..no problem ...

If you're checking it in put it in the original box for best protection. Of course every idiot out there will know you're bringing back a Mac Pro but then again it's too big to be stolen (maybe?).

Warranty is important, I've done my fair share of long distance flights with computers in checked in luggage but once I had my then almost new Powermac 6100 die on me, I checked it in my bag, with enough padding etc. But once home it died, no power, no nothing. I think it may have been some sort of static problem but I can't be sure. Fortunately it was replaced under warranty.

then.. u don't need to worry. coz last time i bring back my pc (not mac) and by using normal box. i put thick cloth in between just as an extra precaution. hehe.
lucky me no problem after all.

If you buy Mac Pro in US, the warranty would be an issue. Only Apple's portable computers: i.e. macbook, macbook pro... etc have international warranty... As for the rest, warranty is only regional. Thus, you'll have to risk and hope your Mac Pro is defect free...
I only found out about this when I bought my AppleCare a year ago and wanted to register the AppleCare to my iMac online. I noticed the Mac's serial no was locked to a specific country... I couldn't register the AppleCare as it won't accept Malaysian Address. I made a call to Apple Malaysia and they told me Desktop Macs only have regional warranty. Luckily mine was bought in Hong Kong, they said HK and M'sia is under same region, thus the fellow registered thru phone the AppleCare to my Mac with a Malaysian address...
Also, I was not allowed by MAS to carry my iMac onboard the plane (I was not taxed by custom though)... Thus, I had to checked it in using the box that came with my Mac. I saw with my own eyes that my Mac being chucked not so gently even with the fragile stickers all over. I also believe there were other luggage placed on top of the Mac. Luckily my Mac survived the quite harsh journey in its box and had been working fine.

See the below warranty policy:


This post has been edited by VinceThu: Jun 23 2007, 03:45 PM

wow...so much info here...

after reading all these, i've decided on a MBookPro....
the risk of transportation, warranty (thanks bro. Vince!) makes it a bit too much for a MacPro.
to everyone ...thanks !!