May I suggest you buy a second 85W MagSafe power adapter? At the AppleStore it is US 79. In Malaysia a whopping RM 459.

I prefer to leave one at work and one at home so I don't have to lug the adapter unless I'm travelling...

Get one with gloss screen, then can compare with MacDaNife's matte screen. And like he said, get the accessories as well. How much cheaper it is there for the MBP?

And while you are at it, just wondering if you could do me a favor, I wanna get this:-
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20Wor...ing/MSTG800U2K/

Just wondering, perhaps you are interested to get one for yourself too.

One World Computing ships worldwide.

I might be buying some stuff from them soon. Would you be interested in combining an order?

Thats what I thought at first, so I was contemplating over the shipping charges, and when I finally got over it, decided to buy it anyway, I found out they don't ship to Malaysia...

Would love to combine with your orders though! Let me know ok! Thanks...

TS sorry arr.. a little off topic.. will take this to pm instead..

Update: Man do I feel stupid, after seeing your message that OWC do ship worldwide, I went to check again, and THEY DO! The thing that stopped me the other day was the country pull down menu, the list of countries started with US, Australia, Canada, France ... Japan, Netherlands ... and UK. I thought Malaysia was out of the list already! But today when I checked the list again, after UK, it goes back to US and then the rest of the world, including Malaysia! The list was longer than I thought

This post has been edited by civic98: Jun 24 2007, 04:39 PM

Hi everyone,
yeah, am thinking of accessories and checking out items like the power adapter and also the inflight charger.
Actually, also considering the cinema display. Interesting in the whopping 30 inch display but will need to call Apple to check the dimension of the packaging to see if i can carry it as hand carry luggage. Also need to check if warranty is international or limited to the States.

Have you SEEN the 30" ACD?

You've got to be joking about wanting to hand carry stuff like that on a US flight. In case you haven't heard airline carry-on restrictions are VERY tight these days. Even your intended MBP will have to be taken out of your laptop bag and put through the XRay machine in its own plastic caddy. The security guys may even ask you to switch it on for them to prove that it is in fact a laptop and not some kinda bomb.

If you're selected for "additional inspection" they'll wipe down the insides of your bag for traces of explosives residue and chemical testing.

Do yourself (and your fellow passengers) a favor and just carry on a regular bag like everyone else.

---

Added on June 25, 2007, 1:35 pmActually, buying in the States had the advantage of getting the US-style Magsafe adapter plug. It has the flip-out prongs which travel better than the 3-pin ones that are supplied here. You can still buy the 3-pin one at MacStudio LYP. I noticed a box full of them behind the cashier when I bought my 2.4Ghz LED MBP.

This post has been edited by MacDaNife: Jun 25 2007, 01:35 PM

yeah, been through the US securities few times since arriving here. It was level `orange'. Took out my old 17 inch powerbook couple of times for inspections. Have taken off shoes, socks, belt, video cam, dig cam for them too. I respect these security checks 100% and will want them to be a thorough as possible. After all, they're doing their job to save our lives.

BTW, what's ur take between the matte and glossy?

This post has been edited by nando: Jun 25 2007, 01:39 PM

Actually, I think these additional security precautions is a load of BS. NOTHING is going to stop the dedicated terrorist willing to die for his cause. The 9/11 hijackers were armed with nothing more than box-cutters. The precautions are just there to give passengers a (false) sense of security.

Dunno about Matte and Glossy comparisons other than what I've read on the web. But since the Matte screen is so nice to look at I figured that I go for the screen that I could see (rather than one that I'd have to build-to-order before having a chance to actually see it).

If you are in the US, you'd be able to compare both screens side-by-side and choose the one you want.

Another word about accessories: I bought a wristpad cover from Machines, Midvalley (Marware) for RM148. It is selling in the AppleStore for US 19.99. I also bought a second 85W Power Adapter at Machines for RM449. Selling at AppleStore for US 79.00. We're being ripped-off here....

This post has been edited by MacDaNife: Jun 25 2007, 05:22 PM

Well, you're right as nothing is 100% fool-proof. Take a strong fella and wrap his hands around an air-hostess or something like that, and you have a bad scenario. Still, its better to have at least some level of security check than nothing..

havent been able to compare the Matte and glossy here...surprising, 2 apple stores i visited didnt have the glossy.

yeah, tell me about the Rip-off. i wonder who is responsible for it. I burned a Powerbook adapter once and was Rm500 poorer! Some of you Mac cum business -savvy fellas should apply for license to sell Macs from Apple and lower the price...if that's possible..

No need ah, just buy Wonpro Malaysia plug adapter upstairs at Sri Computers for RM10. When you buy the Mac in the US you will get the 2-pin flip-out plug plus a 3-pin cable.

The UK/Malaysia-style "3-pin" plug from Apple isn't actually earthed (at least the iBook G4 one wasn't), so you are better off with the US 3-pin plug plus a Wonpro adapter.

As for bringing a desktop computer as check baggage, the best way is definitely in the original box with all the original molded styrofoam. It's meant to withstand the abuse that it gets from postal delivery for people who order them online.

If you are concerned about it being an obvious theft target, get another plain brown box and put that outside the Apple box. But I don't think something that large is likely to be stolen, normally it's stuff that the airport staff can fit in their pockets.

Hi all,

This topic just in time. I'm getting a Macbook Pro from Australia and wondering the same question with the tax, anybody brought back from aus before?

My friend should be bringing his laptop back along too, might not have another hand for my MBP . If check in the whole box as luggage , is it safe?

Thanks

hi Alpha...since so many fellas here contributed to advise me, i better do something back in return

NO..try not to check in your lap top box as luggage..definitely not safe...risk of theft and the thing being handled roughly...

if you're getting a 15 inch, maybe pay extra cash to your friend to get a larger notebook bag and put both his notebook and your new MBP in the bag for him to hand carry...
i am not sure if he will be asked how come he carries 2 notebook by securities though....

I've brought two notebooks with me, one personal and one business during my travels to Europe and the US before. It's a lot more hassle since security requires all notebooks to be out of the bag for scanning but no questions asked.

With the current exchange rate, buying a mbp from australia would only be worth it with education discount and GST refunds... Compared with malaysian prices, you'd save RM546(2.2 15") / RM472(2.4 15") / RM604(2.4 17")... To be eligible for the 10% GST refunds, u gotta buy the notebook 30 days before flying out and the item must be shown along with the purchase receipt to the customs officers at the airport... Hence, you'd wanna get your friend to bring it on as hand carry luggage... Checking in a MBP even if it's still in the original packaging isn't a good idea, coz the box is quite thin, small and fragile... Someone could easily steal it from the luggage carousel without anyone noticing too.. so yeah, get ur friend to bring it on board

Thanks lailaikatong,nando and tishaban. 1 Personal & 1 Business is a very good reason . Guess I'll hav to ask him to hand carry then.


Yeah GST and tax refunds.

To be eligible for the 10% GST refunds, u gotta buy the notebook 30 days before flying out and the item must be shown along with the purchase receipt to the customs officers at the airport...

Hmm sorry not very clear about this. Just for the info, that means if you buy laptop from aus and bring back msia sure got 10%GST refunds? I think I have GST refund by default, just worry if there's extra charges from Australia side at the airport.

Thanks

sorry to pop your bubble , but 56xx selling for rm9k for macbookpro

http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=476266&hl=17

You won't get charged extra on the Australian side at the airport, but instead you make the claim there. The tax refund claim system is similar to the one in Singapore.

There's no such thing as GST refund by default... There is a way to buy products GST free outside of the airport in duty free shops around the city... But to qualify for the duty free price, the buyer has to present a flight ticket and passport as evidence that you're flying out of the country. But then, these shops don't sell Apple products, except for ipods.

Simply put, there's no easy way to buy macbooks/macbook pros GST exempt. Your friend has to pay the full price/education price including GST, and then bring the notebook along with the purchase receipt to the customs counter at the airport, and claim the GST refund there.

Details are at http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4646 . Get your friend to read it thoroughly so that he knows what he has to do.

I guess i have the answers already, that means I wont be charged at both msia and aus airport. Just have to ask him to hand carry now.

lalaikatong studying in melbourne? Muz have bought some stuff from there back home XD . Thanks for your help.

Just wondering, what is considered computer parts then. For instance, if a whole set of computer is brought thru custom, and includes LCD monitor, keyboard, mouse, ext hdd etc on top of a desktop, which are taxable or all duty-exempted if it goes with a desktop? Any ideas?