Shadowdh Posted June 20, 2006 at 07:22 AM Report Posted June 20, 2006 at 07:22 AM A laptop to Beijing... not so worried about the security issues its more the convenience and carrying it around in baggage issues... It would (I assume) be alot easier using a laptop to access the internet and answer emails, update my blog etc than finding an internet cafe everyday and so forth... I will be staying at the SAC and going to BLCU... plus I dont really want to lug around the extra weight (as I aim to be buying a few things there) but then when I get a digi cam it will help to save all my pics... so do I or dont I...?? Thanks for any advice... Quote
adrianlondon Posted June 20, 2006 at 08:29 AM Report Posted June 20, 2006 at 08:29 AM Assuming my long running apply-to-BNU saga comes to fruition, I'll be taking mine. I went to Beijing in November (to scout out BNU and others) for a few days, and brought my laptop with me. Very useful. I can't live without constant email access Quote
Shadowdh Posted June 20, 2006 at 10:35 AM Author Report Posted June 20, 2006 at 10:35 AM Thanks Adrian... yeah thats what I am thinking too... its great to have all my info to hand... plus its got all my Chinese language stuff on it and other stuff I may need... Quote
md1101 Posted June 20, 2006 at 11:04 AM Report Posted June 20, 2006 at 11:04 AM take it for sure... you'll need it for wenlin. and dont forget to write a journal on it while you're in china! Quote
adrianlondon Posted June 20, 2006 at 11:36 AM Report Posted June 20, 2006 at 11:36 AM I think many places have free wireless access. Sitting in a coffee bar, surfing away, and hopefully making some new friends as people chat with you (especially in places like Sculpting in Time), seems like a good way to pass the time. Plus, as you've already mentioned, you'll need somthing to download your photos/movies to. Quote
aeon Posted June 20, 2006 at 05:57 PM Report Posted June 20, 2006 at 05:57 PM Do it. I bought an iBook for our year in China, and very useful it was too. From contact with home via email, VOIP and video conferencing through acting as a home entertainment centre (music, DVD/VCD player) and an electronic dictionary (Wenlin) to being photo storage it was indispensible. It would have been hell if it had been stolen tho'... Quote
Shadowdh Posted June 20, 2006 at 06:37 PM Author Report Posted June 20, 2006 at 06:37 PM After all the advice I believe I may put up with the weight and cumbersomeness and take it... Thanks all for the advice... Quote
yonitabonita Posted June 22, 2006 at 10:03 AM Report Posted June 22, 2006 at 10:03 AM Off the top of my head, there's free wireless at: Sculpting in Time Hump Cafe Tour Le Jours All within a walking distance of the BLCU. My vote is for 'take it'. Quote
Shadowdh Posted June 22, 2006 at 10:41 AM Author Report Posted June 22, 2006 at 10:41 AM The "Take its" have it by a landslide... doh more weight in my bags... (well for my arms really...) Quote
adrianlondon Posted June 22, 2006 at 10:50 AM Report Posted June 22, 2006 at 10:50 AM I have an IBM (whoops, sorry, I mean Lenovo) X41. Only a 12" screen and no built-in DVD/CD, but very light. Quote
Madot Posted June 23, 2006 at 06:58 AM Report Posted June 23, 2006 at 06:58 AM I see lots of you are either IT people or email-addicts like me. At home I use my desktop and am not looking forward to 3 months without a computer at BLCU (Sept-Dec.. 06). I have been offered an old, but really cool souped-up laptop (HP Omnibook 500) for free, IF I have the LCD display module repaired/replaced. The problem is that here in Australia that part costs $1300 Aus.(it's WIFI) and that's just over the top. It appears to be impossible to get hold of a used or reconditioned one. BUT--I hear that China is where all old computers go to die. Do any of you techies know whether it would be possible to have the thing replaced for a reasonable price in Beijing? I'd like to be able to have it for email, for Chinese software, for printing out assignments, keeping up a journal, not to mention linking to my iPod, but I can't justify buying a new one just for this trip. Any advice is very welcome... Mado Quote
adrianlondon Posted June 23, 2006 at 03:52 PM Report Posted June 23, 2006 at 03:52 PM You need to work harder on your justification issues Quote
andychao Posted June 24, 2006 at 04:42 AM Report Posted June 24, 2006 at 04:42 AM RE:Shadowdh Buying laptop..digi-Cam or any electronic things are quite earsy in China, especially nearby the BLCU, there are lots of huge shopping malls, u can buy some digital thing with a very low price, so don't worry, when you were here, everything is going to be OK... Quote
md1101 Posted June 24, 2006 at 05:08 AM Report Posted June 24, 2006 at 05:08 AM i cant imagine it being much cheaper than australia. the main cost would be the part and electronics arent much cheaper in china than australia. there are the somewhat cheaper chinese generic electronic brands for mp3 players and such but not by much. and when it comes to a patented techonlogy like a screen i dont think itll be much cheaper at all. hong kong is the place for cheap electronics. i see you need the lcd display module replaced... im assuming thats the screen.?? anyway good luck with ur choice. i wouldnt rely on getting it fixed in china. Quote
Madot Posted June 24, 2006 at 05:43 AM Report Posted June 24, 2006 at 05:43 AM Thanks a lot, Mike. Can you imagine my frustration if I had lugged the whole thing all the way to China only to find that it was useless and unable to be fixed? It's the LCD display unit inside the screen which is broken and you're right--it's a brand specific thing and not easily substitutable. I might think about getting a fairly basic laptop before I go. After all, I mostly want it to keep a journal, to do classwork for my course at BLCU and for email. It would have been nice to use it for my iPod, but no point clogging up the memory. Anyway, the iPod is all set with DAYS worth of my favourite music, photos and even some ABC radio podcasts for my Chinese friend (who is an English teacher) so she can hear Australian English. By the way, what are you doing in Beijing? Are you another BLCU student? Full year? Short term? I'm going to do the 12 week course starting in September. Anyone else out there planning to do the beginners' class then??? Mado Quote
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