Bali Expat Forum - Bali Travel Forum

[Kassie]

Hello everyone,
Im just wondering if someone is able to help me out in regards to buying a laptop in bali. Where are some good places to check out? Basically im not after the best thing out but just something reliable, and that i can get wireless connection on. Also can anyone tell me a few places where i could use it and connect to the internet with the wireless?

I am moving to bali on wednesday at this stage for a year and will be studying at uni. So i think it will come in handy. I do have an offer for a second hand laptop here in australia and was going to connect to wireless here but then realised it will be a different network in bali correct?

I dont really no a whole lot about it so if any one can off any advice on a good laptop, prices, extras to get with the laptop, where to buy it and wireless connection it would be greatly appreciated!

thanks kassie

[Sanurian]

Hi Kassie

You will find many laptops to choose from, suiting all budgets, at a place called RIMO (Jalan Diponegoro, Denpasar). It's a 3-4 storey building full of computers, pirated software/DVDs and hand-phones.

Having said that, and if you go there, it's easy to get confused...especially if you're not sure exactly what you want.

I know of another computer place in Denpasar. It's a small store but I've used its services for many years, bought lots of equipment there (even cheaper than the various outlets in RIMO).
What I'm saying is that I have complete faith in them and have never been ripped-off.

If you feel like you're starting to lose your mind in RIMO, please feel free to send me a PM (Personal Message). I'd be more than happy to help you find what you want.

[Dasha]

Sanurian is quite right Kassie.

This Toshiba Portege notebokk I am using right now retails $1200 USD in Java March 2007.

The same unit retails for $3200 AUD over here

Give Phil a buzz when you get to Indo

[Person]

If you are going to be in Indonesia for a year I would recommend buying your laptop there. I wouldn't recommend to anyone buying a second hand laptop. You could probably get a good deal in RIMO as Sanurian suggests or you could buy online from this site in Jakarta http://www.ek-gadgets.com/index.php.

Electronics prices don't vary all that much around the world or at least not nearly as much as they use to ten or twenty years ago and you won't necessarily get a big discount in Indonesia. For example I just bought an IBM Thinkpad in Melbourne which was 15% cheaper than the cheapest price I saw in Jakarta.

You can easily compare prices from the site above with shopbot in Australia.

Getting online will depend on where you are staying in Bali. With any luck you will be able to use Indosat 3.5g.

[FreoGirl]

Hi Kassie

Hope I don't confuse the issue too much, but my advice is you should do your research as to what you need and buy in Australia. There are some excellent deals for student type laptops in Australia these days. Also - buy new not second hand, and if possible with a 3 year warranty.

Sounds like you are not too clear on the technology, so probably better to start looking around here and educate yourself a bit - being assisted by people who speak English well - rather than try to do it in Bali or on-line from Jakarta.

If I was you, I'd go somewhere like Harvey Norman as a starting point. Work out the difference between a 'student' type laptop, and a 'gaming' type laptop (other categories are lightweight/traveller, and business).

Also take a look at the recent Choice article (read for free in your local library) on exactly this subject.

I only suggest Harvey Norman as a place to start learning what you want. Once you've narrowed down your choice, then search around on the internet in Australia for the best price. You can save a lot of money buying laptops on-line rather than retail - unless the retailer has a particularly good deal going on.

Most laptops will have wireless LAN. All that does is make the laptop compatible to receive signals from a wireless modem. Wireless modems are generally only used with either LANS (like in an office or maybe a university), or at home if you've got broadband.

In Bali you might only have good old slow dial-up so you won't be wireless anyway, at home at least.

Also remember to look at the warranty. Some only offer a warranty for the country you are buying in.

I recommend you stay away from the cheap Toshibas - they are not good quality and often need trips back to the repairers which is highly inconvenient when you are in Bali.

I would recommend you look at a Dell - something like an Inspiron 1420 - Dells have an international warranty.

Some additional advice on configuration:

If it has Windows Vista you really need a minimum of 1GB of RAM, ideally 2 GB. See if you have the option for Windows XP and upgrade to Vista later when it's not so troublesome.

Make sure you have plenty of HDD space so you can download/store music etc.

When you are operating the laptop in Bali, make sure you use a voltametre to stop your laptop being fried by power spikes

sorry this has turned into a mini-novel! Hope you get something out of it.

[FreoGirl]

Oh bugger I just realised you said you are going to Bali on Wednesday, so no time to research etc as I said above.
Well I'd still try to do some research before you go - but looks like you don't have time to do much.

[Person]

I would recommend you look at a Dell - something like an Inspiron 1420 - Dells have an international warranty.

International warranties are limited if you try to claim on them in a country other than where you purchased the item.

Also Dell does not have a service centre in Indonesia.

[FreoGirl]

International warranties are limited if you try to claim on them in a country other than where you purchased the item.

Also Dell does not have a service centre in Indonesia.

Dell used to have a service centre in Indonesia - I've dealt with them, but that was 3 years ago. Maybe they closed it?

Do you know which brands do have an international warranty AND a service centre in Indonesia these days?

[Person]

Do you know which brands do have an international warranty AND a service centre in Indonesia these days?

Just about all the major brands except Dell.

[InAdelaide]

I just bought a new Toshiba laptop from Rimo for about $850 AUD, best to buy with wireless and original software,

I bought a local brand 12 months ago from the same guys and there service is good, just had initial problems as if you have copy sofware and use the internet you can have problems .

Toshiba is the most reliable laptop, and robust

you can use wireless free if you buy a drink or eat at many places in bali, if you want Indosat has 3G is very good service and the service staff are good

[BaliLife]

isn't singapore usually the cheapest for all this kind of stuff? i dunno, but whenever we buy electronics, we buy em in singapore - there's far less hodge-podge stuff goin on there - BUT i confess, i've never looked in indo and it seems like sanurian and dasha have a good place.. i've experienced hong kong electronics shopping, and well let's just say i ended up telling a guy in nathan road to go and do something quite obscene to his mother..

ct

[Dasha]

Im with you Adelaide.

Buy new

Buy Toshiba

Buy in Indonesia - local waranty, half the price.

[FreoGirl]

Can't agree on the Toshiba (IF you are getting one of the cheaper models) unless you actually want to try out the warranty service. But if you do go Toshiba, make sure you've got an extended warranty, because if you take a 12 month warranty the laptop will last you 366 days, just about guaranteed. Can cite so many examples of this it's not funny.

[Dasha]

Iv'e got the copy.. Buy Toshiba and turn your pussy into a dancing Indonesian Princess. AMAZING. What are your thoughts Freo?

[matsaleh]

Iv'e got the copy.. Buy Toshiba and turn your pussy into a dancing Indonesian Princess....

Dasha, you want to tell us again in ENGLISH! What the heck are you on about??

[Person]

Kassie if you want the best quality laptop but still at a budget (although not the cheapest) price then have a look at the Thinkpad R60. You might pay a few hundred dollars more than other barnds but the build quality is far superior.

Thinkpads also come with a standard three year international warranty.

Unfortunately it will be difficult to find one in Bali. You could order it over the internet from the web site I mentioned above.