Am gonna need a basic laptop to tide me over for a couple of months until I have my stuff shipped out. Are laptops cheap in Oz or would I be better to buy here in the uk?

It will only be used to surf the net so I don't necessarily need an all singing all dancing one!

Gav

This little beastie is getting good write-ups for under $500, it's basically a cut-down laptop aimed at people who just want to communicate:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/reviews/r...?page=fullpage

If you're sure that's all you're going to want to do then it might be worth considering.

Most people I know have bought one on salary sacrifice, effectively saving your tax rate (up to 40%, I believe). This does of course mean you need a job.

If you wait until you get here and end up working for a large company they will probably have a salary sacrifice scheme. That means you can get it GST free (10%) and out of pre-tax earnings (up to 41.5% off). Half price!

Will be working for the Dept of Main Roads in QLD so I will check out the score there!

Thanks for the advice!

Gav

Depends on whether you want to run XP or Vista. If you are thinnking of getting one through Main Roads, be aware that Vista is the only operating system that is sold loaded on machines in Australia. Also most Gov't departments don't run Vista systems, and most use no more than Office 2002/3 or older.
OH has just bought on from PC World, to her own specs while she is in the UK at present, for a vastly cheaper price than what she could buy here.

Yeah, what Vim and Worzel said about salary sacrifice.

More discussion on this subject can be found in this thread.

I saw today that Dell are doing a laptop for AU$599, so prices are tumbling.

I don't think you would source it through the company nor use it for work, just use them to get the tax back.

I didn't realise that about only getting Vista in Aus now - I was hoping to be able to get one soon but with XP. Apparently you need 2GB RAM to make Vista work effectively which puts you into the $1000 area.

Also note the keyboard layouts on Australian Laptops use the American keyboard. Not the british. I cant stand the @ key being in the wrong place!

It took a while to get used to but rather than that use a british keyboard at home and an Aussie one at work.

I got a brochure from Dell yesterday with a laptop for $599 with pre-loaded XP Home Edition (512MB memory, 80GB hard drive, 15.4 screen), also one for $899 with pre-loaded XP, 1GB memory & 120GB hard drive, so it seems you can still get XP.

Note that to upgrade the RAM in a laptop is relatively cheap and very easy to do.

Vista will work ok with 1 GB RAM, but you are right 2GB would be better.

Well the OH had to buy a new lappy here as hers died, and having used it I am not convinced that Vista is any use with less than 20 gig of ram!

I highly recommend this company...
http://www.morgancomputer.co.uk/
They sell reconditioned.... as well as new-stock.

Hvae bought lots from them in the past, with no problems.

One reason why I bought one while back in the UK. And it's not only the @, it's the lack of a £££££££ sign!
PC World have sorted it out with XP on it after saying they fully understand why I don't want Vista. £370, does everything I want (so far!) sounds good to me

Get on the TESCO's web site, just got a aser with 17inch screen reduced from around £550 (I think ) to £349
Got delivered on Sat and so far so good.

Shona