CORKER

We are thinking of buying a top end laptop to take to Aus..one with all the Wireless technology and a TV out facility...DVD etc...
Would we be able to use it straight away upon landing in Aus. for emails and watching the TV on.?...etc....????
Or would we have to buy some new software..???

BillnLinz

Not sure about the TV bit but i dare say it would be ok, the wireless bit is fantastic!!, we took over a dell inspiron with wireless card inbuilt no really knowing too much about wireless technology but with thoughts to the future....bought a wireless router for $80, hey presto, better than sliced bread, the laptop is now used all over the place, in the garden, in front of the telly, in bed!!, anywhere in the house, bloody great!!

Go for it

Hutch

Yep. It'll work fine. We use our Sony Vaio when we're out there for myriad things - particularly handy for our sprog Josh to watch his Disney DVDs on when the grown-ups are watching the big telly. Wireless is great and is an international standard so will work fine anywhere. As for TV - guess that depends on whether you're talking about watching MPEGs of TV shows or actual live TV through a TV decoder.

Comer

That's exactly what I want too. Could you post which model once you've bought one. Thanks.

CORKER

You use it in bed..????? Has it got a built in web cam....?????

CORKER

It's a Toshiba Quasimodo. (I think)....PC world have got the on offer ONLY £999.00....

I thought it had a built in TV decoder ???? (may be not)

hilary6

Thats good to hear we'll be taking our Dell inspiration

CORKER

Any ideas..????

Centurion

Remember that although its wireless to connect to the internet you need ADSL or similar provision in your house. This may mean that you will have to wait until you settle into a home or a 6 month rental to make it worthwhile connecting. And DO CHECK that the property that you are moving into has provision and you are able to get broadband. It will take about 5 - 10 days to connect it from application.

Until then you can use dial up if you wanted to and get an temporary account with the company doing your broadband with local Australia charges. Westnet are very good, cheap and dont enter you into any term of contract and will provide dial up until the broadband connects. Find them at www.westnet.com.au or in the aus yellow pages.

You then need to buy a wireless router and ADSL modem and plug it in to configure your network.

Most laptops with DVD provision have DVD software included and can TV out so you can watch DVDs on teh big screen. You may need to buy cables and also audio cables to connect the sound to the speakers as well. Best you get those whilst here since you wont know what connections your TV has.

As to watching live TV I probably would not recommend it via the internet anyway. The bandwidth usage would be huge and we are metered on Bandwidth here on most packages. I dont know if thats what was meant.

Hope that helps. Oh buy one from Dell - they are value for money and you can configure some really high end machine that wont break the bank.

Suni&Jay

Took our Sony vaio K315z, Had no problems. We managed to get wireless as well with no problems. Kids watched DVD's and played games when they got bored. Wireless can be used any where in the world, as long as you can find a router to hook up to.