Question about transport of computer equipment

I want to take my PC, modem, mouse and keyboard and perhaps even my screen with me to Canada
I know that there is a different electrical currnent in Canada to the UK
However to speed up my professional integration, I need to take my computer with all the programms and settings that I currently have.
Paying for a new installation as soon as I arrive would be a bit difficult seeing as one creates a whole host of initial costs (accommodation, food, new clothing, car during an initial work search period)

Up to the point that I have a new steady income, and during my research for jobs and contacts, I hardly see myself being very efficient in a web café.

Tell me about your experience of emmigrating with your computer equipment please

Would this be totally unrealistic, expensive or plain sensible
Are there not simple adaptations to be done to convert the current to and electrical current that you can use with a British bought computer.

If you did take your computer with you, how did you take it , on the plane with you personal belongins, or in your transporters packaging

Am I ignoring some vital facts,

Thanks for any replies

Luke

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PC, keyboard and mouse are fine. You just need to take the PC to a shop to have the
power supply replaced (unless it happens to have a switch on the back to switch to
North America voltage). It cost me $30 to have mine replaced.

I wouldn't bring the monitor though, you will need a step-up transformer to get it to
work, you're better off just buying a new one.

Mark Styles http://www.lambic.co.uk/canada DISCLAIMER: Advice provided is from
personal experience with emigrating from UK to Quebec. I am not an expert!

"lukedulaq" wrote:

> I want to take my PC, modem, mouse and keyboard and perhaps even my screen with
> me to Canada.

You might want to consider leaving your monitor behind and buying another monitor in
Canada. Aside from electric power issues, a monitor is heavy and will therefore be
expensive to transport.

Before bringing your modem, make sure it can be configured to work in Canada, since
telephone signal specs (e.g., the sound of ringing and busy/engaged) are different.
Canadian telephone specs are the same as in the US, so if your modem documentation
talks about US specs, you can use those.

Make very sure that you write down the serial numbers of all your computer equipment.
Customs will expect to see these numbers on your list of goods accompanying you
(and/or "goods to follow").

Also, I would recommend you make a detailed catalogue of all your software
installation discs, with the exact version numbers and serial numbers for everything.
Aside from making the Customs people happy, this information could prove invaluable
in the event your shipment is lost or damaged and you are forced to replace it.

You should definitely make at least two full backups of all your data before shipping
your computer, and carry or ship the backups separately from your equipment. In the
(hopefully unlikely) event that your computer equipment is damaged or lost in
transit, the backups could save your skin.

Rich Wales [email protected] http://www.webcom.com/richw/
*NOTE: I've lived in both Canada and the US and have dual citizenship.
*DISCLAIMER: I am not a lawyer, professional immigration consultant,
or consular officer. My comments are for discussion purposes only and
are not intended to be relied upon as legal or professional advice.

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I brought all my PC stuff with me with no problems but there are some things you need
to check. Look at the back of your computer to see if the power supply has a 230/110V
switch. Most do. You would simply need a new power lead with the Canadian plug on the
end. Now check the plate on the back of the monitor. Many have automatic switched
mode power supplies. If it says 110-240V then it too will work fine, but if it only
says 230V then you out of luck.

If neither are suitable I would suggest bring the computer and buy a new power
supply, likely about $30-50 (25UKP) and buy a new monitor.

As for the modem your out of luck. It will not work on the different phone system and
will not be legal to connect to the phone lines here. You'll have to replace it. I
was lucky when I moved form UK as I had just received a free upgrade offer form US
Robotics to the, then, new 56K standard. I called them and asked if I could get the
upgrade in the North American version, they put me in contact with the Canadian
office who promptly sent me a brand new modem, free of charge and a prepaid return
box to send in the old one. That's what I call service!

Having to ditch the old modem however may not be such a bad thing. High speed
internet access (DSL or Cable) is MUCH cheaper here than in UK. It costs about
20UKP/month for a 1Meg DSL line 24/7 and much the same for cable. Obviously
availability depends where you are planning to live.

Good luck on the move

Oh BTW I put my computer in checked baggage on the plane (Extremely well packed in
VERY study cardboard boxes stuffed all around with clothes) as I needed it as soon as
I landed. The rest of my belongings arrived a few weeks later on the ship.

Paul Cook (2 weeks until I can apply for Citizenship)

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Yes, data is important. I would suggest pulling the hard drive from the PC and
bringing it with hand luggage.

Hi, I brought my laptop computer to Canada. When I was in the airport, the custom had
to check my luggage. They saw I was carring a laptop computer, then they asked me my
laptop compter is bought from Canada or elsewhere? I asked them it was not bought in
Canada. They said I have to pay tax. The custom checked their system by typing my
laptop's brand (IBM Thinkpad)and model. Finally, I had to pay $180 Canadian dollars
to them. They also told me if I bring this laptop to Canada again, I also have to
bring that tax receipt otherwise I need to pay it again. (After I paid it, they will
write down my laptop serial number on the receipt)

Regards,
P.

[email protected] (Rich Wales)
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"Patrtick" wrote:

> I brought my laptop computer to Canada. . . . I had to pay $180 Canadian
> dollars [duty / tax].

A lot depends on whether one is a first-time immigrant to Canada, because in that
case, virtually all of one's possessions can be imported as "settlers' effects",
without paying any duty or tax.

Rich Wales [email protected] http://www.webcom.com/richw/
*NOTE: I've lived in both Canada and the US and have dual citizenship.
*DISCLAIMER: I am not a lawyer, professional immigration consultant,
or consular officer. My comments are for discussion purposes only and
are not intended to be relied upon as legal or professional advice.

Did you went in there as an immigrant or visitor? I thought you are allowed to bring
in personal stuff when you move there the first time???

"Patrtick" <[email protected]>
[usenetquote2]> > "lukedulaq" wrote:[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > I want to take my PC, modem, mouse and keyboard and perhaps even my screen[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > with me to Canada.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > You might want to consider leaving your monitor behind and buying another monitor[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > in Canada. Aside from electric power issues, a monitor is heavy and will[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > therefore be expensive to transport.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > Before bringing your modem, make sure it can be configured to work in Canada,[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > since telephone signal specs (e.g., the sound of ringing and busy/engaged) are[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > different. Canadian telephone specs are the same as in the US, so if your modem[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > documentation talks about US specs, you can use those.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > Make very sure that you write down the serial numbers of all your computer[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > equipment. Customs will expect to see these numbers on your list of goods[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > accompanying you (and/or "goods to follow").[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > Also, I would recommend you make a detailed catalogue of all your software[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > installation discs, with the exact version numbers and serial numbers for[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > everything. Aside from making the Customs people happy, this information could[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > prove invaluable in the event your shipment is lost or damaged and you are forced[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > to replace it.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > You should definitely make at least two full backups of all your data before[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > shipping your computer, and carry or ship the backups separately from your[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > equipment. In the (hopefully unlikely) event that your computer equipment is[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > damaged or lost in transit, the backups could save your skin.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > Rich Wales [email protected] http://www.webcom.com/richw/[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > *NOTE: I've lived in both Canada and the US and have dual citizenship.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > *DISCLAIMER: I am not a lawyer, professional immigration consultant,[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > or consular officer. My comments are for discussion purposes only and[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > are not intended to be relied upon as legal or professional advice.[/usenetquote2]

You can save those $30 by replacing the power supply yourself - if you know how to
use a screwdriver you can do it easily.

Mark Styles <[email protected]>
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[usenetquote2]> >I want to take my PC, modem, mouse and keyboard and perhaps even my screen with me[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >to Canada I know that there is a different electrical currnent in Canada to the UK[/usenetquote2]
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What about the Custom duty ?? What about the software discs?? Do I need to pay duty
on CPU & software discs?. Do they (custom)check on nature of software CDs??

Pls reply in detail

Hello,

You can use your computer in canada without any problem. the only difference is the
power supply. You can either buy a 110 to 220 adapter at a local radioshack, or get
the power supply in the computer changed by a technician. I think option 1 is more
practical.

Computers are pretty cheap here in canada, but if you want to save money, I would
suggest bring the CPU, keyboard, and mouse via checkin baggage and get a moniter from
here. You can get a used one real cheap.

Shibu

On Sun, 5 Aug 2001, lukedulaq wrote:

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why custom people need to know which softwares are installed? do they check if the
softwares installed are pirated?.