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    What Do I Need for France

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by camsimple, Jun 21, 2006.

  1. camsimple

    camsimple Notebook Evangelist

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    What do I need to buy for my notebook so I can use it in Europe? I know I need to buy a converter but what specifically do I need to buy. Someone also said I would need a transformer, but I am not sure exactly what they meant.
     
  2. biiscit

    biiscit Notebook Consultant

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    You don't need anything. Don't worry.

    Europe and USA use different voltages, but all laptops within practically the past 3 years feature a universal voltage setting. It'll work just fine.
     
  3. nickster87

    nickster87 Notebook Consultant

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    Europe uses different electrical adapters than the United States, so you need something that will allow you to connect your plug into a European outlet. When I went to France, I never needed one, but I don't think they are expensive.
     
  4. nickster87

    nickster87 Notebook Consultant

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    Yes you do. American outlets are not the same as Europen ones.
     
  5. camsimple

    camsimple Notebook Evangelist

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    This is good news. I am actually going out tomorrow to purchase the laptop so I would assume this would fall within the "past three years". :)

    So all I would need would be the plug adapter, not the actual power transformer?
     
  6. cheziyi

    cheziyi Notebook Consultant

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    Yes, all you need is the plug adapter.
     
  7. Ma2T

    Ma2T Notebook Guru

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    Im from the UK and spent a lot of time in Denmark, as people said you don't need a transformer, your laptop will do that.

    Also, there is not a "European" adaptor, you will need a specfic plug adaptor for France. When in Denmark I need a UK to Danish Adapter.

    They are cheap, like £5 or $8, but make sure you get the correct one for France ;).

    Some do a few countries in Europe, but never all.

    I find it best to bring a native (USA) cube 3 plug adaptor to plug in to the French adaptor, so you can connect 3 US plugs from the one French adapter. I learnt this after a few trips lol
     
  8. titaniummd

    titaniummd Notebook Deity

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    I just came from Portugal and I used this:

    http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=APK01US

    It worked well and it is compact. I saw a more compact one that you can buy duty free on the trip over there for 20 Euros.

    It worked on all of outlets except for one outlet that fried my surge protector. It was scary to see my surge protector smoke and the lights in the room go dark.
     
  9. taz20075

    taz20075 Notebook Guru

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    Eh...just invade and make them conform to US standards. Should be a fairly easy takeover...... ;)
     
  10. Arla

    Arla Notebook Deity

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    When you get the laptop just make sure that the input voltage is 110-240v, I do see the occasional laptop that only takes 110 (or 240 if you are in Europe), most should but I'd just check to be on the safe side.