Should I buy an ASUS from Taiwan or the US?? When will the V series be refreshed??????

I will be traveling to Taiwan this coming July. Does anyone know if it is cheaper to buy from a store in Taiwan or should I just buy an asus here in the US and if so.. how much cheaper? Also do you think Asus will realease any refresh V series by then? especially the V2je?

 

Ah, that's the question that's been haunting us all

Personally, I'm not very optimistic. Consider that it taking nearly one month from "release" (when they release the info that they'll be producing a refresh) to retailers having said machine in stock (e.g. the G1S), and then consider that Asus doesn't even have the V1 on its roadmap, while there are still models that ARE on the roadmap that haven't been officially released yet...

E.g. Asus just showcased the F8. There's been no mention of the V series refresh at all.

It's the 1st week of June. Even if they release info on the V series tomorrow, there's still little guarantee that it'll be in the hands of consumers by July.

Also, if Asus decides to use ATI after all for its refresh, like pre-SR, then the wait might be even longer.

 

I would say Taiwan would be cheaper, But you will end up with a Kantonese/mandarin Keyboard which would cost you $50 to get changed

 

Really I'm pretty sure they use english keyboards in taiwan too....ahhhhhhh sigh the mbp so really tempting now....How much cheaper will the v2je be if I purchase one in taiwan?

 

Well the MBP, thin and compact as it is..will still be bigger than the 14.1" V2je

If not the keyboard, the Windows version they install will be Taiwanese, and you'd have to reinstall it or something.

 

ehhh windows shouldn't be a problem =P anyone who has experience from buying a asus in taiwan?

 

No one knows about purchasing asus lappys from taiwan ;(

 

Yes you're right. The keyboard is EXACTLY THE SAME except that extra symbols and characters are added next to the English letters. It will just function and feel like other US laptops with English OS. In addition, Taiwanese vendors are FAR more competitive. You'll be amazed by the crazy number of computer stores in Taipei and other cities. Thus, the stores often provide free services, gifts, and benefits such as the choosing between English and Chinese OS.

Asus at Taiwan is really a whole lot cheaper. G1S costs about 1,782.36 USD PLUS TAX.

P.S. I REALLY want to get BenQ s41 in Taiwan.

 

Ya buying a laptop in the us when you are going to taiwan is like going to taco bell before you go to mexico.

 

Thanks for all the info =D I think I'm going to buy my 1st laptop in taiwan =P

 

By the way what laptop companies should I be on the look for in Taiwan. Any website that I could specs for the BenQ s41

 

This should give you some insight on s41
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=122358
Personally, I have never seen s41 in person yet.

Anyway, if you can read Chinese, you should check out the online vendors first such as PChome and Yahoo. It has been awfully long since the last time I had shopped in Taiwan for high tech gears. In case you don't know, everything sold in Taiwan should already be priced with tax.

 

Thanks Patrick for all the info! =D Seems like your the only one that knows about buying laptops in taiwan. =P sigh too bad I I can't read chinese that well. SHould've competed chinese school.

 

LOL @ stamar's comment. Ingenious.

 

it would be even more silly if u bought one in the states considering ure looking at ASUS, which is Taiwanese.

I bought my laptop in Taiwan. I requested to have the OS changed to an english version, and they gave me the address of the place i should goto, which btw, was very close cos taiwan is very much all about computers/technology, and u can find registered Asus maintanance and repair places easily. They originally said it would take about one afternoon for them to finish the job for me, but called back one hour later and told me it was done.

and like Patrick said, taiwanese vendors are really competitive. U can go around the shops negotiating the price and pick out the one with the best deal i guess.

btw, if ure going around July-august, there should be technology exhibition/fair thingos going on around taiwan. I got my laptop at a computer fair (or whatever u call it), and they had promotions going on where if u bought a W3J, u'd get a free 100G hd (only a 4200rpm tho), I also got a free asus game controller (game pad i think they are called), and I had my 1G ram upgraded to just one stick instead of 2X 512mb, free. For the A8 i think it was one of them USB TV card things. Im not sure how those work...

oh yea and theres the standard bluetooth mouse and backpack that came with the W3J.

anyway.

HTH
Jeremy

 

I live in Asia and would prefer to buy a lappy (Asus C90S) in Taiwan since it should be cheaper for me. Anyone have any link to a website or a reliable contact number there please?

 

NIce I can't wait till I go to Taiwan =) =)

 

wait, watch out for warranty. there might not be a global one.

 

This is kind of a problem. Unlike the US, laptop and computers aren't mainly sold in super stores like BestBuy, CompUSA, etc. Instead, there are just streets and streets of small size computer retailers competing with each other. In Taipei, there is a specific area dedicated to high tech stores. There is really HUNDREDS of different stores (not a hyperbole btw). Like Jer said, the best way to get the best price is to go back and forth between stores. Generally, they all should be pretty trustworthy. After all, you see the stuff in person before buying. However, keep the warranty coverage in mind.

If you really want a specific trustworthy retailer, you should try buying it from Yahoo Taiwan and PChome.com.tw through the "shopping" section. Unfortunately, I don't know any phone contacts or other specific retailers since I haven't gone back to Taiwan in years.

 

Hi Jetnis, how did you get on then?

I've bought cameras in Hong Kong before & looked around the markets there at laptops - but never bought. I'm going to HK & Taipei at the end of Sept & will be on the look out for a laptop this time - G1S, G2S, V1S, something fast + decent resolution for web/video & coding work....+ occasional games.

Can you recommend any shopping streets or actual shops for good deals?

I also want an international warranty & a UK/£ keyboard if poss. Hopefully grab something for around £800??

I'll be in Taipei for 3 days - hopefully long enough to do some sightseeing with my wife too.

Steve

 

800 pounds might be a stretch for the any of the above listed laptops but you are in Hong kong so the price might be cheaper. In canada its about 900 pounds to get the above listed laptops.

 

eh..i guess i'm too late..but it's actually cheaper here in north america..
my dad's friend bought a g2p a while back in China for like approx 2.5k Canadian and not long after i bought my g1s for 2.1k :S