The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Buying a Laptop in Taiwan?

    Discussion in 'Notebook and Tech Bargains' started by Dersu, May 31, 2006.

  1. Dersu

    Dersu Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Does anyone have information on buying a laptop in Taiwan?

    Where would one go? I read there is a night market that specializes in electronics?

    Are the prices better than in the United States? By how much?

    Any tips?
     
  2. Jason

    Jason Overclocker NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    908
    Messages:
    5,056
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Where are you going to be in Taiwan? There are many computer malls in Taiwan, that have many little shops that have computers. Taiwan has the best deals on their Asus, and BenQ notebooks. These are always cheaper then the notebooks in the US. For example I can get the Asus W3j for $1310. In the US it's $1799.
     
  3. Dersu

    Dersu Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I will be in Taipei this October for a couple of days at the begining and end of my trip.

    The rest of the trip is uncertain, but will most likely include a rail/bus trip to Alishan National Park and Kenting. I would prefer to buy the laptop on return trip passing through Taipei so I don't have to carry it on my trip; unless best deals are had somewhere else? Maybe Kaohslung?

    Can you recommend any malls? Do owners generally speak english? Should I get my mandarin speaking friends to write out what I want and then haggle on my own? Unfortunately I won't have much time to comparison shop...

    Thanks for the info. I will research the Asus and BenQ brands. This website is really helpful! I am getting excited to get a new laptop; my T-22 is a bit slow for the occasional graphics work I do and has some recurring battery/power/ram/processor problems. In addition to needing a new HD.
     
  4. Jason

    Jason Overclocker NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    908
    Messages:
    5,056
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    I'm sure there are many places elsewhere in Taipei, but since you will be traveling to Kenting, you will have to pass through both Taichung, then Koushung. In Taichung there is a place called NOVA. It's a great computer mall with many shops. There are many notebooks there. There is also a NOVA in Taipei that I have never been too. Here is a link:

    http://www.taiwanfun.com/north/taipei/shopping/0304/0304ShoppingPlace-Nova.htm

    I would say about 1/2 of the owners in the store speak English. So what I would do is look around and ask questions in English from places that speak English then look around and find the best deal.

    I have been to Kenting and Alishan many times. They are both very nice places. Have fun :)