Wireless Router & Printer

now that i have my shiny new laptop, i'd like a printer and wireless router to complete the ensamble.  can i buy these in the USA and use in the UK?  In the past i've travelled this, that and everywhere with laptops successfully.  Since routers have something to do with phone lines and printers have a different plug (and i dont' think they have that transformer thingy to accept differnt voltages/currencies).  Any advice or first hand experience?

meg

Hi Meggles!
Congrats on the new lappy!

I'd recommend that you get a wireless router & printer from here. The pricing differential of wireless routers is still enough to save money buying there, but that soon gets eaten away with shipping & import duty to the UK costs. Also, the different ISP's here may require certain settings which may be out of normal ranges of US supplied hardware (the VCI and VPI settings, usually though these can be adjusted and match other country ISP settings though)

As for a printer - I'd still recommend in this case a UK supplied one. Again, the cost of shipping & tax & import duties make the pricing differential much smaller for the same model. Plus a UK supplied pne is easier to send back for warranty issues.

In my view, opinion and experience, the best electronics to 'grey import' are laptops, digi cameras, digi camcorders, MP3 players, anything thats small, light and easy to carry. You've got the 'main' part of your computing requirements sorted (the laptop) and saved a bunch of wonga in the process - put that dosh towards UK peripherals ! oh of course at discount places such as ebuyer or dabs to save as much as possible here in rip off Britain!!

Let me know if you require specifics Meggles, the more IT knowledge I can provide, the better my reputation will be! which is important for me starting my own consultancy right now!

Cheers!
Dennis! West London Slough UK!!

thanks for the advice... i'm in the US now, and will be until 7-Jan.  I was thinking about buying and bringing back (i work for a US company that has a sea shipment every week from the US to the UK).  i hear what you're saying about wireless router and different setups... the printer would the ink cartridges be the same on both sides of the atlantic?

argos had some pretty inexpensive looking printers...

Hi Meggles,
Although I don't have 'direct' experience with bringing over printers and wireless routers etc, I'd estimate that the print cartridge for the 'exact' same model printer would be the same. The real 'pain' is that some models do have slightly different labels/models no.s  although are easily identifyable. ex. a HP 123 is such in the UK it may have a full designation of HP 123 - uk and the US one would be HP 123 - us. fine, then when you go to view the US cartridges it may only list the UK one so you'll be unsure when you're here. Next step of course is to then, purchase print cartridges in the US for that model and have them shipped over. Whilst that would work, it is 'slightly' inconvenient. One way around it would be to buy 4-5 'extra' cartridges whilst your out there in the US!

You're completley right about inexpensive printers, at that price point, they almost become 'throwawayable' once used!

Of course, out of all this, only you know how much you need to print and only you know how much you get hurt by your purse getting walloped everytime you come to buy stuff for your printing. If you feel you'd be better off getting a US printer, bringing it over here and buying the cartridges and getting them sent over then by all means go right ahead and do so!

Also, if you can get a shipment every week through your company, would you be prepared to occasionally buy components I require and have them sent over ? Of course, I'd settle the amount with you in full prior to purchase! - reason I ask? - I'm right now looking at a storage area network gizmo. UK price for the 160 GB version is £275 inc VAT, and the 250 GB version at £320. Add on 5-6 quid for delivery. Inthe US I can get the 250 GB one for £220 delivered to the UK!  - Hehe, I thought I'd ask !

Cheers for now!
Dennis! West London Slough UK!!

Hey Meggles,
Speaking from experience, buy "Everything Electronic" in the US.
Why? - It's just plain cheaper. (Pound vs. Dollar)
How? -
First make sure the printer is 110/240, if not don't purchase that model.
I purchased a HP Deskjet/Copier for roughly $100.00 dollars in the states, and here the same one was one sale for 80.00 GBP = $155.00 USD. (Huge Savings) and our HP ink cartridges are sold here under the exact same part number as well.

Router:
Again, went to BestBuy and purchased a Linksys wireless router, the only modification their was a trip to Comet to purchase a universal power converter. 

Their is one word of caution I have: You get NO Warranty service here, if it breaks you have to pack it in the suitcase and take it to the US for service. Luckily I can ship it to my office in the states and have my secretary do it for me.

Good Luck and remember the person that says it can't be done has just failed without trying again.

I just bought a wireless router for a new laptop for about £40 at Staples. And my BF just bought a new laser printer for £35. You can get deals over here!

pulled the computer catalog my company uses.  what's the difference between wireless access point and wirelss router?  which one do I need to hookup my broadband to my wireless enabled laptop?  any insights?