Computer Question

Well, I can already bank online... I'm with a credit union which I like; it's a question of the creditor willing to go in and take money out... which they are not.


Now... the computer?  The folks at Dell say although it says 230 and not 250 on the back, it should work just fine.  Just in case, I should put everything onto disks.  So now I wonder, if I have to do that anyway, should I just sell this now and get a new one when I get there?  It's a big desktop; and although I love it, I have visions of writing my amazing screenplays, books and such on a laptop, whilst on a train through the countryside.  *sigh*
Thoughts?

Hey Elizabeth

I was silly, and moved my computer over here with me. I didn't save anything to disc, and was lucky that the harddrive was ok in the end. I bubblewrapped the tower and used a collapsable dolly with wheels to take it on the plane as a 'carry on'. I don't recommending doing this. It was a major hassle.  

One thing you can do, is remove the hard drive of your computer, and have a computer shop here build a new computer for you, using your old hard drive. Also if you have memory sticks you can remove, do that as well, and the graphics card.  Most all computers can be taken apart, the bits put into static free bags, and then put in a new tower unit here in the UK.  I have built two computers (with my husband's help)

Otherwise,,I would definately consider just getting a new unit and not bringing your computer.

Good Luck

My husband and I brought both of our computers. My baby, being a total geek, always has to have the top-of-the-line stuff so it wasn't cost effective for us to repurchase in England.  We shipped it (we sent our stuff by air) and they arrived completely fine.  It certainly helped that we had the original boxes they came in... though I'm sure you could wrap them up well if need be.

(Obviously we only sent the tower and keyboard/mouse -- scanner, printer, monitor etc we got rid of and repurchased here.)

Maybe you should just look on some British sites and see what it would cost to buy something similar?  Andrew ordered all of our peripherals from http://www.dabs.com -- though I can not vouch for their computers.

Our 2 computers are both laptops, both US, and we've loved them over here, especially since they'd have cost WAY more buying them in the UK.

I can recommend http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/home.html We have bought alot of things from them, and they are quick with shipping. They have a location in South Hampshire if you want to order and pick up.  Their prices are quite good, and you can get ready to use set ups, or get components and build your own computer. Laptops, cameras, etc.

Thank you for all the info!
I think because I'm not computer literate when it comes to the hardware stuff, I'm gonna do it the paranoid practical way, and burn all my important stuff onto discs, and delete the rest.
And because I don't want to deal with the hassle of cords and switches, I'll save up and deal with the cost of a new notebook when I get over there.
I've always sworn by Dell, but I'll check out the novatech site as well.
hmmmm... does that make me sound spoiled and lazy?

Dumb question.... if your computer does not have the little converter switch can you still take it with you and take out the insides and put them in a new tower? :-/

All of the guts can be taken out of the tower and put inside a new tower if you wish but its more time and cost effective to purchase a UK power supply and replace the US power supply. They dont cost very much and are quite easy to swap. Most importantly it saves you the hassle of taking all of the bits and pieces out of one tower, transporting them, and then screwing them into a new UK tower. This also works going back to the US from the UK.

Check my puter yesterday and it can go with us...it's really only less than a year old so I would like to take it with us.  So we just need and adapter plug like for the laptop right?

Yes, provided your laptop converts the voltage, which most laptops do. All thats needed is a plug adapter and those can be found everywhere. A tip though - try and find one that will turn a US plug into a UK one directly. Some sets make you change the us plug into a continental plug before you can attach the UK plug adapter. The problem with that is the weight of the cord can sometimes pull down on the plug + 2 adapters and can cause sudden shutdown if you move too far away or something bumps the cord and the whole thing falls out of the socket.

Of course if youre going to the US with a UK laptop - same applies.

Best of luck

Oh I have taken my laptops in the past all over Europe I was more concerned with my big computer.  For some reason it intimidates me. lol

I figure I'll just ship it.  We already have several adaptors so will just buy a few extras when we go for the laptop, desktop and palmcorder.