Advice on buying a laptop outside your native country

anto_1001 · 09-14-2007, 12:09 PM

Hi guys - sorry I've not had time to do a profile but this matter is a bit urgent, I hope you don't mind my rush.

I am from the UK and I have an very impulsive friend in the USA on holidays who is determined to buy a laptop there, becuase of the strong pound.

While not wanting to be negative, I have identified some potential pitfalls from reading various forums and articles on the web;

Firstly he wants a built in DVD-RW. Are these region specific? Could he play DVDs, recorded on the laptop, in his stand alone DVD players?

Secondly, the DVD format. Will the integrated DVD-RW only produce NTSC format DVDs - we use PAL?

Thirdly, does buying a laptop with integrated graphics mean that there is no possibility of upgrading, EVER? If thats the case then are any of the integrated graphics chips good enough for 3D gaming?

Lastly, is it still possible to get XP or XP Pro installed instead where a retailer offers a laptop pre installed with Vista?

anto

**TheMatt** · 09-14-2007, 05:26 PM

Hi,

Some DVD players are region specific and some are region free. You can change the region on region specific DVD players but only a max of 5 times.

When you burn a DVD Video_TS, the program you use will determine or allow you to select the DVD format.

Yes. You need to buy a laptop that uses MXM to upgrade the graphics. Unfortunately there are only a handful of these laptops.

You can install XP on a laptop with Vista. The only major issue in doing this is that many times manufacturers provide no XP drivers. Before selecting a Vista laptop that you plan on installing XP on, carefully research the drivers available including those from the laptop manufacturer and those from the manufacturers of third party components to see if you will have all the necessary drivers.

anto_1001 · 09-15-2007, 10:59 AM

Thanks TheMatt - that's very helpful. Unfortunately he's gone and done it anyway - so I guess he'll be the one picking your brains from now on.

anto

**TheMatt** · 09-15-2007, 01:42 PM

You're welcome.

09-14-2007, 12:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
anto_1001 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2 OS: WIN XP	Advice on buying a laptop outside your native country Hi guys - sorry I've not had time to do a profile but this matter is a bit urgent, I hope you don't mind my rush. I am from the UK and I have an very impulsive friend in the USA on holidays who is determined to buy a laptop there, becuase of the strong pound. While not wanting to be negative, I have identified some potential pitfalls from reading various forums and articles on the web; Firstly he wants a built in DVD-RW. Are these region specific? Could he play DVDs, recorded on the laptop, in his stand alone DVD players? Secondly, the DVD format. Will the integrated DVD-RW only produce NTSC format DVDs - we use PAL? Thirdly, does buying a laptop with integrated graphics mean that there is no possibility of upgrading, EVER? If thats the case then are any of the integrated graphics chips good enough for 3D gaming? Lastly, is it still possible to get XP or XP Pro installed instead where a retailer offers a laptop pre installed with Vista? anto

09-14-2007, 05:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Advice on buying a laptop outside your native country Hi, Some DVD players are region specific and some are region free. You can change the region on region specific DVD players but only a max of 5 times. When you burn a DVD Video_TS, the program you use will determine or allow you to select the DVD format. Yes. You need to buy a laptop that uses MXM to upgrade the graphics. Unfortunately there are only a handful of these laptops. You can install XP on a laptop with Vista. The only major issue in doing this is that many times manufacturers provide no XP drivers. Before selecting a Vista laptop that you plan on installing XP on, carefully research the drivers available including those from the laptop manufacturer and those from the manufacturers of third party components to see if you will have all the necessary drivers. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

09-15-2007, 10:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
anto_1001 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2 OS: WIN XP	Re: Advice on buying a laptop outside your native country Thanks TheMatt - that's very helpful. Unfortunately he's gone and done it anyway - so I guess he'll be the one picking your brains from now on. anto

09-15-2007, 01:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Advice on buying a laptop outside your native country You're welcome. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides