Gibraltar - buy new laptop - advice please

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Manuel

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I'm along the Costa Tropical and I want to buy a new laptop with a British keyboard and software. Maybe the new Windows 7 as I do not like Vista. Will probably go for Open Office this time. Must be PC not Mac. Linux makes me frown, cannot understand it, far too complicated for me. Prices are very high in Spain and I have become used to a UK keyboard. Are they cheaper in Gib? I have euros and pounds so exchange rate is not a problem.

It would be cheaper for me to EJ or RA to London than buy in Spain but would Gib be a good option? Can anyone give me the details of decent PC suppliers in Gib and personal experience of the vendors? I suppose warranty might be a problem as Gib is outside the EU?
 
Have you investigated whether the UK online companies like Dell would ship to Spain?
On the Costa del Sol there are a few Brits who sell Uk configured laptops, or who can install English Windows etc.
Gib not as cheap as UK but may be a cost effective solution.
 
Laptops in Spain

I bought a Dell as an emergency purchase while in the Canaries and it all worked out well. It arrived within a week, UK (Irish) spec - they come from Ireland. A freephone call to Dell Spain (they found an English speaker for me!) was almost all it took to get it at a fair price. Only problem was could not pay by Visa as they will only deliver to CCard address; that meant doing a bank transfer having drawn out cash by various cards first.
Alternatively order on line. Just make sure you know what you want and avoid the add ons that make it expensive.
 
PlanB said:
Have you investigated whether the UK online companies like Dell would ship to Spain?
On the Costa del Sol there are a few Brits who sell Uk configured laptops, or who can install English Windows etc.
Gib not as cheap as UK but may be a cost effective solution.
Click to expand...
Dell used to but not now, I understand. PC City is a subsidiary of PC World (Dixons as was) but they don't do Brit stuff. Maybe best to order by phone, RA or EJ to the UK and take the next flight back. Maybe order from one of the Gatwick or Luton airport dealers and stay airside? Insane when you think about the wider implications but maybe cheaper and better for me.

The EU spends its time worrying about long life light bulbs and allows this sort of disparity to distort what is supposed to be a free market. Weird.
 
There are a few electrical shops up the high street in Gib which sell laptops. (The one I'm on now was bought there) They are definitely all negotiable in price and it is quite accepted to play one off against the other to get the best deal so take a paper and pencil and note the prices of the same model in the various shops and then start with one and start haggling.

At the end of the day they want your business and will bend on both price and accessories, extra software etc to get your money. I had a good day haggling before I bought this Toshiba Satellite at a price comparable to the UK. After agreeing the price I then managed to blag a carry bag and some extra software, so go for it....

Chas
 
PlanB said:
Have you investigated whether the UK online companies like Dell would ship to Spain?
On the Costa del Sol there are a few Brits who sell Uk configured laptops, or who can install English Windows etc.
Gib not as cheap as UK but may be a cost effective solution.
Click to expand...

I am glad to find your site - now I know what a good one looks like.
Very good topic to share with us. Great info.:)
 
Lots of Shops on the High Street sell Lap Tops. Not as cheap as the UK, but you can haggle at least 10% off. Just play them off against each other. Be aware that you ask for a UK not Euro version as a lot of shops stock both.

Do not forget the other VAT free goodies!

Paul
 
Nautorius said:
Lots of Shops on the High Street sell Lap Tops. Not as cheap as the UK, but you can haggle at least 10% off. Just play them off against each other. Be aware that you ask for a UK not Euro version as a lot of shops stock both.

Do not forget the other VAT free goodies!

Paul
Click to expand...
Thanks, chaps. I would prefer to see the product before parting with cash so a wander up Main Street might be the thing to do.

What is the difference between a UK and a Euro version? I don't want a 13A plug but I can change that in a jiffy anyway.
 
What gives you the idea that laptops are that expensive in Spain? I was forced by circumstance recently to buy a computer in Spain. I estimated it cost me about £50 more than the equivalent in the UK. The Windows Vista disk was multi-lingual so I could choose any language version I liked. It was a Spanish plug of course (but you say you're not bothered by that) and a Spanish keyboard (which has all the handy things like á,é,í,ó,ú,ñ,¿,¡,ç and the only thing missing is £. I have both keyboards installed within Windows and switch to the UK board each time I need £. Easy.)
 
trapezeartist said:
What gives you the idea that laptops are that expensive in Spain? I was forced by circumstance recently to buy a computer in Spain. I estimated it cost me about £50 more than the equivalent in the UK. The Windows Vista disk was multi-lingual so I could choose any language version I liked. It was a Spanish plug of course (but you say you're not bothered by that) and a Spanish keyboard (which has all the handy things like á,é,í,ó,ú,ñ,¿,¡,ç and the only thing missing is £. I have both keyboards installed within Windows and switch to the UK board each time I need £. Easy.)
Click to expand...
They look higher to me when I compare online UK prices against retail prices here in Spain.
 
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