A very FG Christmas?

[Caustic Saint]

I was just wondering what the Xmas season was like in Japan. I may have a decent break (by Korean standards) around Xmastime and was thinking of another trip to Tokyo - or maybe somewhere else. Is it any different than any other time of the year? I know there's no big religious significance to the holiday in Japan, but what about commercially?

My reasons for wanting to take the trip are two-fold. 1. The trip itself. 2. A new computer. I'm sure the Mac-geeks know the new PowerBooks came out this week, and I really, really want the new 15" one. I'm holding off until 10.3 (Panther) ships, since I don't want to buy the machine then turn around and have to upgrade the OS a month or so later. Apple's said it'll be shipping by the end of the year, so I'd imagine making it an Xmas purchase would pretty much guarantee I'd get what I want.

The reason I'm considering getting it in Japan is because Apple's Korea pricing sucks. They haven't listed prices for the new models yet, but comparing the old 15" price in Korea to the new 15" price in Japan, Japan is about $550 cheaper. ($2700 vs. $3250) If I'm going to spend an extra $550, I may as well get a trip out of it.

The object of my affection:



So really, I'm just wondering if there's anything interesting to do in Tokyo over the Xmas days (25-28 is what I'm looking at) - expat gatherings, anything put on by the city, etc. - or should I just make it a shopping trip and see more of the city?

[Taro Toporific]

... I'm just wondering if there's anything interesting to do in Tokyo over the Xmas days (25-28 is what I'm looking at) - expat gatherings, anything put on by the city, etc. - or should I just make it a shopping trip and see more of the city?

Expat gatherings?! Hah. Who the hell would be here?

X-mas to New Years is the WORST for a single, new-to-town, FG to be in Japan. Japanese are all coupling like minx during X-mas and New Years they're all at home. Native FG here normally leave if at all possible or go to the countryside to their J-famiies if they're really F-ed.

Just order the PowerBook via smalldog.com. They ship to me in Japan so assume they'll ship to Korea.

[Caustic Saint]

X-mas to New Years is the WORST for a single, new-to-town, FG to be in Japan. Japanese are all coupling like minx during X-mas and New Years they're all at home. Native FG here normally leave if at all possible or go to the countryside to their J-famiies if they're really F-ed.

Just order the PowerBook via smalldog.com. They ship to me in Japan so assume they'll ship to Korea.

Okay, so worst case I'd bum around by myself for a few days. No biggie, done it before.

As for smalldog, I've used them before when I was in the states with good results. What about import duties though? I'm trying to avoid paying too much as it is, and don't want to get hit with a few hundred dollars in duty fees. Picking it up in Japan seemed like a safe way to go. I could always claim I'd always had it if I got stopped by customs (never happened yet) on the way back into Korea. And the trip + PB would be about the same amount as just buying th PB in Korea.

[Caustic Saint]

Well, scratch the smalldog idea. According to their FAQ, they're not allowed to sell Apple products internationallly.

Looks like it'll be Xmas in Akihabara!
(Unless somebody knows a cheaper source for Apple stuff in Japan? I know that BIC Camera near Tokyo Station has a good selection - not sure about prcies though.)

[Taro Toporific]

As for smalldog, I've used them before when I was in the states with good results. What about import duties though? .

Japan has no import duties on computer stuff and books. Reasonable, right? Why does Korea have import duties (since it's all made there)?

The Apple prices in Japan are now about the same are the States with software and OS costs higher because of the localization problems.

Sorry I won't be around to give you the Grand Taro-Tour in my hotrod Benz. I'll be playing cowboy and in snowboarding with family in Colorado, Dec. 22 to Jan 10.

[Taro Toporific]

Well, scratch the smalldog idea. According to their FAQ, they're not allowed to sell Apple products internationallly.

Oh yeah, I forgot. I only order 6-month old Apple remanufactured items which they do ship to Japan like this TiBook (667hz) I'm typing on now. Hell, at half price of new and Apple Service World warranty....I can live with it.

[Caustic Saint]

Japan has no import duties on computer stuff and books. Reasonable, right? Why does Korea have import duties (since it's all made there)?

The Apple prices in Japan are now about the same are the States with software and OS costs higher because of the localization problems.

I guess they have them because they can. There's also a VAT, which tacks on another $300 - something I have no interest in paying.

The Japan prices are about $150 higher than the US, and I'm fine with that. If it was just the base Korean price (no VAT) I'd probably just pick one up here as soon as Panther comes out. Under the visa I have, I'm not exempt from the VAT, so there's no weaseling out from under it.

[Caustic Saint]

I just realized the whole idea is pretty much moot, but not for any reasons previously stated. The Macworld Expo in San Francisco is 6-9 January. It'd be nuts to by a new system two weeks before the big show, not knowing whether or not anything new will be announced.

G5 PowerBooks? New iBooks? "Who knows that?

I'll wait 'til Jan to decide. There's always Lunar New Year for a trip anyways - and that'll be 5 days off! (21-25 Jan, for those who haven't marked their calendars yet.)

[Taro Toporific]

G5 PowerBooks? New iBooks? "Who knows that?

G5 PowerBooks? Will they sell that laptop with asbestos pants? My Ti PowerBook will poach an egg in a shot glass if placed on top of the on/off button.

I'll wait 'til Jan to decide. There's always Lunar New Year for a trip anyways - and that'll be 5 days off! (21-25 Jan, for those who haven't marked their calendars yet.)

The TET OFFENSIVE?! Shhhhh, don't "Soviet Supreme" and Evil Pongi hear that.

[Caustic Saint]

G5 PowerBooks? New iBooks? "Who knows that?

G5 PowerBooks? Will they sell that laptop with asbestos pants? My Ti PowerBook will poach an egg in a shot glass if placed on top of the on/off button.

According to the tech-heads on the discussion boards over at Mac Rumors, if one were to clock the current G5 chip down to 1.2Ghz from 1.6, it would dissipate less heat (in watts) than the current G4.

So, yes, G5 PowerBooks are possible, but I coubt they're likely to make an appearance so soon after the speed-bump (and revamping, in the case of the 15") to the G4 models. Though I may just upgrade to a newer iBook if they get a hefty speed bump (over my current G3 600Mhz) and some new features. I want more screen real estate though, so if the 14" iBook is still pegged at 1024x768 (sam as my 12"), I'll be moving up to the G4 15" with its 1280x854. (Hey, that's 306,688 more pixels!)

[hanasims]

Why would you buy an Apple anything. What a pain in the ass. You never see anyone who knows anything about computers buying an Apple. Its always the "trendy" people, who think those commercials Apple comes up with over lunch are so smart, who are buying. Buy a computer you can actually use.

[Caustic Saint]

Why would you buy an Apple anything. What a pain in the ass. You never see anyone who knows anything about computers buying an Apple. Its always the "trendy" people, who think those commercials Apple comes up with over lunch are so smart, who are buying. Buy a computer you can actually use.

-1 Troll

Oh, wait. We don't use Slashcode here....

[AlbertSiegel]

WoW.... I had no idea Apple was so popular with FG! I was an Apple man some years ago. I had a PowerMac 9500MP set up for video editing. What a pain in the ass that was back then. Still, Apple was by far the best choice. Amiga was long dead and Windows was better called Winblows.

Times have changed. I Sold my PowerBook G3 4 -5 months ago. I did not like OSX too much. I have been working with Windows since 1999. I have been happy with Windows 2000 sinceI was for soem time in the IT world. Ahh.. I will never forget my dot com days. I thought I was rich when I could hardly afford the new Audi. LOL!! Live and learn.

I really gave it some thought and I just could not justify a Apple 15" widescreen that runs at half the speed and is twice the price of a (in my opinion) better built laptop. I ended up buying a eMachines 15.4" widescreen AMD 2400+ with 1GB RAM, 40GB 5400 RPM HD, 54G wireless, DVD/CD-RW combo for about $1,300... I would spend twice that for the Apple. Anyway, I am not too fond of OSX. I loved OS9. I am very happy with my PC. To be honset though, I do miss my G3 at times. Oh well....

[Caustic Saint]

I really gave it some thought and I just could not justify a Apple 15" widescreen that runs at half the speed and is twice the price of a (in my opinion) better built laptop. I ended up buying a eMachines 15.4" widescreen AMD 2400+ with 1GB RAM, 40GB 5400 RPM HD, 54G wireless, DVD/CD-RW combo for about $1,300... I would spend twice that for the Apple. Anyway, I am not too fond of OSX. I loved OS9. I am very happy with my PC. To be honset though, I do miss my G3 at times. Oh well....

I'm not going to get into the whole "Mac vs. PC" thing here, but if you honestly beleve that a 1Ghz G4 runs half as fast as a 2Ghz AMD, we need to talk about some real estate opportunities I have for you.

Comparing RISC and CISC systems solely on processor speed and deciding one is "half as fast" as the other is laughable - at best. Even AMD knows you can't compare based on CPU speed. Otherwise they'd name their chips for the speed they are - not the Intel equivalent.

[AlbertSiegel]

I'm not going to get into the whole "Mac vs. PC" thing here, but if you honestly beleve that a 1Ghz G4 runs half as fast as a 2Ghz AMD, we need to talk about some real estate opportunities I have for you.

Comparing RISC and CISC systems solely on processor speed and deciding one is "half as fast" as the other is laughable - at best. Even AMD knows you can't compare based on CPU speed. Otherwise they'd name their chips for the speed they are - not the Intel equivalent.

I know this.... But the fact is the G4 is old technology by today's standards. The G4 is not faster Mhz for Mhz than the P4. It's more or less a G3 with vector processors thrown in. The software must take advantage of it for it to run any faster than a G3. Sorry, but the truth is the 1Ghz G4 cannot compare with the AMD 2400+ in a speed test. Not only that, the AMD runs much cooler and cost less. I agree that RISC is better.... but the fact is it does not matter when CISC is so much faster in the Mhz game that the better designed RISC cannot keep up.

I am not trashing Apple. I love their computers. I have been a Mac user since 1993 and a Apple II user since 1987. I think Apple is one of the most innovative companies around. It's just they are a bit behind on the CPU side of things when it comes to laptops. The G5 is another story. I would have gladly paid the $2000 -$2500 for a G5 laptop if it were made avbailable. I'm sure that would toast my AMD.

I really, really, really want a G5 15"!!! I would love a black metal version..... I can only dream... Still dont like OSX much...

[GomiGirl]

1. I will be out of town over Christmas. After spending two yawn-filled New Years in Tokyo I am bugging out and heading to Vietnam. Tokyo is like a ghost town - it is really eerie. The only good thing about New Year in Tokyo is that it is the only night of the year that the trains are running 24 hours.

2. An OS X user and very happy thankyouverymuch.

[Caustic Saint]

2. An OS X user and very happy thankyouverymuch.

Careful now. You're liable to get another member in the GG fan club if you keep talking like that.

[Taro Toporific]

2. An OS X user and very happy thankyouverymuch.

Careful now. You're liable to get another member in the GG fan club if you keep talking like that.

I don't have the FG Forum's IP logs, but I would guess that in the EVENING in Tokyo the HTTP "referer" for the FG regulars could be from 20-to-30% Mac OSs. During the workday that must drop to below 5%.

This is my "referer" sometimes: [b]Mozilla/4.76 (I_am_a_HAL_9000_ computer_I became_operational_at_ the_HAL_plant_in_Urbana_Illinois_on_the_12th+of January_1992]

[Taro Toporific]

2. An OS X user and very happy thankyouverymuch.

Careful now. You're liable to get another member in the GG fan club if you keep talking like that.

I don't have the FG Forum's IP logs, but I would guess that in the EVENING in Tokyo the HTTP "referer" for the FG regulars could be from 20 to 30% Mac OSs. During the workday that must drop to below 5%.

This is my "referer" sometimes: [b]Mozilla/4.76 (I_am_a_HAL_9000_computer_I_became_operational_at_the_HAL_plant_in_Urbana_Illinois_on_the_12th+of January_1992]

[AssKissinger]

I am bugging out and heading to Vietnam.

I spent my winter vacation in Vietnam a few years ago and had a real nice time.

[Caustic Saint]

Well, Apple Korea finally announced pricing on the new PBs. The 15" I wanted is $3200 -- $600 more than in the US.

I'll be holding off to see what gets announced at MacWorld SF in January for sure.

[Alcazar]

I am another FG member who uses macintosh. I view the FG 'Gaijin Ghetto' through the screen of 1Ghz G4 e-Mac.

[kamome]

Like Korea, Japan has a VAT (it's called consumption tax here). Although you don't pay customs duties when importing electronics, you do have to pay consumption tax on ALL import transactions. Consumption tax is 5% of the value of your imported item. I imported an entire computer from the US (3 boxes) and completely forgot that I would have to pay JCT. Wound up shelling out 18,000 yen to the Kuroneko Yamato guy when he came to the door.