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Original poster

If I buy an iPad in the US will it work in the UK?

46 replies

Angelsus · 08/05/2010 19:47

Off to America in 4 weeks time and the price there is much more appealing that over here but will it work when I get home?

OP posts:
RatherBeOnThePiste · 10/05/2010 13:42

The ipad is a very nice bit of kit, there's no denying that, but I don't think it is worth the money at the price it currently is.

If you are used to an iphone/ ipod touch then it is just like a massive one of those, and you can get the apps, although I don't think the apps are available in the UK yet. Obviously for those on Mac computers, it will be familiar looking. DH got it because he was stranded in New York because of the ash cloud!

I think they are supposed to be designed to use on your sofa. Yes it is easy to MN!! You can check email, use itunes for films and music go on youtube etc. The screen is amazingly clear, and it is incredibly thin and light.

You can get such a lot of things for £429 though!

MmeLindt · 10/05/2010 13:47

Lurking hoping to hear if it is worth the money.

I don't think that they are so much cheaper in US though, are they? Certainly compared to the EU they are only eu50. Not worth the hassle, imo.

pigsinmud · 10/05/2010 14:20

Thanks for that. I need to stop lusting after it - it just looks so sleek and tempting!

Perhaps I'll go for an ipod touch like dh has. I want a gadget - dh seems to have lots! He had also offered me an iphone, but I was shocked at the price of those - I have a very basic mobile as I hardly ever use it.

I'm still of you though.

Merrylegs · 10/05/2010 14:25

Remember, $499 is not really $499 when you add the tax. Also, where are you going? Was in South Carolina last week and although saw lots of ipads on display in the Apple stores, when I asked about buying one I was almost laughed at. 'Oh, we don't actually have any in stock right now.' There was a lead time of a week to order one in.

MmeLindt · 10/05/2010 14:26

iPhone is FAB. You can MN from the loo when MIL is visiting

MmeLindt · 10/05/2010 14:27

Merry
Any idea of the tax?

Difference between $ and CHF is about CHF 100, so around £50.

And if it breaks down, would Apple.ch repair it?

RubberDuck · 10/05/2010 14:28

Bear in mind, Apple have actually stated that if anything goes wrong with it then it'll have to be returned to the country it was bought in to get repaired. Savings don't seem that great, tbh - I've pre-ordered mine here.

MmeLindt · 10/05/2010 14:31

Yes, Rubberduck. That is a good point. Plus, if DH gets checked at the airport he will have to pay Swiss tax on it (7%).

Merrylegs · 10/05/2010 14:38

interesting blog about price/tax difference and user friendliness across countries here

Your basic ipad in the States with tax will cost around $550 (about £370). The ipad here will start about £420 I think. So you are saving a bit but I don't know if it is worth the risk if something were to go wrong with it?(unlikely as Apple are usually pretty bomb proof.)

They are pretty lush -like the large print version of the itouch for those of us with fat fingers and bad eyesight. But in true old ladystyle, I plan to buy mine from John Lewis!

RubberDuck · 10/05/2010 15:02

Yeah, but that difference narrows a lot when you realise that our customs will stick a £70ish fee on top of that. (Mate of mine has ordered one from the US and is awaiting imminent delivery - I'll let you know exact customs charge when he gets it)

RubberDuck · 10/05/2010 15:03

Also - re: the rip off Britain bit of that blog - it isn't taking into account that Apple are gambling on what the Pound Sterling does over the next few months. I'm guessing that they're not too impressed with the stability given our recent election/news about deficit etc and are playing safe.

NetworkGuy · 10/05/2010 21:03

Surely sales tax depends on which State you are in. I assume all States have some Apple stores, and some, such as New Hampshire, have no Sales tax, so the difference can range from 90-ish pounds for the cheapest model, to over 130 pounds for the most expensive.

I'm not advocating the purchase, and doubt it would arrive completely unqueried by customs, unless you were visiting friends, got them to buy it in advance of arrival in NH, opened it while you were there, and saved a few documents etc on it. Gave friends a nice gift and cash to cover sending it to UK, and then they could wrap it as a "used, but fairly new" birthday gift for their godchild... perhaps.

It would not look pristine as it had been opened. You could bring back accessories, so it would be bare unit in bubble wrap, and lack that 'brand new' look. Never know, it might not be that common a happening, and even with an approx value of half the cost (as a second hand unit) of the basic model, on any customs declaration they fill in, it's difficult to guess what it would have cost without knowing the model... and whether the sender got a big discount as an employee in Apple Store, or wherever.

I don't suppose the battery can be removed easily though (which could make it more difficult for Customs to check it).

RubberDuck · 10/05/2010 21:34

If you manually bring it in and not with anything else it's under the duty free limit so you're fine (if you get the cheaper model, of course). If you order it online and get it posted to you then you're shafted - not only do you get customs charge but you get the Royal Mail/courier's charge for the privilege of processing the customs fee for you.

On the whole, probably not worth the bother for the difference in cost. Dh is in the US next week, and after weighing the pros and cons has pre-ordered his (and mine ) via the UK rather than import.

MmeLindt · 11/05/2010 11:28

Rubberduck
I will await the first reports then, before I decide.

I am really interested in how it works with eBooks, as I use my iPhone as a mini-Kindle. I thought about buying a Kindle but DH said we would be as well getting an iPad. Then I could MN at the same time as he searches classic car websites.

RubberDuck · 11/05/2010 12:12

Yes, that's the big draw for me - we have no bookshelf space whatsoever. Have heard good feedback from people I know who use it as an ebook reader.

I'm looking forward to gaming on it too - Fieldrunners on iPad is going to be awesome [addict emoticon]

pigsinmud · 11/05/2010 14:00

I must stop googling ipad.

Dh and I had big chat about ipad last night. He is happy to buy one, but I suppose waiting a year or so for the price to go down or for the 2nd generation would be a good idea. I hate spending money!

Rubberduck - you're getting two of them!?

RubberDuck · 11/05/2010 14:22

Hell yeah - one each!

Honestly, our marriage wouldn't survive any other way.

MmeLindt · 11/05/2010 20:51

schilke
I don't think that the price will go down much, tbh. The Apple products do not seem to go down in price much.

mnistooaddictive · 11/05/2010 21:02

Dh was in states last week and has come back with one. It works perfectly and is worth every penny. He doesn't leave the room without it and even I am convinced by the tiny size and portability and no long start up like a PC. He was in Boston by the way and they seemed to have plenty. Price including tax was about £470.

pigsinmud · 11/05/2010 21:41

No I'm not listening mnistooaddictive. I can feel myself weakening ...

You're probably right MmeLindt, but will it be like the ipod - the difference between my old 2nd gen nano and dh's ipod touch is staggering!

Original poster
Angelsus · 12/05/2010 19:34

Thanks for all your answers and advice. We're going to Florida so I'll report back on the price and availability there.

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