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Buying A Computer in Japan
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My new LENOVO G560 notebook is coming tomorrow! I am so excited to have a new computer in eight years. I will post a user review next week. For this newsletter I am going to write on the computer market in Japan.
Notebooks are definitely much more popular than desktops here in Japan.
There are more floor space dedicated to notebooks. The makers are churning out more new models for notebooks than for the desktops. There are more reviews for notebooks than for the desktops. And whatmore, there are more discounts for notebooks than for desktops.
When it comes to the makers, the floor space is usually dominated by japanese brands. Big names like Toshiba, Fujitsu, NEC and Panasonic take up 90 percent of the space leaving the rest to other less wellknown domestic brands and private brands. One thing, you dont see LENOVO or DELL in most of the shops. They simply dont carry them. Gotta go online to get it.
I have never seen a bare-bone japanese brand computer. Most of them are bundled with software that wouldnt see the daylight throughout the life of the notebook. And for the very same reason they are much more expensive than DELL. (which is why although I have been a faithful Fujitsu user for 8 years I am switching to LENOVO. You'll see why) However, most of the Japanese do not find the domestic brands less appealing. Beats me.
The makers usually refresh their lines of model every season. What this means is that new models are coming into the market every 3 months. This also means if you are willing to wait a bit you will get more bang for your bucks.
Next comes the pricing structure. The domestic brands do not usually give out discounts or secial deals on their own. However, foreign brands like DELL and LENOVO give out great deals all the time. DELL goes all the way in this price-slash battle. DELL offers weekend sales, holiday sales, limited-units-only sales, for-no-reasons sales, whatever-it-is sales. No other makers come close.
Next let's talk about where can we get those computers. I imagine one would want to go to LowYat Plaza for a purchase. In Japan there are big malls specializing in electric appliances. Those are the places people go to buy computers and the necessary supplies. Of course, there are LowYat-like places in Tokyo but those are mainly for geeks. Geeks who want to buy things that a mass market cannot support. Geeks who really want to customize their own-built PCs. (one can get the parts in those electric appliances mall to build oneself a computer - even those that come with the water-cool system)
So all in all PC market in Japan is dominated by japanese brand notebooks. They are always overpriced compared to the foreign brands, although they do come with the bundle of software that sees little use in daily operation. Prices change every three months so if you are not really in a hurry the best bet would be to wait it out.
See you and have a nice day!
Regards,