Bringing a desktop computer into Taiwan

[Blaquesmith]

I know it may sound weird, but I've just started my company and I'm coming to Taiwan to live with my taiwanese wife for some time (like, two years or something like that). Since the company has just started, I'm on a very tight budget, so i thought about bringing my desktop computer to Taiwan, put it inside my luggage (except for the hard disks, which I'd carry on my hand luggage so they don't break up).

My wife said I could have problems with customs at the airport for bringing it into the country, but I don't know if that's true or only an excuse so I don't bring my computer... What do you think?

[boho]

I was thinking of the same. I read many stories about luggage handlers being extremely rough, so everyone recommended carrying anything like that onboard. Maybe a suitcase that is around the same size as your computer and then packing clothes around it? Then just buy a monitor when in Taiwan for not that much money.

I brought my xbox through security once and it got some suspicious looks in the scanner but that was it.

[kaikai34]

You'll be ok. You might get charged duty if it looked like it was brand new, sealed in its box. My desk top was brought over and I didn't have any problems. Hand carry the monitor as well as the HDD.

[Blaquesmith]

Thank you

[2Enigma]

What I know others have done was to strip the motherboard and hard drives. Leave the case and power supply and monitor behind. The things you take will easily fit into your luggage packed in plastic wrap and stuffed between clothing for safety. The case and power supply are cheap and easily reassembled when you get here. I know of at least 3 friends that have done this and it worked for them. I would probably back up my hard drives onto a portable hard drive and stick into my carryon.

[Got To Be Kidding]

What I know others have done was to strip the motherboard and hard drives. Leave the case and power supply and monitor behind. The things you take will easily fit into your luggage packed in plastic wrap and stuffed between clothing for safety. The case and power supply are cheap and easily reassembled when you get here. I know of at least 3 friends that have done this and it worked for them. I would probably back up my hard drives onto a portable hard drive and stick into my carryon.

Amen to that. I'm currently in Israel for two and a half months, and whenever I'm going to be abroad for that length of time, I put my monitor in my 'check in' bag, my desktop in my roll-around 'carry on', and my hard drives (and their backups) in my backpack. And, thank God, I've never had any problems.

BTW, I do NOT advise you to carry your motherboard separately - unless you have retained the box and packing material that they came in. Keep your motherboard within the housing of the computer and put the computer in your carry-on. If your computer is too big, the motherboard should still do fine in your 'check in' bag, if - again - it is in it's housing.

I should also mention here that I tend to build my computers so that they are easily transportable in my luggage.

Good luck on your new business and welcome to Taiwan!

(Writing from a secret location deep within the hills of Jerusalem)

[boho]

Would it be a bad idea to ground (sea) ship it from Canada?

I've heard about humidity on those ships and that it can make cardboard a bit soggy and stuff, but would there be a risk that it would damage my computer?

Since I'm moving there I think I'll have too much stuff and will be moving around too much at the beginning to justify packing it into my luggage (other than maybe my hard drive which I'd rather not ship via post at risk of losing my data).

Any thoughts? Maybe packing the motherboard/gpu into a small box and buying the case, psu, ram and others once I get to Taiwan?

[Blaquesmith]

Already in Taiwan. I've brought my desktop computer in one piece of luggage and my 23" screen in the other piece of luggage, and the HDDs in my backpack. All seems to have arrived in one piece, and customs didn't even bothered to stop me (as it should be).

Thanks for the advice, guys

[Chris]

Glad it worked. I would have suggested just buying a new computer system here in Taiwan, the Land of Computers.

[kaikai34]

Glad it worked. I would have suggested just buying a new computer system here in Taiwan, the Land of Computers.

Still cheaper to buy in the states if buying a complete computer. Not sure about building from scratch.