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Sherrill

Dec 29, 2004, 8:57 PM

Post #1 of 10 (1091 views)

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Has anyone bought a laptop in Mex where Spanish is the default installation and been able to change

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Yes, I posted similar question in the tech section but feel perhaps not too many read it so am going to try again. Thank you, Rolly and Marlene for your responses. Here''s my story. Bought a Sony VAIO at Sam's Club with XP home installed in spanish. Sony agent told me I could change program to English. Not true. Yes, one can change dates, money; minor changes. Took it back and got the money. Went to OfficeMAX. Really wanted the Toshiba with the 17inch screen. and I still do. Tech said sure he could change XPHOME edition to English. Went to lunch. came back and he said no he can''t. Then other tech showed me this HP pavillion I am using now that has XP Pro verses HOME which everyone swore would support multi languages and yes, I know about the multi lang pak BUT it only works if ENGLISH is the factory installed language. Soo sadly I am going to have to take this one back and buy a cheap ticket to Miami to buy a laptop with English installed OR get over it. Yes, I can read Spanish but I panic when I have to read instructions en espanol while computer is crashing. Does anyone know if I could simply get English version of help for XP"? I can deal with the keyboard, I can install works so I can proofread ingles.

Has anyone purchased a computer here with English installed as default?

OK, I am ready to be shipped to the tech page.

(This post was edited by Sherrill on Dec 29, 2004, 9:00 PM)

johanson / Moderator

Dec 29, 2004, 9:08 PM

Post #2 of 10 (1082 views)

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Re: [Sherrill] Has anyone bought a laptop in Mex where Spanish is the default installation and been

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Don't buy your operating system in the wrong language, what ever that might be, and expect to convert it to English

Believe what your techs told you and buy a laptop with an English language operating system rather than Spanish. It's that simple. Sure you will have to look a little harder, but Dell Mexico for example gives you a choice of Engish or Spanish. The Ajijic computer store sells XP in both English and Spanish, etc etc.

XP in English is available in Mexico, just harder to find.

Marlene

Dec 29, 2004, 9:23 PM

Post #3 of 10 (1077 views)

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Re: [Sherrill] Has anyone bought a laptop in Mex where Spanish is the default installation and been

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You didn't say if you actually visited some of the real repair shops. (Forget asking them in Sam's or Office Depot or places like that - they send their repair jobs out to the repair shops)

The reason I suggested that you go visit one or two of them is because I had the same situation and I got it done no problem. It isn't an adjustment they do to your already existing Windows, it is a complete reinstallation of the English version and it would be good for you to do that before you gather too much information on your hard-drive. I lost everything I had during one of these manoeuvers.

They will come right to your house to do the work if you ask. I like to get my computer work done at my house, that way I am not stuck without my computer till mañana. And the tecs all know where to get the English programs even if they don't have possession at that moment. Let me know how it goes.

Sherrill

Dec 29, 2004, 9:38 PM

Post #4 of 10 (1071 views)

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Re: [Marlene] Has anyone bought a laptop in Mex where Spanish is the default installation and been

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Marlene, I have had 3 really bad experiences with local techs. Last one is why I need a new laptop. Am making a fair size investment in new one and I don't want to compromise the waranty by having work done on it by someone other than a qualified tech. So I am going to keep on trying to buy the laptop I want with English installed as the default. Have to say I have learned a lot in past few days! And I really appreciate your input cause I do understand what you are saying. There usually is someone around who knows what they are doing; but I can't take the chance on new equipment. Really, thank you.

Sherrill

Dec 29, 2004, 9:45 PM

Post #5 of 10 (1070 views)

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Re: [johanson] Has anyone bought a laptop in Mex where Spanish is the default installation and been

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Hello Johanson,

Thank you for your reply. So dell sells laptops with Eng as default XP installation? And one can buy XP in Eng or Span in Ajijic? This gives me hope that I just need to push Office Max in Merida to help me get what I need. What I also learned that if you install XP Eng over factory installation of XPSpan it will be in a partition'and I don''t really want to do this. Am going to keep searching. I also really want XP Pro rather home as I see with all my correspondence with microsoft that they are still adding patches to the patches.

johanson / Moderator

Dec 29, 2004, 9:58 PM

Post #6 of 10 (1068 views)

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Re: [Sherrill] Has anyone bought a laptop in Mex where Spanish is the default installation and been

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With Dell English isn't the default mode, it's an option. Take a look at http://www.dell.com.mx they will even give you a toll free telephone number to call from in Mexico

Compre en Línea o Llame sin Costo 001-877-384-8979 ó 001-877-269-3383 [Asegúrese de marcar 001]

Remember, though, Dell laptops purchased in Mx cost maybe 40% in Mexico than in the states. Taxes and all

I like XP Pro better too

Sherrill

Dec 29, 2004, 10:11 PM

Post #7 of 10 (1067 views)

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Re: [johanson] Has anyone bought a laptop in Mex where Spanish is the default installation and been

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Thank you again, yes, I realize that the prices here are much higher than those in US. Have done searches on the laptops i am dealing with and easily cost $400 to $500 more in Mex. AND are hardly the latest editions. More I think about it, I should simply visit my daughter in CA and go to Fry's. I really appreciate your level-headed advice. I love computers and can't wait to get my hands on the one that will work for me; that is going to be one with XP PRO factory installed, default in English SOO then I can have those other language options!

Gary Anderson

Dec 30, 2004, 9:01 AM

Post #8 of 10 (1025 views)

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Re: [Sherrill] Has anyone bought a laptop in Mex where Spanish is the default installation and been

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If you live in or near Ajijic, New World Technologies in Plaza Bougambilias will put together a desktop or a laptop made to your specifications with XP Pro (English version) for you. Ask for Stewart. The price, of course, will vary depending on the bells & whistles you order with the system. I recently purchased a desktop from Stewart that came with extra RAM & hard disk space, XP Pro & the full MS Office Pro suite, Norton Antivirus & a bunch of other software, a flatscreen monitor, CD RW combo drive, nice combination HP color printer/scanner/coppier, etc., and so far am quite happy with the system. Total cost was about $1500 USD for everything. I realize that's a bit on the high side, but I got exactly what I wanted and it's warranteed in Mexico for a year, which, to me was worth paying a little extra for.

One can also order a Dell system through Telmex (the last time I was in the office, boxes full of computers were stacked all over the floor), but I don't know whether XP Pro in English is an option.

GA
____________________________________________________________
"There was only one catch and that was Catch-22 . . . ." - Joseph Heller

(This post was edited by Gary Anderson on Dec 30, 2004, 9:03 AM)

kirkswig

Dec 31, 2004, 4:09 PM

Post #9 of 10 (978 views)

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Re: [Sherrill] Has anyone bought a laptop in Mex where Spanish is the default installation and been

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Two words:

Lin. Ux.

To boldly go where no wig has gone before.

Christopher

Jan 13, 2005, 9:32 AM

Post #10 of 10 (940 views)

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Re: [Sherrill] Has anyone bought a laptop in Mex where Spanish is the default installation and been

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The quickest and easiest fix would be to sacrifice a few gigs of space and install a second version of XP in english. That means that everytime you boot up it will stop at a menu asking which version do you want to run.

Since the prices are that much cheaper in the States (I'm from Canada) the money you would save would easily pay for your airfare.

Just my two cents, good luck!

Chris