Hong Kong laptop shops - shopping computer accessories and laptop repair in Hong Kong

For information on where in Hong Kong to find your laptop see my last years article. It's still all the same and little to nothing has changed or improved in Hong Kong. My this year's trip to Hong Kong was a search for IT / computer / laptop accessories and repair or replacement of my damaged laptop battery charger unite. Actually all would have been free warranty - except that Acer Hong Kong no longer had my Acer Ferrari 5000 model nor any spare parts such as a new battery model. The Acer Ferrari 5000 has the charger unite built into the battery - separate from laptop HW and separate from the external powersupply unite which really is but a mere powersupply.

Hong Kong is a place to buy - never intended for servicing / repairing or even less for after sales service of high tech laptops or computers nor to get any spare parts. Hence my attempts to get thru official channels - Acer - a delivery time of 2-3 weeks, far too long. The I search in Wan Chai computer center a small shop specialized only in laptop batteries. An order placed, 2 unites ordered and downpayment made, next day a wrong delivery, the day after no delivery ... the 4th and last day finally my 2 rechargeable ferrari 5000 batteries arrived. Tested to accept charge. At home in my hotel I had both batteries charged fully just to discover that one of the 2 new batteries did charge but NOT accept any load. Hence one out of 2 batteries damaged - typically something that happens if a battery is too long unused - empty.

In addition to the batteries - more accessories were needed and finally found. Searching for accessories is easy. Hong Kong has millions of gadgets and computer / laptop accessories. However to find precise accessories is difficult.

The conclusion: To find and buy a set of hardware, new laptop, accessories and some spare parts - total 4 full days of traveling the city of Hong Kong and walking the shops and shopping arcades of:

• Mong Kok
• Sham Shui Po
• Wan Chai

In any western city such as central Europe - Zurich, Geneva, Paris or Munich - the same shopping most likely would have taken only 1 or maximum 2 days. 2 extra days Hong Kong - that's more expensive than 2 days in most other places in the world.

The prices of spare parts might be much higher in many cases. Dealers in Hong Kong know that you NEED the parts and that some parts might be difficult to find. One possible laptop battery dealer offered "may be" to get a set of Ferrari 5000 battery for some 200 US$. That's almost twice the common USA price. My dealer charged some 140 US$ per set. With one set useless - makes a total of 280 US$ to get a single working rechargeable battery unit. For something that actually would be free warranty - if available from factory.

While I wanted to get another new Ferrari 5000 as my working horse laptop ... with no more Acer top model available from Acer Hong Kong, the only acceptable option I found was an Acer Travelmate 7520G - dual AMD 64 bit CPU, 17 inch monitor, 4GB RAM and all the usual gadgets needed for a high middle class laptop. However I fully appreciate the FULL value and extra price of my workhorse Ferrari 5000. The Ferrari 5000 is worth every single cent of the extra several hundred US$ in price. Rock solid carbon fiber housing and many all inclusive features such as the bluetooth mouse and BT phone set, etc make it the perfect high / top end laptop for demanding professionals.

May be the next generation of Acer Ferrari might be a future Ferrari 7000 (?) a quad opteron 64 bit AMD CPU / 8 GB or more RAM, 320 GB Sata drive or at least 250 GB with built in 3G module for true mobile www connectivity ... May be the reason why Acer did NOT bring out a new Ferrari model of its many years old top series 3000/4000/5000 is that they work on something really high end ?!

Besides my new Wacom Intuos 3 / 6x8 inch I also got a 32 GB USB memory stick and 2 sets of 250 GB 2,5 inch Sata USB drives to cover the storage needs for the Cyberspace Ashram and my photography work.

My final advice for laptop / computer shopping and shopping for computer or laptop accessories is to purchase or order at your place, even if you have to pay a little more - taking into account the total travel cost to Hong Kong plus the expense for each single day of shopping / hotel in Hong Kong - a local purchase most likely may be cheaper than any Hong Kong deal. If you have friends or family members living in Europe or USA to do the shopping for you and either bring or ship FedEx to you, that too might be a better option than shopping in Hong Kong.

Nevertheless I turned my Hong Kong trip into a useful worthy trip by adding some spiritual benefits and combining my trip with my annual required visa trop out of the Philippine islands. Back in the Philippine island paradise - I appreciate once more the smiling eyes welcoming me and surrounding me each and every day of my busy working life. I definitely love the Philippines because I love the loving people here.

God bless

hans