What electronics will work

[angelaj70]

Just my point. I am just not very technically adept. If the blow dryer suffers from the wrong type of electricity (sorry for the untechnical term) then can you imagine what happens to more complex appliances like a notebook computer or a mobile phone with the wrong power supply!

Bergevorges point on people bringing their own dishwashers from the US or UK. I can imagine that people bring their own kitchen appliances from the US because things are different in Europe. Washing machines on mainland Europe are not toploading. Refrigerators usually don't come with ice cube makers and in the typical US-sizes (i.e. tank-sized). Also European kitchen drains usually do not have a shredder built in.

[Fatbrit]

Originally Posted by angelaj70

can you imagine what happens to more complex appliances like a notebook computer or a mobile phone with the wrong power supply!

Computers are about the only ones worth bringing, really.

Laptops are usually okay. Desktops are either switchable or just change out the internal power supply -- cost you about $30 and it's a 10-minute job.

Monitors only really worthwhile if modern, flat screen -- many are dual voltage.

Printers can be a pain -- stoopid HP region-code their print cartridges but you can phone and reset it. Probably not worthwhile if it's more than a year or 2 old since they're disposable items these days.

[synthia]

If you are looking to update your computer, wait until you get to the US to buy. In fact, put all your information on a portable hard drive, make a backup, and just bring that to the US. Prices here are, I've been told, much cheaper.

[TNTRower]

Electronics are a bit dicey with the exception of Computers. TV are a completely different format (NTSC v. PAL). If you have a nice TV to bring over it won't work here because of the signal format. Think in terms of PC to Apple. You can't get there from here.

All other appliances would be a waste. I know that when I was in Germany the Washer dryers were a much smaller capacity. Refrigerators are different as well I believe.

DVD Players would be useless unless you bought your DVD from Oversees and shipped them. The local Blockbuster only has US region code DVDs. Games are the same way. The current issue is easily solved with Step Down Converters as noted. It is the formatting issues of today's technology that is the issue.

[synthia]

Long ago there was a big difference between what was available in the US and in some other countries, with US washers and dryers being much bigger, and requiring fewer loads for a family. And if you already own the things, and your employer is paying the freight and the hookup costs, why not?

[Fatbrit]

Originally Posted by synthia

Long ago there was a big difference between what was available in the US and in some other countries, with US washers and dryers being much bigger, and requiring fewer loads for a family. And if you already own the things, and your employer is paying the freight and the hookup costs, why not?

Not practical for white goods -- would require v. large transformers, different frequency causes excessive wear in some AC motors, difficulty of spare parts, etc. Better to tell employer you will need to buy new and negotiate as part of package.

[Fatbrit]

Originally Posted by TNTRower

DVD Players would be useless unless you bought your DVD from Oversees and shipped them.

Setting the region code to zero on many DVD players is a 2-minute job with some strange key presses on the remote control.

[synthia]

You can change the region code, but are they the same format? I thought that DVDs had the same problem as tapes did. They use a different format, so the players literally cannot process the content.

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by synthia

You can change the region code, but are they the same format? I thought that DVDs had the same problem as tapes did. They use a different format, so the players literally cannot process the content.

I've always wondered about that too, but it appears that the DVD to NTSC or PAL or SECAM conversion is handled in the DVD player itself. (Not sure how a DVD player built to play back on a PAL tv would react on being hooked up to NTSC in the States, however maybe the HiDef stuff changes all that.)

I can tell you that I often buy DVDs in the US and play them on our "zone-less" DVD player back here in France (which is connected to a PAL/SECAM television). The few DVDs that really won't work (some studios have a security encryption that prevents you from playing them on a zone-less or multi-zone player), I just play back on my computer.
Cheers,
Bev