Thread: Buying a Computer

If my job offer comes through and I move to Panama, I will need a PC or a laptop.

After years of dealing with PC/Microsoft headaches, I'm considering an Apple (Mac) laptop.

Anyone know of a retailer in Panama City that sells iMacs?

I know there is a Costco in Panama, but I don't think Costco sells Macs, even here in the US.

This link was on encuentra...

http://bawimi.com/

It shows it does apple computers. Don't know if this is what you are looking for. But if you are going to be in panama then if you can contact them for an address you could see for yourself.

hope this helps,

J.

Hi Ibochs!

Yes... there is a Mac store in Panama City and Multimax sells Macs too.

There is not a Costco in Panama; there is a Pricesmart. (They are separate companies.)

There are several Apple dealers in multiple locations: Mac Store, Luxor, Panafoto, AudioFoto, Multimax, and Macpower are the ones I recall offhand. Only a couple of them do repairs.

But whatever you buy, Mac or Windows PC, you will pay a *lot* more in Panama than in the US, you will not find the latest models, and simple upgrades (e.g., increased RAM) are difficult.

My iMac purchased in the US is only covered in the US, while my MacBook Pro purchased also in the US is covered in Panama as Apple covers their laptops world wide. Since there are not any Apple Stores in Panama, Applecare issues are handled by Mac Power as they are the service rep down here.
With that said, if you want a desktop even though it may cost you more down here...you may want to buy it down here just incase. If you go the laptop route, DEFINITELY buy it up North.

I bought my desktop in the US (via the internet) simply because I could not get the equivalent system down here at any price -- and mine isn't that exotic. I could not find 6MB of RAM, 640GB hard drive, quad processor, and Vista 64-bit in a pre-built system in any store. (And believe me, I looked.) Even after shipping and duty, I ended up paying about the same as I would have paid here for a machine here with 2GB RAM, a 250GB drive, P4 processor, and Vista 32-bit -- in Spanish. :-)

Anyone know if this is still the case? My options would be in Canada where the dollar has gone up a lot compared to the greenback. I am interested in a Macbook Air. Is it possible to get an english one down there?

Yes -- there's a few Mac stores here. You'll pay about 5-10% more here than in Canada or the USA.