Using US Notebooks in Europe

I can't answer all your questions, but I know something about power. My sister travelled all over Europe and Africa with a very, very old IBM portable. They never had any problems, because:

1) Most laptops and portables have convertable power supplies. They run happily on 110v or 220v, and they will autoswitch.
2) Many power supplies have removeable power cables, meaning you can swap the US cable with a European type. you shouldn't need an adapter.

I don't know about the CD.

My sisterwas able to get parts and service at any IBM center she went to overseas. I think with the global nature of businesses these days, service won't be a problem.

I would check the major laptop makers, IBM, Toshiba, Compaq, etc. The info you want should be available there. If not, email your questions to their tech support or sales offices.

Good luck.

Any switched-mode power supply should only require a cable replacement to operate in Europe.

As for CDs, I have several European CDs that play just fine in all of my players and drives; DVDs should behave the same way. The problem is not the source media, but incompatible television standards.

Other than warrantee considerations, you should not have any problems with a notebook purchased in the US.

Best of luck

To answer your questions on CD and DVD. CDs and CD players should be pretty much standard all over the world, but DVD is a different story. In the case of DVD movies, USA and Canada are Region 1 DVDs, Europe is Region 2, etc (There are 6 regions inall, covering the whole world). If you buy a laptop from the US the DVD will probably be set to no region straight away, and you will have to select the region each time you insert a DVD movie. I would suggest always using Region 1 disks. Although youcan only get these from the US, they are released before any other region, you can buy them freely on the internet, and it's a lot cheaper than buying them in Europe!

With DVD disks holding just data (not a movie) nearly all DVD players will read nearly all DVDs.

UK voltage is 240 and requires a UK plug. Make sure that the power supply in your new laptop can handle 240 VAC and adapters are available from luggage stores or Radio Shack. Or you could buy a replacement cord for the power supply from whomever you buy the computer from.

CD's are the same. DVD movies can be keyed to geographical areas. European televisions are not compatible with the US television: PAL vs NTSC.

IBM and Compaq are good for international support.

European keyboardsare different, and maybe some other stuff. I used a US laptop in Germany for years, it's no big thing. But if you're going to use dial-up connections, do not spring for an internal modem unless it's an international modem. You could be fined or have your computer confiscated for using a non-approved modem. Buy an external or PCMCIA card modem.

Dell systems have a Voltage switch on the Back of the tower which enable both Usage in US & Europe.
As to the DVD Drive - It will play all regions
(Although European systems only allow 5 Goes at multi regions & then sticks at that region) You can get international warranty on Dell systems.

Hope this helps.