mhalsey0531@gmail.com wrote:
> Hello All,
> for those of you who are gaijin in Japan from the US, I have some
> questions about my computer stuff that I want to bring.
> 1. all of my computer stuff, desktop pc, monitor, etc all have the
> standard US 3 prong male plugs. Will they work in Japan? If so, do I
> need an adapter for each one or can I buy a "power strip" that will do
> the job for me?

Most US items that work at 120v 60Hz will work at 100v 50Hz, which will 
be the standard where you are planning to live.

> 2. my monitor is lcd / hdtv. Will it work for Japan hd tv/cable? If not
> should I sell it and just buy one there?

If you use it as a monitor, it will work exactly the same if you connect 
it to the same PC.  You may need a different power brick, though.  Check 
the maker's web site ... although most of them don't really know.

> 3. cable modem...i am assuming worthless since it's dsl or dial up?

Leave it.  DSL and hikari are so far advanced from anything in the US 
you'll wonder why they bother.  Of course, the Japanese spend their 
bribes and graft on infrastructure while the US spends theirs on better 
ways of blowing up Arabs, which may be part of the difference.

> 4. Will my wireless router work there? Linksys 4 port...

No, Japanese air is much thicker and of a far different, unique quality. 
  That's why the light is different here, as well.  Western radio waves 
just cannot travel as well through the Japanese aether and why you'll 
have to buy a Japanese model router that is made to cope with the very 
unique conditions.

- or -

You could just bring it and use it like most of us Americans do.

> 5. Has anyone tried bringing their Vonage router to Japan and getting
> high speed internet to see if local US number will still work? We will
> be living in Kanagawa with light-fiber to the home available (100mps
> down I think...compared to my impotent 8 mbs down from Road Runner)

Why bother.  There are several better ways to go than Vonage of which 
Skype is just one.  Vonage does not have Japan in its service area so it 
is doubtful that they'd even allow you to connect.

> 6. Any advice on what to bring or to leave? My wife is not a computer
> person so she's not much help.

So, you're asking whether to bring or leave your wife?  Hmmmm ...

> 7. Any one find any shipping company or freight company that would be
> cheaper than shipping boxes via US Postal surface?
> 8. Any help appeciate...

You _may_ want to also ask these questions on the Tokyo PC Users Group 
site (http://www.tokyopc.org) or on the Help or Hardware forums on TPC's 
news server.  You can subscribe to several of the newsgroups without 
being a paid member.  Just add news.tokyopc.org to your news reader and 
subscribe.

CL