As title suggests
and what adaptor will i need to use american apple product in australia? ie. powerbook!

buy yourself the world adapter kit or just get an apple centre to order you a new one as its a service part.

re: the power adaptor

You dont even need to get Apple's World Travel Kit, you an use a standard power plug (the type that plugs into the home stereo, playstation etc.***). You can buy this for a $5 (max) from Jaycar/Dick Smith type stores. Only thing will be that you wont get the earth connection going since these plugs are only two pin.


***I'll do a more detailed description of the plug I'm referring to later, just in the middle of wine.... oh and dinner

I had an engineer friend at work put an Australian Plug (3 prong) on the end of the chord that comes with the power adaptor, and that enables me to plug the adaptor in anywhere. It looks better than the cheap black 2 prong cable that you can get from Dick Smith IMHO.

Do not buy the Apple travel adaptor kit - it is a rip-off!

Go and see my previous posts on travel adaptors by clicking here, and also here.. I'd recommend you buy the standard Korjo US-Aussie travel adaptor and just use that. Available from travel stores or even Myer/Dick Smith's etc..

I am over to Ireland tonight for the weekend so i'll have one of my Aussie-UK Korjo travel adaptor in my bag, and with that I can charge my PowerBook battery, and then charge up the iPod from the PowerBook via FireWire - simple..

As for U.S. taxes, I have no idea? Maybe try one of the similar U.S. Mac forums or sites, however do not expect the same courteous responses..

As for U.S. taxes,

The amount of (state) tax you pay depends on the state in which you purchase the product; typical state sales taxes range from 6.5% to 9% of the shelf price. Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon impose no sales taxes (they receive their income from land and payroll taxes). However, for items over $1000 you may be required to prove your state of residence - you can't just claim to be from New Hampshire. Most items that you purchase over the Internet, that are shipped within the US, attract the sales tax of the state in which the company's website sits.

As for power cords, if it's not a beauty contest, then the standard $2 2-pin "figure-of-8" cables are all you require.

The tax rates vary from state to state. Currently i'm in Washington DC and the tax rate is 7% here.

A simple adapter will work.

If you're thinking of buying a powerbook in the US, note that if you bring it back in the original box, Customs will thwack you for 10-15% of it's RRP as duty/gst for importing the good.