Ask Engadget: What gadget(s) to get on my one trip to Asia?

We'll be honest -- Dave has run into a magnificent problem to have, but it's still an issue in need of an answer. And before you get too engrossed, may we remind you that you can send in questions of your own to ask at engadget dawt com.

"I live in Canada and have relatives visiting Taiwan in the near future. What hawt Asia-only, non-igloo-related gadget should I ask them to grip for me? Thanks!"

We're going to take the liberty of expanding this question to involve all of Asia, given that quite a few others are probably headed to Akihabara in the foreseeable future. So, what's the best gizmos(s) to pick up if heading over to the other side for what may be the first and last time ever?

[Mark @ Sep 25th 2008 9:35PM]

Japanese anim -- oh wait -- porn!

[iEye @ Sep 25th 2008 9:33PM]

- 2 Sex Bots
-a HiPhone
-one of those $99 Netbooks
-1 more sex bot

[Flashpoint @ Sep 25th 2008 9:54PM]

I'LL HANDLE THIS

I lived in China 2 years, Japan for 1 and I've been around Asia a little.

DVD's are dirt cheap (like $1) stock up but make sure they are copies, not bootleggs from the theater.

#2 If you see any chinese phones that look cool but aren't made by Motorola or a reputable company, DON'T BOTHER. those Chinese made phones and mp3 players firmware gets jammed up and once you bring it home, there's no way to get your money back or get it fixed.

#3 In China, Xbox, 360 and PS3's are CHIPPED. You can buy a system there and they are specifically modded to play backup disks and bootlegged movies. Just beware, the systems are usually refurbs.

#4 If you're in Japan, don't pay for taxi's with Credit Cards. I got charged $60 to ride 3 miles. Be sure you know the rate and the distance beforehand.

#5 If you go to Thailand...don't let anyone take you into a basement...its a trap.

#6 before you eat the shish kabob's, be sure you have plenty of toilet paper cause you're gonna be pissin out your ass for a good long time.

#7 barbershops are brothels...act accordingly

#8 always use protection if you engage in coitus...otherwise you'll bring more home than luggage.

#9 haircuts are dirt cheap and you can get hair dyed or head massages cheap too. If you ever wanted to do something cool in your head, this is the time to suprise the family. I got mine dyed for $12

#10 "massage" is the codeword for sex with prostitutes

#11 don't take photos of police stations...the laws are medieval over there.

#12 BE SURE TO VISIT Japan's SOAPLAND.

[webon @ Sep 25th 2008 10:04PM]

@ flash:
you HAD to make sure we wouldn't forget?

[MadMike @ Sep 25th 2008 10:34PM]

@webon:
The comment system is still FUBAR. You have to keep refreshing with a "?" after the address to make sure the damn comment shows up and then, if you get it at a good time you can see comments appear and then magically disappear every time you hit refresh. They should just change it to a straight-up forum setup with a full database and probably flush the comments older than 30 days. This current comment system is only good for about 1/100th of the traffic this site sees.

[DssTrainer @ Sep 25th 2008 11:10PM]

@flashpoint: Were you "trapped" like number 5? is that a personal experience warning? What did they "do" to you?

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Sep 26th 2008 12:40AM]

Flashpoint wins.

All threads.

[chef @ Sep 26th 2008 5:34AM]

Wow, does nobody realize that IT'S HIS FAMILY that will be going to TAIWAN, making soooo many of these suggestions completely irrelevant.

Seriously RTFP.

[Benson @ Sep 26th 2008 7:05AM]

Hmmm...

>#9 haircuts are dirt cheap and you can get hair dyed or head massages cheap
>too. If you ever wanted to do something cool in your head, this is the time to
>suprise the family. I got mine dyed for $12
>
>#10 "massage" is the codeword for sex with prostitutes

So... head massages = head sex with prostitutes = blowjobs?

[Testies, Testies, 1, 2... 3? @ Sep 26th 2008 12:55PM]

Melamine detector

[Midnightbrewer @ Dec 8th 2008 8:03PM]

@flashpoint: Those points might cover China but none of them (except the soapland bit) have anything to do with Japan.

Also, taxis in Japan are pretty reasonable, but there's no way they cost $60 for three miles (although half that wouldn't surprise me). Of course, that's why people take the trains and subways; nobody in their right mind would take a taxi that far unless it was after the last train (and then smart people just pay to spend the night in an internet café, which will probably run you $5).

[Lin @ Sep 25th 2008 9:33PM]

Apple HK have official non-locked iPhones.
You should get those.

[Flashpoint @ Sep 25th 2008 10:35PM]

BRING BACK SOME YUAN and some YEN

By the time you come back, the Dollar will be worthless.

[Passerby @ Sep 25th 2008 10:49PM]

Are you kidding? I'd already bought one if they does... If I can avoid ripping off by 3 for the 2-year contact...
But anyway, it looks like it's still cheaper than in other countries.

[kumar @ Sep 25th 2008 11:11PM]

Actually apple.com is selling unlocked phone on Apple's HK site without the 2 years contract.

[IndiaTech @ Sep 26th 2008 12:14AM]

...yeah, except for the fact that it costs 700USD and 800USD for 8GB and 16GB, respectively. Same price as India or any other market where the iPhone is sold without contract. And don't forget to add $20 you need to add to the cost for US power adapter.

[Harkonian @ Sep 25th 2008 9:33PM]

Hot asian bride?

[JohnTitor @ Sep 25th 2008 9:58PM]

better yet an asian booth girl

[OneLove @ Sep 26th 2008 3:26PM]

A netbook and vibrating cock ring. I hear target sells them now (...cock rings that is).

[shawnmos @ Sep 25th 2008 9:35PM]

Get one of these: http://boingboing.net/2007/10/20/japanese-women-could.html

[Charbax @ Sep 25th 2008 9:35PM]

Archos 5 250GB.

[iEye @ Sep 25th 2008 9:37PM]

Oh Yea don't forget to sample some stir fried Prawns... and some bootleg Pron...

[YpoCaramel @ Sep 25th 2008 9:43PM]

A lot of Asia/Europe distribution phones, but make sure they work with your provider.

Seriously guys, Japan and Korea has such a different gadget distribution with the rest of Asia, it's a very hard topic to answer. Japan has its own set of phones, Korea has its cool PMPs, China its Meizus and the rest of Asia more of a mix between Europe and Asia.

[thisisjohnny @ Sep 25th 2008 9:38PM]

Get an unlocked PSP FF Edition and a memory stick with a ton of games on it.

[Seth @ Sep 25th 2008 9:39PM]

This:

http://www.techepics.com/files/solar_cig_7.jpg

Good luck getting it thru customs though.

[cromas @ Sep 25th 2008 9:41PM]

why wouldn't this get through customs? as long as it's not filled with pot =)

[AlekZander @ Sep 25th 2008 9:43PM]

Hard drives are mad cheap in Taiwan, 9 months ago I got a 250 GB portable external drive for under a hundred bucks... probably even less now.

[AlekZander @ Sep 25th 2008 9:59PM]

Mum's the word on this one but switchblades and tasers are actually really cheap there too. Best part is I got all these things at two stores that were right next to each other in a mini-mall. Gotta' love Asian markets.

[BoostBoy @ Sep 26th 2008 8:43AM]

A Friend just got back from Korea where he picked up two 125gig Sony USB stick for $5. He didn't buy more because he thought that they were fake. They weren't.....

[Daza @ Sep 28th 2008 9:56AM]

@BoostBoy,

You got fooled, but more so your friend. He was better off giving that $5 to beggars.

[Darwin @ Sep 25th 2008 9:44PM]

Don't bother getting anything in China. Cheap stuff over there is either crap-cheap or fake and good stuff is way overpriced compared to newegg. You are less likely to get fakes in Hong Kong, but again, good stuff like Archos, x-brand netbook, etc. are also overpriced. About the only deals are on memory and random knick-knacks.

[Tony @ Sep 25th 2008 10:21PM]

Then you didn't shop around,test everything out (because among the crap, there's always a diamond in the rough). And make sure to bargain for it, you can get almost everything at half price or better.

[James Scott @ Sep 25th 2008 9:46PM]

Buying gadgets in Singapore is complete rubbish. Screw Sim lim mall. Camera lenses are hella cheaper in Canada, same with computer parts. Memory Stick duos were about the only thing that had a good price.

[msniner @ Sep 26th 2008 12:15AM]

It's fact; this is quite prevalent in small shops --apart from the established electronics departmental stores -- and surprisingly has not been scrutinised by any authorities. One of the local people that I know blindly paid S$2000 (usd1400) for a quote "special edition" Playstation Portable. That rich woman simply swiped her card, and complained thereafter. My American boss has been ripped off before on an electronic product when he told his local colleague to go undercover on a shop that quoted him a high price for an item.

This is pretty unheard of for our country that usually regulates and safeguards almost everything, a country that presses to "become globalised and internationally 'recognised'" bringing up western values and inviting tourists into their country while their citizens [shops] find crafty ways to earn money admist soaring prices right here.

You're (mildly) warned by yours truly.

[Jeff @ Sep 25th 2008 9:47PM]

In my experience in visiting China, you can never actually know what you are going to buy when you are there. All you have to really do is walk into one of those electronics shopping malls and pray you actually walk out with some cash left in your hand because most of the time you won't. When I went there 2 years ago, I picked up my Meizu M6 MP3 player and it was awesome...4GB for $100, that can't be beat...now I'm not so sure anymore.

But the thing is with asia, is that there is so much choice, if you go there with a 'set mind of things to buy'....you will absolutely not find them. Go and shop...and bring cash only so you don't overspend.

[Yeop Azman @ Sep 26th 2008 5:34AM]

Oh yeah. In reply to this comment. Don't forget to bring stuff to test with in case you buy something like a HD or a memory card or whatever. Bring a laptop!!! Because instead of selling a labelled 8 gb card, the guy tried to sell me a 2 gb card with an 8 gb label. It was still cheap for a 2 gb card, but not what I was looking for. This happens with EVERYTHING. DVDs can be already burnt and used, memory cards are always a lottery, etc. So becareful. Those Asians are wiley. That's why I love living in customer protected countries and regulated prices. Even though it's more expensive sometimes, I'm safe. So in all, it's WAY cheaper to wait for a sale in the US than to buy anything in Asia.

By the way, Croatia sucks in this aspect. They have no cheap anything because Croatians are always trying to cheat people for more money by marking everything up 100% For example, the Eee PC 701 costs 480 USD.

[Phil @ Sep 25th 2008 10:01PM]

Camera equipment is very cheap in macau, and it's not a fake, they just don't have any taxes on the stuff.

[Jimmy Jones @ Sep 25th 2008 9:52PM]

One of thoe 7" PMPs that are only on that side of the globe....[I mean those that never made it across to the western hemisphere..

[Lucas_Once @ Sep 25th 2008 9:53PM]

One of those Korean "dictionaries" that has 10x more TV watching ability than those normal, paper dictionaries.

[Exekias @ Sep 25th 2008 9:54PM]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, Break into jack Wongs office and STEAL THE Meizu M8, I dont care about android and imonly keeping my ipod touch until i can buy a meizu M8, so please i will pay in blood for one of those !!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE

For those who don't know what im crying over, Meizu and the only high quality chinese pmp makers with quite a following, and they have been ,aking the M8 for the past two years its set to be the iphones "true" competitor (no longer seeming they got delated) it looks abit like the itouch but sleeker, better open sorce, two camera's (3mp in the bak and one in the front for vid calling), meizu rock!!!! i want one

[AlekZander @ Sep 25th 2008 9:55PM]

Are you for real?

[Exekias @ Sep 25th 2008 9:58PM]

FO real??? FO shaw

those things just rock my socks, i want one!

[JP @ Sep 25th 2008 10:00PM]

Funny. It's a Chinese ripoff of the iPhone, why would you ever want one?

[Exekias @ Sep 25th 2008 10:08PM]

Because while it is a rip off, ITS A GOOD RIP OFF, i owned the meizu m3 which was a rip off the nano, and it was better faster, and cheaper, it never failed me, i loved the thing, and now i have an itouch, and i still always a passing fancy for the m8, i was so hoping the the new touch would have a camera, but the bloody thing doesn't, forget the app store and cydia i can do with out all of that for a cool mp3/phone/good camera, its very rare to find a good rip off, meizu are the best... at rip offs

[THJ @ Sep 25th 2008 11:48PM]

I know dude! it has Edge! That's like 10 times faster than gprs! That's fo shaw!

[M @ Sep 27th 2008 11:39PM]

I too have heard good things about Meizu players

[flyhen @ Sep 25th 2008 9:55PM]

how about some of those tainted melamine baby formula?

[Mike V @ Sep 25th 2008 9:56PM]

Whatever you do... don't buy any hair bands!

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/hairband.asp

[lawyer bird @ Sep 26th 2008 1:47AM]

that might be the most disgusting thing i've read....this week

[Ross @ Sep 26th 2008 3:43AM]

I'm writing this from Changi airport (singapore) and must agree that singapore is terrible for gadgets, way over priced compared with good deals you can find on ebay etc. heading to hong kong at the moment and hoping the deals are better there!