The US supplies 110V AC power, while Malaysia supplies 230V.
Attempting to plug in appliances rated for the wrong voltage will have
disastrous results. You can circumvent this problem by purchasing a voltage
converter at a hardware store.
However, laptop and phone chargers are generally equipped with
converters or converter bricks, so they are safe to use on both sides of the
Pacific. If you are in doubt, check the voltage rating on your appliance before
bringing it over.
Regardless of voltage, you will still need socket adapters for
appliances bought on one side of the Pacific and used on the other. In the US,
sockets come in 2-pin (more common) and 3-pin variants, and you should buy the
appropriate adapters before coming to the US. Google the image if you are not sure
how they look like.
Laptops
If you are looking for a Mac, you can buy it from the Ackerman
Computer Store with student deals (2 years ago, the deal was free iPod
touch). For PC lovers, the student store (Ackerman) has good deals too. Bestbuy
closed down at the end of April 2012, so getting electronics is now not as easy
as it used to be. The link to the Ackerman Computer Store.
However, you can always purchase them online (Amazon or directly
from the manufacturers) with free shipping.
If you want to get a desktop, you can get one the same way or
through online. You can also buy components online (Amazon or Newegg) and build
one, or even buy a secondhand one off eBay.
The entire UCLA campus is wireless-enabled, but for internet in
the dorms, we recommend getting an 8-10m LAN cable, as this is not only more
stable and secure, but also much faster (the speed can go up to 10Mbps).
Engineering student will be given free educational copies of
Microsoft Windows valid for 2 years. You can install it in any computers you
intend you work on (well, that means anywhere including in Malaysia). So, stay
tuned for Windows 8 and more software available specifically for engineering
students. Other majors might have these benefits, so check with your department
respectively.
Similarly, there are more options here.
Most of the time, you can find the latest camera models which
are still not available in Malaysia at a significantly lower price. Sometimes,
it can be 3 times cheaper (well, if it is not the flagship model.) Do note that
when buying cameras, one should check if they come with batteries, a casing and
memory card.
For TVs, since the market here is extremely competitive, they
are a lot cheaper and come with better features. Buying during Black Friday
will save you a lot, a branded 32” LCD TV can go down to $250.
