I am debating if I need a PC when I move to Japan. I will be moving to Kobe here at the end of the month and I am trying to figure out if I need a laptop or even if they are allowed to be used at the school during non teaching hours. I have heard that some people just use the school computers and bring a usb drive with them instead. Any advice for this incoming JET?
16 comments
I’m loosely in the same boat, mostly in that I’m not planning to bring my laptop. I am, however, planning to buy a new one once I get there and think getting rid of the old one will be too much of a hassle. I’m gonna order a new one from online to avoid the Japanese keyboard business. In the end, I’ll still have a laptop. I think it’s convenient even though I never really had need for mine at my old school. It came in handy at home after work, during weekends/holidays etc. School is only one portion of your life. Ask yourself if you’ll need it at other times at all. If yes, take it. If no, leave it.
If you don’t normally use a laptop or pc in your daily life outside work, then don’t? I don’t see how people don’t use one, I use it everyday, it’s how I watch shows online, talk to friends, even get some work done. As for in school there’s no law that you can’t have your own laptop but mind you they will likely not let you access the internet on your personal devices (for security reasons). In that case, something should be provided to you that can access the school network, be it a laptop, or tablet etc (I was personally provided with a chrome book). My recommendation, bring a laptop.
I bought a new laptop before coming to Japan and it was a great idea for me personally. I had Tokyo orientation online due to COVID (this is November 2021), so we were physically in Tokyo but not allowed to do a physical conference. Additionally, I took notes, watched movies, and kept myself entertained in that hotel room for 14 days of quarantine.
I got a portable WiFi so I was able to watch Netflix and work on my self intro at my apartment from the get-go. My apartment didn’t come with internet initially, and was completely empty.
I use my personal laptop at school quite a bit too. My base school and one of my visiting schools provided me with a laptop and chromebook. I customized the settings, worked on them quite a bit, and eventually got used to it. But I ended up still preferring my own, as I’m familiar with my controls, everything is in English, I can access more websites (with my portable WiFi), I can access my own documents and pictures, save my work in one place, my passwords are saved, etc. It also comes in handy when I go to my visiting schools (One of them doesn’t provide me with a laptop, and I’m sitting in a room by myself between classes). I use it to study and get additional work done.
My personal recommendation is to bring it!
Do you use a computer on a daily basis? If so, bring one. If not, don’t.
Mine told me that I really need my own laptop for school so ESID.
Unless you are bringing your gaming rig parts, no. If you just need a screen for browsing the web and watching Netflix get a tablet or Chromebook.
Double check prices too as Japanese electronics can be weirdly expensive.
Thanks Everyone! I appreciate all the feedback!
Bring a laptop, you will need one. To make class materials and such during school. Your school might have laptopsbl doesn’t nessacerily mean your going to be able to use it.
Before I moved to Japan, I bought a new gaming laptop as gaming is my hobby and it came in handy when needed at school. Most of all, it was far cheaper in my home country, the US. If you’re getting a windows PC, especially a laptop, buy it before going over. It will save you a headache of trying to import one or find one that is overpriced.
Moved to Japan, shipped my PC, its been my constant companion. Don’t listen to goons saying you should pack the gear into a suitcase and get a new case here. The money you spend on a new case in Japan will probably equal the shipping cost itself. The only bit you need to pack with you is your GPU, since its probably more expensive than the rest of the PC and isn’t easy to secure in the computer.
Also, many schools have a policy of no outside devices, so buying your own laptop is not completely advised. With the onset of the pandemic, many schools got kitted out with chromebooks, so you’ll odds-on have one available to use, so you won’t need to bring your own shit.
This really applies if you use a PC for hobbies that aren’t just achievable on a phone, like watching YouTube. Gaming, 3D modelling, other stuff like that.
I’m expected to bring my own device to all of my visit schools. My base school gave me a laptop to use, which is more than some schools give, but it’s so slow and outdated I can’t get any work done on it. I would personally bring one because you’re gonna need it if you need to make lesson plans.
I’m further north in Hyogo prefecture, brought my Surface Pro with me when I came. It was a no-brainer to pack it since it’s so compact, and I’ve been using it daily since I got here. My base school didn’t give me a Chromebook like the students and other teachers did, one of my visit schools assigned me a laptop that’s over a decade old (I lifted it up to check, manufacture date is in 2012), and another one has a Windows tablet at my desk but I don’t know the password and I haven’t bothered to ask since I haven’t needed to use it.
I’d bring it.
My schools ban private laptops and lock out USBs on ALT School computers.
School computers are also often old, outdated, and janky. I had one that would take 45 minutes to open and print a premade document, and others with 5-second lag time on typing.
I work on files at home and then use the school google drive to print them. Much easier than trying to do it all at work with bad computers.
I brought my laptop because the computers the school “provided us” were like 5 years old and barely worked and they were basically tiny chrome book sized tablets. I also had to use my own internet using hotspot from my phone. I don’t mind honestly. It means I can use my own personalized computer with my own freedom unrestricted by school website blockers. They did also give me an ipad so I use that when I go to class to do presenations and activities, but i create the activities and lesson plans on my own computer.
One downside could be the fact that you are using your own laptop so if it breaks, you’re kinda screwed! Keep that in mind.
The computer assigned to me is running windows Vista. lol
I would recommend buying a new one before heading out if you wanted to upgrade anyway, or bring your current one. The computers in Japan really aren’t any better than the ones found anywhere else in the world, the internals are all made by the same companies. Japanese electronic stores tended to be a bit pricy for what you were getting, and the online stores were not much better.
As for the schools, if your BOE (or school) has not specifically told you that you would be getting a PC it would be good to bring one on your own. They are excellent tools for teaching if you are allowed to use it, and in some cases you may not be allowed to use external USB’s due to cyber security measures.