Which memory mfr; using Thinkpad in Asia

[krosen@ix.netcom.com (Kenneth Rosenblatt)]

Hello:

    Well I'm in the middle of ordering my Thinkpad 560 from IBM, and 
discover that there are no 8MB or 16MB IBM modules shipping for at 
least 2 weeks (and the 16MB module isn't slated to arrive back in stock 
until mid-May).  I need my additional memory to arrive before the end 
of the month, so I must go elsewhere.

    So, do I get Kingston, Viking, PNY, Simple, or some other memory 
mfr?  Are they all the same?  What are the chances that I'm going to 
wind up with a problem?  Can I just drop in any 16MB module to make it 
24MB?  

    BTW, is my sales rep correct when he says that I don't need any 
additional equipment (e.g., plug adapters) to use the 560 when I travel 
to Singapore and Malaysia?  (I'm not planning on using a modem there; 
this is just a power/plug issue.)  And is it worth it to take along an 
APC Surge Arrestor for notebooks?  Are there any other issues I need to 
worry about?


Thanks.


Ken Rosenblatt