laptop questions

[jasperblubber2006]

got a question and don't remember seeing this on the forum before, i plan to bring my laptop with me on my move to thailand, i have a concern as i have plenty of lb pictures and videos on my desktop folders.
is there a chance, even small, that someone at the airport might want to see whats on my computer ?
thanks guys
ps
if they do inspect laptops i could always put things on a cd

[BAM]

Never heard of the Thai Customs ever checking computers... but since you're moving there you never know. I would just encrypt the drive.

What I always worry more about is Australian, USA, and Canadian Customs after I leave Thailand since I pass through all these airports on my way home after I leave Thailand. I never carry any porn at all on my computer. That€™s just asking for trouble and I've been searched many times now ...but for drugs. .. I just look the type hahahhaa When they know your coming from Thailand they are on high alert.

As for all the photos I take they are sent by FTP to one of my servers before I leave Thailand... my Laptop is always clean.

I use Bestcrypt http://www.jetico.com/ to encrypt the drive on my computers.

[Guest]

I've never heard of any customs inspectors in the US actually asking someone to boot up their laptop and then searching it. I doubt that the dolts that work those jobs even have the techinical knowledge to carry out a simple search (trust me, some of these guys are not that bright!). But to be extra cautious you could move things onto USB drives - I doubt half of the inspectors would know what it is anyways.

[kahuna]

Do you regulars actually take your laptops with you to Thailand?  

I usually take mine when I travel around the US, but I didn't think about taking it to Thailand.

Are the in-room safes large enough to accommodate a laptop?

[thaibound]

(LosAngelesR32 @ Apr. 18 2006,23:30) I've never heard of any customs inspectors in the US actually asking someone to boot up their laptop and then searching it. I doubt that the dolts that work those jobs even have the techinical knowledge to carry out a simple search (trust me, some of these guys are not that bright!). But to be extra cautious you could move things onto USB drives - I doubt half of the inspectors would know what it is anyways.

i've flown back from LOS twice. both times i got searched. one time they had me boot up my laptop and actually show them how it worked. they grew quickly bored with what i showed them and sent me on my way. the other time they just opened it and shut it.
both times i shit bricks about some souveneir nude photos (several of which i've since posted here on the forum.)
i pre-cleared ALL my hardcore porn before each trip.
i think i might take the encrypt or upload step prior to my next flight.

[Road Runner]

(kahuna @ Apr. 19 2006,07:49) Do you regulars actually take your laptops with you to Thailand?

Hello Kahuna,

Yes I take mine every time.  I've never seen a room safe capable of taking a laptop.  I leave mine in the room  -  but I put it back in it's bag and put it on the top shelf of the wardrobe as far back out of sight as possible.  You could ask the hotel reception to look after it  -  I would trust them in any decent hotel.


Hello Jasperblubber2006

The only time Thai customs took an interest was when I arrived with a bag so full it looked like it would explode    
I think the customs guy was intrigued to find out what I had  -  it was two lap tops in the same bag.  
I said to him  -  one working and one I bring to fix  -  he immediately lost interest.


At London City airport  -  security  (who could have done with a course on customer relations ) insisted I open the bag. They asked me to pull the battery out and put it back in.
They then produced a plastic wand type thing with a small bit of white card in the end.  Waved it round in the bag near the computer and then stuck the card in a machine a little like an atm.
I realised then it was a machine to sniff for explosives.


I'm pretty sure that unless it's child pornography customs are not going to care less anyway.

RR.

[BAM]

(Road Runner @ Apr. 19 2006,17:06) Waved it round in the bag near the computer and then stuck the card in a machine a little like an atm.
I realised then it was a machine to sniff for explosives.

Explosives and or Drug residue. The machines are Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometers. I just happen to know a bit about them since I worked for a company in the late 1980's that pioneered this technology. It€™s funny to me when I get searched for drugs at an airport and have them use a GCMS on me. I always act dumb because I don€™t really want them to know I know how it all works.

[thaibound]

(Road Runner @ Apr. 19 2006,03:06)

(kahuna @ Apr. 19 2006,07:49) Do you regulars actually take your laptops with you to Thailand?

Hello Kahuna,

Yes I take mine every time.  I've never seen a room safe capable of taking a laptop.  I leave mine in the room  -  but I put it back in it's bag and put it on the top shelf of the wardrobe as far back out of sight as possible.  You could ask the hotel reception to look after it  -  I would trust them in any decent hotel.

just fyi, my 15" iBook fit neatly into the room safe in the Majestic Grande in BKK and the room safe in my Royal Wing room at the Royal Paradise Hotel in Patong, Phuket as well.

[BAM]

(kahuna @ Apr. 19 2006,13:49) Are the in-room safes large enough to accommodate a laptop?

JW Marriott in Bangkok now have these new large room safes you can put a laptop in.

[Guest]

Never been stopped with a laptop... anywhere. Chances of it happening in Thailand are virtually zero.