Laptop Computer

[Guest]

comming los for a year ............ looking for a lap top (with dvd drive) .............. los or uk ............ where would the best purchase an deal be ........... any input will be taken on board ........ cheer,s lads ...........

[rxpharm]

blue050, it would be very helpful if you would list what you want to use your laptop for. This would determine whether you require a very high end laptop that costs a lot or a low end budget laptop that costs very little. Pantip Plaza is the major IT spot in Bkk and budget laptops can start as low as 15000 Baht (about 475 USD), high end laptops can cost triple or more.

Thailand may have better prices than the UK as IT is not taxed as much. You can also get a VAT refund from Thailand (if the dealer changes you for it).

[SamplerDoc]

I am considering buying a very cheap , small laptop before leaving from like a wal-mart or just using free internet in LOS

[rxpharm]

samplerdoc, that is a good idea, as the laptop prices in the USA are probably less than LOS. Just a couple of things to be sure of when you buy - try to get one with 1 GB of RAM, with Windows Vista 512 MB is not enough, also be sure it can burn DVDs and CDs.

It will likely not any any kind of office software - so you will need to install MS Office. You can buy the pirated software very cheap in Pantip Plaza, so no worries about that.

[Guest]

just like a basic one ....... watch dvd,s an get on line to this web site ..... thanks for the replys

[Snick]

I would suggest Panthip or Fortune IT Mall

I usually go with Acer since they are cheap, and have excellent warranty service in Thailand (just walk into Panthip repair center and they usually fix overnight)

[Road Runner]

Hello Blue050,

If you buy via the internet in the UK you will get the best deals.

The 'high street' price in Thailand is about the same as you will pay in the UK from a major retailer.
What you miss out on is the spec which will generally be better on a UK supplied computer  -  ie. a better video card/more memory.

Also a UK spec computer will have a proper MS copy of Windows on it.  It's possible your bargin from Panthip will have a pirate copy and the certificate of authenticity will be invalid.

As Snick says repairs in Thailand are very cheap so if your UK computer breaks down while you are there it will probably be cheaper and easier to get it fixed out there.

RR.

[Snick]

The laptops I buy in Thailand always come with Linux or no operating system at all.
The store then erases the HD and installs an image of XP with Office and other apps pre-installed.

Most stores will also 'forget' to charge you the 7% VAT tax.

Repairs are cheap here (cost me $30 to fix a laptop with a flaky screen - in USA I would have thrown the machine away) , but I was refering to in-warrenty service from Acer which is excellent. They will fix almost anything in warrenty at no charge. I have used the service to replace a HD that was going bad after 18 months, new battery , etc...

[stogie bear]

More and more laptops are being sold with the legit copy of Windows pre-installed... The are as cheap as 18,000 Baht NEW and do everything that you want to... burn DVDs, etc...

[Guest]

........ cheers lads for the input ........... 18000 baht a stogie works out but 290 quid ... not bad at all that for wot i want it for .........

[rxpharm]

Yes, blue050, you can find some laptops even lower priced than 18000 Baht now - but as Stogie mentioned check a few things - if it has a legitimate copy of Windows installed, not pirated - see if they will put an office package on as part of the deal so you can do word processing and spread sheets if needed, and be sure to get at least 1 GB of RAM. The lower priced laptops have shared video memory, that is the graphics card will use some of the main memory to do process the video and graphics - if your laptop has 512 MB, that will not be enough.

Pantip Plaza is in the Pratunam area - not far from the Amari Watergate hotel, the Fortune IT Mall is located on Ratchada Road.

[Guest]

cheers for all your input lads ..............

[Guest]

I remember somebody suggested last year buying a translation device for the LB, does anybody still know which one that was. Should have made a note of it as I`m going to BKK in January and want one for myself. Thanks , Deric

[rxpharm]

deric77,


These are the posts you are looking for, the search function is your friend!

Talking Dictionary Revisited

A "smart" gift for a ladyboy

Hope this helps!

[Snick]

They are great for a Thai learning english, and useless for an English speaker trying to learn Thai.
Go to Panthip Plaza, Mezzanine level, they can demonstrate all the models for you.