I'm buying a laptop in Thailand!

[rxpharm]

farangbah thanks for the compliments!

I am one part of the team that makes this board unique.

As for the warnings about Microsoft pirated OS, think back to Mad Magazine and the Spy vs: Spy comic strip. Every time Microsoft comes up with a way to protect their OS, the hackers find a way to crack it, MS works on stopping the latest crack and on it goes.

I have run pirated Windows XP on my old laptop for several years without problem, still getting the updates. A few times the updates stopped working, but just getting the latest hack for the WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) and all was well again.

If MS spent more time making their OS work efficiently and secure, instead of fighting the hackers I think there would be less people switching to Mac. I have Vista on my new Sony and find it much slower than XP and clunkier, often needing to "approve" certain commands before the OS will do it.

[Snick]

The best way I have found to work w/ a pirated copy of windows is
1) Control Panel: Automatic Updates: "Download updates, but let me choose to install them"
2) When updates arrive, click on the little yellow shield in the bottom left, then select "advanced-let me choose..."
The look at the list of updates and UNCHECK windows genuine advantage

As long as you never install WGA you will be fine, but once installed it can not be removed.

If you do get a "legit" copy of windows, odds are it will be Windows Basic. Which is useless, it only lets you run 4 programs at once and is crippled in other ways.

[Guest]

Guys,
i loving the advice but its gobble de goop to me, whats os? msi ?

have noted down where to go RX and thank you, and thanks to all aswell.
farangbah, just a card will do for my girl, we will be looking at the purchase after our stay at the villa so will be a total suprise for her, so please dont turn up with a web cam

not long now buddy, hope you and Mo are well


stevie

[rxpharm]

OS = operating system, MSI = Micro Star International a generic Taiwanese computer maker.

[SamplerDoc]

(Snick @ Apr. 07 2009,12:32) The best way I have found to work w/ a pirated copy of windows is
1) Control Panel: Automatic Updates: "Download updates, but let me choose to install them"
2) When updates arrive, click on the little yellow shield in the bottom left, then select "advanced-let me choose..."
   The look at the list of updates and UNCHECK windows genuine advantage

As long as you never install WGA you will be fine, but once installed it can not be removed.

I screwed up by updating the copy of XP but recently found a way to remove it and so far it has not come back.

Yes, to allow only manual updates is best. I made it auto and got the nasty WGA but all better now

[farangbah]

(parada @ Apr. 07 2009,12:42) so please dont turn up with a web cam

That's comedy! -- A web cam is exactly what I was thinking... so you little love birds can Skype (vid chat) the days away...

OK, back to the drawing board...

[SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION ALERT!: Would some of you fine gentlemen please contribute to my thread in this section seeking input on a neighborhood in BKK for one night with your best girl...?  It's becoming more stressful than is at all necessary...!]

[Guest]

I bought the GG I live with a beautiful Acer at Walmart in the states on one of these discount days Walmart had (Black Friday, Day after Christmas, ect sales) for $199.99 and then bought a Microsoft keyboard here and she loves it and it was a deal. She has used one of my many laptops here and she prefers the fullsize keyboard too.

Having it shipped here was not an issue either. Go to Staples or Walmart and buy removable floral stickers and cover the laptop with them and then put used keyboard on the documentation.  WHen they scan the box when it comes through customs, they see a used computer and pass it through. I got this from a friend at Don Muang who scans boxes for a living.

I priced the same laptop at Central Rama 3 and for a little less than 7,000 baht, she got a great laptop for a fraction of the money.

Cheers,
Nhscotsman

[BlueBallz]

Snick where is Fortune Town and is it that much better/worse than Panthip??

[Stogie]

(nhscotsman @ Apr. 09 2009,04:16) Go to Staples or Walmart and buy removable floral stickers and cover the laptop with them and then put used keyboard on the documentation. WHen they scan the box when it comes through customs, they see a used computer and pass it through...

Good tip!

[Guest]

I paid a 3,000 baht custom charge ONCE, put the stickers on everything following that and I get at least one or two boxes a month with stuff and they always pass it through and the stickers are easy to get and peel right off with no damage to anything at all.

Not only do you save the customs charge, you save having to deal with the Thailand postal employees too. They are not the most ambitious bunch I have ever seen....haha

Cheers,
Nhscotsman

[Snick]

(BlueBallz @ Apr. 10 2009,04:10) Snick where is Fortune Town and is it that much better/worse than Panthip??

http://maps.google.co.th/maps?f=....=h&z=16

Easiest way to get there is take the subway to Rama 9 station.
By Taxi, tell the driver you want to go to Tesco/Lotus on Ratchada, keep an eye out on the left for a big Tesco sign.

Fortune is much more 'civilized' than Panthip, nobody grabbing your arm to sell you pornos; No crazy crowds; and much easier to get to, once you know the way. Food is better too.

Panthip is better if you need something obscure, old parts....or pornos.