dddave

Gearbest.com, Everbuying.com, dealsmachine.com, 1949deal.com

You can usually sort by "Android version", then "Lowest Price"

At that price point, mostly 3.5-4" displays, 256k ram, 2G...Some may not work on modern 3G networks.

Chuwi doesn't seem to have a local Thai importer. LAZADA has a number of models for sale.

http://www.lazada.co.th/shop-tablet/chuwi/

Is it just me or do others in Bangkok find that Sunday evenings, the internet seems to run especially slow? It just took TV 10 minutes to load enough so I could scroll the entire forum list and open this section.

My phone running off the same WiFi is also very slow. Kodi?? Forget about it...zero.

I easily could be the terrible TOT landline my ADSL runs off of. Just wondering if others are experiencing the same thing.

Check out the TECLAST line of tablets. Certain models have both Android&Windows. They've been generally well reviewed.

One of my very first jobs was in 1966 running the tab room of a big machinery company. I had no experience whatsoever and had to process about 60,000 to 100,000 cards a day. Even then, the tab machines were old; totally mechanical, all pins and cams. I learned what chads were long before Bush/Gore. The machines ran fast and card jams were monumental...and yes!! Dropping a stack of cards...especially a stack already sorted

I'm never sure which is more important, the box, the internet connection/ISP or the set-up. I have this inexpensive generic Android Box sold under many names and model numbers: KR42, CS918, RK3188, MK888 and probably a few more. Various dealers on Lazada sell this for anywhere from B2000 up to B6000...same device. I bought mine on Ebay, Hong Kong for US$42 (free shipping, no duty)

http://www.lazada.co.th/kr-42-android-tv-box-set-top-box-tv-box-android-4216571.html

I've struggled to understand KODI and all the terminology but after looking at many YouTube videos and reading some excellent posts on this forum, I've got it working...sort of. Some days it's great and I can watch HD versions of current films (The Reverent, Bridge of Spies) without buffering, clear as a DVD...some days I can't get a single thing; nada. I have True 10mb ADSL which itself is notoriously unstable. I'd kill for fiber.

If I was convinced that a "better" box such as the highly recommended Minix would make a significant difference, I'd buy one in a minute, but from all I read, it seems to be more the connection and the source and sometimes, the time of day.

You can also buy the Minix at "Memory House" on the 2nd level of Fortune Tower (Rama-9 MRT) opposite the Samsung service Center. Just over B5000.

There are 4 or 5 dealers selling other brands of Android TV boxes scattered around 2nd and 3rd floors. "Digital Trends" for one.

I had an odd TV problem this past week: I could not reply to any posts for about 5 days. I would click on the "Reply" button but no cursor appeared.This was true on all three major browsers: Chrome, IE & FF.

I was able to write a topic heading but no text below. Concurrently, all avatars and thumbnails failed to display, instead, small rectangular boxes with "pip" inside would come up.

I emailed the forum help address and Linda replied that there were no blocks on my account. She suggested I delete all TV cookies and browsing history. I did that but the problem persisted.

My next step would have been to go to an internet shop and try access from a totally different system which would have showed which end the problem was on but before I could do that, the problem seemed to resolve itself and I was suddenly able to use the "Reply" function and everything began functioning normally again.

Not new and a little funky but my family group really liked the "Inner City Boutique Hotel" in Vientiane, on the river across from the night market. Many of the rooms, especially in the old wing have beautiful wood walls and nice furnishings. The public areas are beautifully decorated with Laotian figures and antiques. The floors creak, some walls are cracked...the place has character. If you like sleek and new; not for you.

Lots of restaurants nearby with a wide variety of choices. There is still enough of old Vientiane remaining to make strolling around side streets interesting.

Bring US$35 for visa at border, Thai Baht is 1500.

I fly all three fairly often and give the edge to Qatar...just better touches all around. Also, they usually have several Thai F/A's on the crew.

Emirates is OK and I like they have service to Boston but their flights always seem to have the highest ratio of shrieking babies. They tend to sit them in the front of the cabin so I have learned to try to get a seat towards the rear and always bring industrial strength ear plugs.

My own opinion is that Etihad has slipped a bit...the crews seem somewhat burned out and less attentive than when they were striving for number one. Also I agree with the other poster who remarked that their connections just don't seem to fit as well.

I have a friend who met his wife in 2000, married her in 2002. She discovered she was HIV+ in 2003. I had drinks with them a few nights ago. She looked healthy and normal. She enthusiastically told us about the mushroom farm she began back in their Khon Kaen home last year...already financially successful.

I won't say she hasn't had some hard times: she has. Several times she either got run down or was depressed and didn't stick with her medical routine. Twice, she was close to death. She was fortunate that people around her cared, took action and helped her make it through those episodes.

I've written on this forum about my GF's brother before. He was diagnosed HIV+ more than 12 years ago, nearly dying at the time. He has held a full time job and has supported himself and his family for nearly the last ten years.

In both cases, they were treated by the free government HIV program in Khon Kaen, getting monthly check-ups and free meds. I can't prove it but I suspect that patients in this system are better off than those using private, profit making hospitals. It just seems more patient focussed to me.

Really interesting idea....taking old, out of date computers and essentially making them into Chromebooks:

http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/17/11033216/convert-mac-pc-to-chromebook-chrome-neverware-chromium

There is an attached follow up article about doing this for schools with out of date equipment.

A friend from the US went to Medellin last year on a consultancy and was offered a full time position with decent but not extravagant pay. He spent a lot of time checking it out and talking to local expats but ultimately decided to pass on it. The country has certainly had a huge upswing from 10 years ago and is not as casually dangerous as back then...but outside of the tourist areas, it is still a risky place for anybody with money.

He visited some expat's homes in the suburbs of Medellin and though many of them were very beautiful and very inexpensive, they were all like fortresses with extensive security systems and an attendant at the gate. Most of the "executive class" expats had company drivers and took careful precautions to avoid abductions which he was told were not that unusual. Companies always paid.

Great place to visit, but.......

A friend of mine in Pattaya did something I thought was pretty clever. When high season was winding down a few years ago, he went around to a number of motorbike rental agencies and asked if they had any bikes for sale. He was surprised at how many were happy for a chance to unload a bike and he made a very good deal on a Honda Wave, less than a year old. He figured he saved close to B10,000 from what dealer cost would have been.

As others have pointed out, you will be able to qualify for housing almost anywhere so you don't need to be tied to your daughters location. Do some research. Maybe find some British single parent forums. Seek a location that has progressive and pro-active schools that will meet your child's needs. The way a school is run has a huge influence on the way the students treat one another...find a good one.

I was broke and started out all over again at 40. I was a lot smarter about things than I had been before and was able to retire at 60. I know it sounds hokey, but look on this as a new chance to do something positive for yourself. There are always opportunities out there.

Charles Schwab is another bank worth considering. They absorb all international ATM fees without a lot of account limits. I don't know if still true but international transfers were awkward with them...had to arrange it by fax rather than online.

You can only open an account with them within the USA.

I've bought some electronic devices on E-Bay originating in Hong Kong, all with shipping included in purchase price and have had no difficulty. The only time I had to pay duty was when one shipper used DHL. All others by HK Post had no additional charge.

A previous poster makes a very good point that returning defective or unwanted items that include batteries is now almost impossible. I recently tried to send a phone to the Philippines via EMS, Thailand and was refused because of battery restrictions.

Last year, when a friend needed to return his Microsoft Surface Pro to the US for repairs, only Fed Ex would accept it.

Thanks Steve,

So an Add-on is a collection of specific content, a build is a collection of Add-ons and a Repo is a collection of builds...that makes things a little clearer.

I suggest you read Steve's post one more time, slowly this time, maybe then you can comprehend what he wrote because he didn't wrote what you just say.

To be honest, if you don't know what you're doing, as you say in your other post, Kodi isn't for you.

I thank you for pointing out my misunderstanding of Steve's post.

I don't appreciate the unnecessary condescending tone.

The purpose of this forum is exchange of information.

No need to be snotty about it.

Thanks Steve,

So an Add-on is a collection of specific content, a build is a collection of Add-ons and a Repo is a collection of builds...that makes things a little clearer.

I did a re-install of Kodi and did only the "Add-On Installer. Seems to be working OK now. I'm going to thake the suggestion of "J Holmes" in another Kodi thread and keep it as simple ans uncluttered as possible, maybe learn to do maintenance.

Any suggestions for Thai content?

Thanks JONCI for the "Wiki" suggestion.

I have a KR42 (aka cs918, rk3188) Android box.10mps True ADSL in Bangkok.

I set up Kodi via instructions I found on YT and it seemed to work OK at first...I was able to watch a few recent movies clear and without buffering. Then it went to hell. Can't get anything to play no matter what I selcted, even the things that had worked before.. I really can't seem to get my head around all the terminology..."Builds", "Ad-ons", "Repos", "A"side.."B" side ect. I just don't have a clear picture of how it all works.

I think in trying to correct my problems, I may have messed things up more. I really don't have a clue what I'm doing.

Would I be best starting over? Do a "Factory Reset" of my box and try again from square one rather than trying to tinker with what I have? If anybody can point me to a really clear, non technical, step by step tutorial, I'd be really grateful. Most of the ones I've looked at always seem to leave some key bit of information out or some menu isn't the same or they just assume you know something that you don't. I will take a good look at that "wiki" and see if I can learn something.

BTW..what is a good "Ad-on" or whatever it is for Thai TV?

There is a baking supply shop in Phra Khanong, Bangkok on Sukhumvit 71, just past Soi 13. Sells all sorts of supplies and also has baking courses.

Dr. Twartz?? Really?? he just has to be an OB, GYN!!

Keep an eye out for an OTOP show. There are often local honey producers represented who specify the source of their honey.

The small, more intimate bars of "Queens Park" about 200 m. down the right side of Suk. Soi 22 are more relaxed than SC or Nana. Some cute ladies, some who do and some who don't. Drink prices 100 to 150 unless you want something special.

I have FB on both my phone and laptop. Every time I get a message, a notification pops up on my laptop screen. I'ts pretty convenient.

Problem for me is I will have guests for a week with a teenager who will certainly want to use my laptop. I don't want her to see my FB account content or any message pop-ups that come along while she is on the machine.

I suppose I could just set up a separate user account for guests to log onto.. (Windows 8.1, Classic Shell) Would that be a safe way to go about it? Would that close out notification pop-ups?