WaveHunter

I think the explanation I provided is correct. It is from Apple. You can google to find it spelled out in black and white just as I did. You can not install an OS without first having an iCloud account. Do you agree with that? When you first use a device, Your iCloud account is recorded and stored on the hardware portion of your device, not the OS or any software. Do you agree with that? According to Apple, that information is not accessible to the user. It cannot be edited or deleted, even if you do a complete and total reset on the phone back to factory default. It stays there for the lifetime of the phone. According to Apple, it can store up to three (3) icloud account, and no more. Once three have been recorded, it can accept no more. Again, it is all hardware based and can not be changed no matter what you do to your iCloud account. Even deleting your account (which I think is impossible to do) will not change the hardware data on the device. Just google it, or ask for a senior tech person at Apple like I did...Tier 2 or higher, not the people that just pick up the phone when you call since they know next to nothing.

OK, I just got some clarification from Apple. Here is the official policy (which is a little different than I understood originally). This policy is specifically for iOS devices (not OSX). Apple currently limits each of its iPhones, iPads, or iPods to a maximum number of free accounts per device, which means no more than 3 total iCloud accounts can be created on any iDevice. Any single iDevice creates up to a maximum of three iCloud accounts, and these accounts are linked to your iDevice’s hardware, not your Apple ID account. This policy limit means the restriction is attached to the iDevice itself. So you (nor anyone else) can never create another iCloud account on that particular iPhone or iDevice. So, It’s an Apple hard rule, so there’s no way around this set limit. If you or someone else already created all three iCloud accounts, you can’t create another iCloud account using that particular device. That means there is NO WAY to change this or wipe the slate clear. Once the device passes hands by being sold 3 times, it can not be sold to a 4th unless they just want it for parts, or they want a fancy paperweight. So, bottom line...what you are failing to take into account is this restriction policy is built into the hardware of the device itself. Erasing the device or resetting it to factory settings will NOT get rid of this 3x restriction. It remains for the lifetime of the device. Again this only applies to iOS devices ( iPhones and ipads), not OSX devices like a Macbook Pro or Air devices.

All things considered I'd prefer the US board even though I don't look at keyboard when I Type, but Thai-English keyboard sure does look pretty busy and sort of unsightly looking so I'm sure it's not going to help if I ever want to sell it back in the States LOL. Has it caused you any issues using a Thai MBP compared with English one? How do you like the AIr? How long have you had it? The Air was my first pick but it just doesn't have the graphics processing power I really needed for my applications though it was close. Right now, the 2021 MBP specced at 16gB with a 512 SSD is the same price as a brand new Air configured similarly, so that's why I decide to go with the MBP, but the Air sure looks sweet, and so light too, by comparison! Are you happy with your purchase?

Well, this is all really just academic since I am no longer thinking of buying a used device. All I can go by is what two different Tier-level 2 supervisors told me on different occasions. They both sounded like they were reading policy statements to me, not just hearsay, so I don;t know if you were given correct info or I was but when two different Apple supervisors tell me the same thing and word it the same way, I tend to believe it. I mean, where would they come up with that specific information if it were not true? One other point: You may be able to erase and load a new OS...but not without a valid Apple ID. Also, I would venture to guess that the MAC ID of the device is something that the Apple servers can easily use to determine whether that device has ever been linked with another Apple ID. BTW, your last comment about bricking make no sense (I mean from a grammatical point of view). Can you clarify what you mean?

That's a good point, and I'm glad you brought it up. It gave me a few skipped heartbeats until the reseller sent me a snapshot showing what the keyboard looks like. Keys are all in the exact same place as US keyboard, and the only difference is that Thai characters are included in addition to English. For me, I don't even care since I don;t look at the keys when I type. As long as the keys are where I expect them to be ????

SO, what is your point? Reseller don't just offer a 20% discount for the hell of it on Apple devices. If you follow any of the Mac user sites, they have all been talking about this unusual discounting on 14 & 16 2021 MBP's for several weeks now. I don't really care why it is being discounted; only that it is...and I want one LOL! I know that the Amazon Apple Store is owned by Amazon but they are authorized by Apple. Amazon will not ship it to Thailand but my package forwarding company in California will, and their warehouse is tax-free, so I was going to do that BUT I don't trust Thai Customs to not screw me on valuation of the VAT (in collusion with couriers like DHL), since they have done that to me in the past (even when an invoice has been included). So, I scoured the internet here in Thailand and finally found a couple of resellers offering it at that discounted price. One of them is particularly well established with a brick and mortar store in Bangkok, has the devices in Apple sealed boxes along with unused Apple warranties, and has agreed to a full inspect of the computer prior to purchase. What's more, my credit card company provides FULL buyer protection on this particular purchase based on a detailed phone call with them the other evening. Based on all of this I feel pretty comfortable with the purchase and head to Bangkok tomorrow to buy it provided it checks out. If, after what I have said, you still think there are reasons I should be concerned with this purchase, I really want to hear them. I mean, $1599 USD is a good deal, but it is still a lot of money. I don't want to be disappointed, so if I have missed something, or there is some special thing I should check out, I would welcome the advice!

I did not say they were not selling them anymore. The fact is that they are not producing them anymore. The 2021 MacBook Pro is almost a year old and a new version will be released shortly. Production of new units has now stopped in anticipation of the new model rollout that will occur soon, and so existing inventory is all that exists. Apple will not lower the price on existing inventory on their website or in their authorized stores in anticipation of that, BUT they are offering them on their Amazon store site at about 20% discount, and so are many resellers. In other words, you can get the exact same computer on Apple's site or in their stores by buying from resellers offering this huge discount. So, basically I am getting the exact same computer discounted by 20% compared to buying one from an Apple store or from their website. I found one reseller (a brick and mortar store) in Bangkok that is offering that discounted price. The store has been in business for over 10 years and the owner I have texted back and forth with sounds trustworthy and honest. The box is sealed and has a Apple warranty card, and the store owner agreed to opening it in-store to fully check it out before payment is made. What's more, my credit card company said I had full buyer protection for 120 days, and that if anything proved to be a problem, I was covered. Right now, saving $400 is a big deal to me, and I see no reason to not take advantage of this. As for the keyboard, it is indeed a Thai-Eng keyboard as you suspected and shown below, but is that really a big deal? I mean, I never even look at the keyboard when I type, and I can't think of any reason that could be a problem BUT if you can think of one I am all ears.

Well, all I can tell you is what AppleCare told me in a phone conversation with two different agents, and I found it hard to believe as well, but they assured me that what they were telling me was correct. No worries since I am not going to buy a used device, but if I was, I wold want AppleCare to assure me that what you say is correct, and when I quired them they stick to what they were telling me.

I've had Apple devices for over 10 years now and agree that AppleCare+ is excellent when the device is relatively new but I usually only carry it for a year or two. With regular (free) AppleCare, you get the same expert help, and I've never had a major issue where the extended coverage would have been worth it. My present Macbook Pro, iPad, and iPhone, have never had any major issues, and local repair shops have been able to address any issues I've had expertly at at low cost (like replacing batteries, and a dimming screen on my iPhone) far less than the cost of having AppleCare+, so I just don't bother with it. I've just never been a big fan of paying for "extended" warranties.

I think you may misunderstand what I was saying. I got my information directly from AppleCare, and from two different reps. The device being discussed was a used iPad that I was looking to buy from a private seller but I assume that what I was told by AppleCare applies to ALL Apple devices. Both Applecare agents told me that Apple has a policy that "throughout the life of an iPhone/iPad, the device can ONLY have three iCloud accounts associated with it". Even if a device is wiped fresh for a new user, but it has already had three Apple ID's used, the device CANNOT be set up under a new ID. Perhaps if one of the previous owners deletes his/her Apple ID, that would allow a 4th apple ID to be associated with it but I doubt a seller would want to do that, or if that would even fix the problem. I made one error in my post when I said "only one" previous person could own the device and be able to transfer it to another owner. It is actually two. So, original buyer can sell it, and then the 2nd owner can sell it, but a third owner can buy it and associate his/her Apple ID to it, but will not be able to sell it since a 4th owner will not be able to associate their Apple ID to it, rendering it essentially useless. This all just means that if you buy a used Apple device you must see a clear paper trail of invoices to assure that you are NOT a 4th buyer.

I don't think it will be a problem. I mean, the new online system seems to work pretty well but you're probably just a victim of a technical glitch that re-submission might have fixed but since you passed the deadline, "that dog don't hunt no more" ????. Be sure to bring copies of the emails that prove you did in fact submit the failed attempt on-time.

I understand that but I don't think you even can re-submit it now that your submission deadline has passed; that's why I said the smart thin in the future is to submit far earlier than the deadline date. At this point, being 8 days past the deadline, I think your smartest play is to visit IMM in-person as I suggested.

If the server accepted your application when you submitted it, and then you were notified that it had been rejected eight days afterwards, the problem is not a typo on your application or something like that or it would not have accepted the application in the first place There was obviously a reason for rejection that re-submission is not going to fix. If I were you, I would take my passport and a copy of my application along with any dated emails proving you did submit it on-time over to IMM in-person TODAY and resolve face-to-face with an IMM officer. If IMM is unable to resolve it favorably, I would hire a professional agent to get it resolved for you. Time is of the essence since you are technically delinquent...not a big deal I suppose unless there is something wrong with your Visa or passport, or if you had any legal issues you have not mentioned. ALSO NOTE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE: It's a good idea to submit it earlier that the actual renewal deadline just to avoid snags like this, like the first day that the renewal window opens.

So, does this look correct for travelling from Jomtien Bus Depot to MBK? And, the section of travel from Ari to Siam...is it a BTS Skytrain or a bus? Phaya Thai > MBK

Well my most adventurous bus journey was actually the return trip from that visa run in Myanmar when Thai Police at a roadblock flagged the bus over to the side of the road and a bunch of Thai special police boarded the bus with assault style weapons, loudly ordering everyone to show their passports! I never did figure out what / who they were looking for but that was downright scary!

As long as I am not scalped I'm fine with that. ????

So from Jomtien, no option but go through Suvarnabhumi. From N. Pattay it is indeed direct to Ekkamai, correct?

I agree. I love to just look out the side window and be mesmerized by the passing scenery. I do some of my best creative thinking that way LOL! It's different in a car service though. You always feel obliged to converse with the driver. That's kind of why I like the idea of a bus ride better.

Not sure I understand. I'm fairly convinced now that from Jomtien, buses only go as far as Suvarnabhumi Airport and then you must use rail from Suvarnabhumi to get into the city. Am I wrong? By rail, I guess I am referring to Skytrain.

LOL, I've had a few "adventurous" rides on Thai buses like when I did a Visa run to Myanmar and thought we were all going to die on the treacherous roads through the mountains. I think the ride into BKK will be tame by comparison, but I still like the idea better than using a driving service not only to save money but having other people around kind of sounds appealing after being so isolated during Covid.

Cool, thanks for letting me know that. I rarely use buses and even though I've seen them over there everytime I go to FoodMart I had no idea what they were for LOL! I'm glad to hear you find them comfortable and enjoyable because some bus trips I've taken here in the Magic Kingdom certainly can't be described as comfortable or enjoyable in any stretch of the imagination LOL!

Yeah, the thought of just having a leisurely time by staying overnight is appealing! I have not actually travelled since Covid, so even a one-nighter should be fun, and surprisingly less expensive than using a car service to get in and out in one day...so thanks again for the idea, and thanks for the tip about not getting scammed by the buses leaving Ekkamai ????

I kind of got that feeling that Jomtien - Ekkamai would not actually be direct. No big deal though since I've now decided to just stay overnight in Bangkok so I don't feel rushed with my tasks. I only prefer Jomtien over N. Pattaya since the depot in Jomtien is literally a 5 minute walk from my house. Also, thanks for the reminder that MBK doesn't open until 10am ????

Hey everybody, Thanks for all the input. I think I'll just take the bus from Jomtien and plan to stay overnight so I don't feel rushed getting all my tasks completed. Even with overnight stay, it's still cheaper than a driving service, and probably more fun too. I'd still like to know if direct service between Ekkamai and Jomtien, and/or North Pattaya exists or if both require transferring to rail.

I don't really need to be there early; I just need as much time as possible while there. Your suggestion of staying overnight is not a bad one. I might just do that! It would be fun since I rarely get into Bangkok, and a hotel room would still be cheaper than a car service or taxi. Thanks for the thought ???? PS: Just checked hotel availability for a nice but cheap place. Ihad no idea prices were so low. Here's what you get for 800 THB. I think I'll do it!