DocTom

thanks Ismeuno. Obviously you are more adept than I in navigating the Lazada site. However when I opened your link I could not find a price for the item, and the quantity button refused any input other than zero, so I concluded that they have no items in stock. Or am I wrong?

thanks for all your contributions. I have looked at Lazada. It is not an easy site to navigate on a laptop, but as far as I can tell there are no T480 models available just now; the link took me to a T480S which model is less upgradable than the T480. I shall continue to monitor Lazada for a T480, and try to find further options for someone to hand deliver from the UK or USA. Thanks again for the useful advice. DocTom. i

Sandyf, thanks for the account of your experience. I am not sure though that it relates directly to what I would need to do to procure from Ebay. I would need to buy from Ebay on their UK site, and have the vendor dispatch to me here in Thailand. Most vendors seem to use Ebay facilities for delivery and charge various prices, some of which but not all include a Thai import charge; but all seem to state that additional charges may be imposed at customs in Thailand. This is what happened to a friend, who decided to abandon his clothing items when faced with a very large customs fee. So my import, if I proceed, would have the laptop in a package placed in the aircraft hold. (This is what I wanted to avoid when I asked a friend to bring it as carry-on luggage, but he was unable to help.) Then I presume that it would be inspected by customs officials, and subject to further charges if they choose. This seems a bit different to the experience that you related. Or have I misunderstood you? I will be grateful for any further comments or information before I decide to proceed, or not, with purchase and import. Thanks again, DocTom.

Thanks again for contributions. Lazada and Shopee proved fruitless. I have no idea how to seek a used laptop in China. The best source of used Thinkpads seems to be Ebay, and I was near to buying one from Ebay in the UK and have a friend bring it as hand luggage when he returned last week to Thailand. But unfortunately he was unable to carry an extra item, so that plan failed. I am still pondering about an import from UK, but friends have warned me that Thai customs authorities are prone to impose very large import duties, making the price of item plus duty unrealistic. So I am in limbo on this project for now. I welcome any further comments, DocTom.

Thanks for the contributions. My preference is a T480 because it is very easy to upgrade. I recognise that other people may favour different models. I will run Linux, not Windows. I will get someone to try Lazada, and Shopee for me. DocTom.

I want to buy a used ThinkPad T480. Does anyone know of vendors in Thailand? Thanks to anyone who can help.

Here is an update on 14th October 2025 for general information for interested members. My sight has deteriorated in the last 6 months. Specs. do not help much. I see double images of writing. A check at a hospital revealed that I have cataracts. So based on the positive comments about Princlamphun hospital, I went there for a further check and consultation. I joined a crowd of Thai people, many of them very old like myself. We were given eye drops to dilute the pupils after a wait of 3 hours, then after another hour I saw the medic. She was a very pleasant young lady, and she spoke good English. She confirmed that I need to get the cataract(s) removed, and described the procedure to me. But I was a little surprised when she told me that the charge for the procedure on one eye will be 40,000 baht. So I am giving the matter some thought. I will appreciate any helpful or knowledgeable comments.

Sorry. Somehow I missed the query about room size. It is quite large, nominally 6m x 5.5m, but with a toilet in one corner at 2.17m x 2.9m, which I discount from the volume to be cooled. The height is 2.85m. There is a large window/door to a balcony, but normally this is closed and curtained. I will be very grateful for any advice. Tom.

So many different views and experiences! To add my bit : we have 2 Mitsubishi Electric units in adjacent bedrooms, one a Mr Slim, one not. Both are some 10 years old. The Slim cools the room very efficiently, sometimes too cold for me; but has needed 2 replacement temperature sensors. The other just will not cool the room adequately now (it did so originally). Both are cleaned about twice a year by contractors. Asked why the two do not cool similarly the contractor engineer replied that the Slim unit is a bigger one that the other - but in fact they are both 24500 BTU rated. So I am less than satisfied with Mitsubishi Electric, and I am looking to replace one unit, so your comments are helpful even though very varied. A local shop offered me Daikin models at 20500 or 25500 BTU rating, but wanted me to choose. Online sites that calculate size for my room give values from 9000 to something over 30,000 BTU ! So please can anybody assist me, or point me to a reliable source, to determine the appropriate size for a new unit ? Tom.

We have Mitsu Slim 18500 BTU units in two similar size bedrooms. I am not happy with them - component failures in one, and poor cooling in the other. The independent engineer says that poor cooling is due to undersize unit, but I doubt this - I think there is something fundamentally wrong, and it is not lack of refrigerant as it was topped up. I am looking for a replacement. I have read all the posts. Does anyone have any updated comments now in 2024?

Mike Lister, your information is hugely helpful. Many thanks. I am a UK citizen, retired and living in Thailand for 20 years. I am approaching dotage now, and completing a Thai tax return will be difficult for me. So I am interested in firms that provide such services. One such is ExPattax Thailand. They have many useful videos. My question is : do you or other posters know of other companies offering tax return services for individuals (not companies), perhaps with any views or experiences, and approximate costs? DocTom.

Denim, many thanks indeed. The list seems to be quite good. I do not know why my net searches failed to find it. Thanks again, Tom.

Does anyone know of a glossary of automotive terms in Thai and English (with transliteration - not just Thai scripts)? I think that a list of car components (e.g. shock absorber, fuel injector....) and causes (e.g. worn-out, broken...) would be very useful to many English-speaking vehicle owners. Such an item would be very helpful when getting a car serviced at facilities where there are no English speakers. I am unable to find by searches anything useful along these lines. Can anyone help please?

I have used, and recommend, Cambridge Tax Practice. They specialise to a degree in expat tax matters. A director, Kieran O'Conner has been very helpful.