jhs

The information is out there, but it becomes incorrect as time passes. This information is accurate as of summer, 2010.

The iPad can be difficult to activate because the microSIM works in few phones, and most TrueMove support numbers require dialing from a True phone.

I am using the TrueMove post-pay microSIM with the iPack "promotion" (i.e. service package), called "Microsim 699" in my receipt. This is the most official route one has at this time in Thailand.

I purchased brand new service from the True shop so my SIM card was already activated. However I successfully inserted the Micro SIM into an old Samsung SGH-M200 and placed a call. I simply jammed it deep into the SIM slot; using a needle and thread through the plastic portion to pull it back out. (Not terribly wise in hindsight but it worked after a few tries.) This implies one could cut, using guides from the web, a standard SIM (even prepaid) from any carrier and perhaps get it working.

How to configure the iPad to use TrueMove 3G data.

1. Go into the Settings app
2. Tap: Cellular Data
3. Turn "Cellular Data" ON
4. Turn "Data Roaming" OFF
5. Tap: APN Settings and input the following verbatim
   1. APN: internet
   2. Username TRUE
   3. Password TRUE

To confirm:

1. Go into the Settings app
2. Tap: Wi-Fi
3. Turn "Wi-Fi" OFF

After a moment you should see "TRUE 3G" at the top. Run Safari! I also suggest the speedtest.net iPhone app which can hit the thaivisa Bangkok server.

I would appreciate additional, confirmed information about other carriers as well as prepay usage.

I would not appreciate opinions about the iPad or anything else. Let's keep this thread factual and useful for those needing fast info. Thanks!

Just to address the alternative: AT&T and T-Mobile have prepaid SIM cards you can buy.

The T-Mobile ones are about $17 on ebay however you cannot use data with an iPhone on T-Mobile (that's what customer service told me).

AT&T has some prepaid plans too, http://www.att.com/mygophone however I believe you will need a credit card (possibly US) and a US delivery address.

I have one. While it is a very nice phone, there are two things it cannot do.

With a Thai SIM card, you cannot purchase apps. You can download the free ones but when you search for apps for sale, nothing comes up. I have been inserting my $17 T-Mobile prepaid from from EBay. There is no GSM connection however I can purchase apps on WiFi.

Secondly, it is quite difficult to get a Thai font on the phone. You have to root it apparently. I think South Asian fonts will be in a software update but I do not know when that will be.

To my recollection, Mono is included in the default Ubuntu system. You probably already have it installed. Worst-case, search through Synaptic and install mono-runtime (I believe).

While Mono is .Net 2.0 compatible, those who promote Mono are quick to emphasize that it is not intended as a tool to run Windows apps on Linux (and a Mac for that matter). It is primarily a system that allows Linux developers to make applications as quickly and headache-free as Windows developers do. Put another way, definitely give it a shot; but unless your tool was specifically written with Mono in mind, it is unlikely to work. All you need is one "C:\Program Files\blah\blah\blah" in the program and it won't work on Linux. Like Java, Mono programs are run from the command-line by typing "mono", a space, and then the program. You could probably right-click on your .exe file, select "open with other application...", and enter "mono" as the custom command.

The thing is, an Idle Windows XP should be very near 0% CPU. You might consider investigating your Windows system to see if it is running any sort of background software. (I am thinking Spyware in particular.) If possible, consider a fresh install of Windows. I believe newer versions of VMWare Workstation allow you to run an application in (e.g.) XP but have that window appear in your normal GNOME desktop. So you don't have this ugly computer-in-a-computer to deal with.

Only one major update to my pro/con list since I posted it:

From a foreign country, the iTunes store is easier to use vs. Android Marketplace. Marketplace will not let me even view paid apps while my DTAC SIM card is in the phone. I have to shut the phone down and insert a T-Mobile or AT&T SIM. That is stupid. I pay with a US credit card with a US billing address. On iTunes with the same billing information, I can get any app available in the US.

Nexus one in Thailand, is it a dream ?

I buy all my electronics from the U.S. Except authorized Thai distributors of major brands, I am not interested local dealers.

Here is my current list. Things will probably occur to me later but for now this is it. Items are in no particular order. Most of these are vs. the iPhone 3GS. This is my first Android phone so some of these apply to Android generally.

Pros

• GMail is much better. It is a native app and exploits the high screen resolution
  
• Multiple GMail accounts (this is new with the Nexus One). I have a personal GMail and a couple business addresses so this is very nice. Besides GMail, you can maintain separate address books, etc. for each account.
  
• Voice search is cool
  
• Better camera. They say megapixels aren't meaningful but for whatever reason, photos are bigger and clearer than 3GS. In my opinion, this is the first smartphone that I would actually consider taking photos with and maybe leaving my camera home.
  
• Screen has great resolution and contrast. It feels ten times better to read email and use the map
  
• MiniUSB charger
  
• You can dictate anywhere you could input text. I have a clear American accent and it works great
  
• Punctuation is slightly easier to access to vs. 3GS
  

Cons

• Apps: If you care about third-party apps iPhone wins hands-down
  
• Amazingly, it sometimes stutters and jerks when swiping and typing. Considering how much newer it is vs. iPhone 3GS that was a total shock and disappointment. It feels like the old iPhone 3G
  
• Outdoors with a midday sun, the screen is almost impossible to see
  
• In pitch darkness, the screen is a little bit too bright. If you share a bed it might wake that person up
  
• No good selection of cases/protection yet. With my 3GS, I feel very safe with my Switcheasy Rebel & membrane
  
• Surprisingly inferior to iPhone for business use. Specifically, you cannot set WiFi proxy at all, nor can you configure them centrally
  
• Just not as visually pleasant as iPhone. When you change orientation, it just "pops" to portrait/landscape instead of iPhone's rotation. There are many examples. It's sad but true; that has a psychological impact and can trigger buyer's remorse if you changed from iPhone.
  
• This could change but I prefer the iPhone's simplicity where every app is just listed out on the screen. You can rearrange but there is no need to add or remove apps
  
• No multi-touch. I don't use it with the browser but it is nice for maps
  
• No Thai support out-of-the-box
  

Neither

• On the whole the Android keyboard is a wash vs. iPhone
  
• Multitasking: What you get in convenience you lose in battery life and having to keep track of what apps are running, kill them, etc.
  
• Voice commands
  
• SMS
  
• iPhone's browser is slightly nicer but the poorer resolution makes this a wash
  

I have attached a couple of photos of Nexus One vs. iPhone 3GS. For the detail one, I held them in my hand (no tripod) so forgive the motion blur, but you can still compare photo quality.

One major thing I really like is the custom engraving when you order it. I put my email address and my wife's phone number. Hopefully it will be more likely to be returned to me if I ever lose it in a taxi or cinema.

I have never lost my phone but a friend has lost several. Apparently the Bangkok populace is pretty good about returning your lost phone. If I lost a smartphone at the movies in the U.S., with all those American teenagers (I used to be one), I wouldn't even consider the possibility that I could get the phone back.

I have used BongoUS

If anybody else can contrast their service, especially shipito, vs. my pros/cons list I would be very appreciative!

I have used BongoUS for a few months. I am lukewarm about them. At the very least, they are legit and they do what they say and their web site is reasonably modern and useful.

Something that muddies the issue is that all these services scour the internet for mention of themselves and their competition and they sandbag each other and astroturf themselves.

Pros:

• You have to sign a USPS 1583 form which is US law. I like that. It's legitimate. It's not just a fly-by-night
  
• Shipping is via DHL which is very nice in Thailand. It always takes 3 days. If I request shipment on Wednesday afternoon Thai time, I receive stuff Saturday morning--always. When DHL is ready to deliver, they call me first-thing in the morning and confirm that I will be available at whatever time.
  
• While not perfect, the web site is pretty useful for day-to-day stuff. You can see what's pending, what's on file. You can aggregate your stuff and have it shipped out. They can photograph your stuff, etc.
  
• While sometimes I've had my doubts, they basically seem to be honest about the weight of things. All of these services that charge by weight have a conflict of interest. If they fudge the weight by just a pound or two, they earn $20 or more per shipment. Meanwhile, by the time you receive your goods, you are not in a strong position to do much about it. In other words, they have you by the balls. Bongo has been pretty good about this.
  
• Basic business stuff like changing my credit card and changing other information on file worked without incident. They are at least competent at running their office.
  

Cons:

• You have to sign a USPS 1583. That document must be notarized which means you have to go to the US embassy and pay $30 and waste a half a day.
  
• DHL 3rd-day international is the only option
  
• You can declare the price of your goods, however the same price is used both for insurance and customs declaration. It is not possible to have $500 insurance on a $50-declared-value shipment. Of course, I am a goody-two-shoes and I never, ever, skirt the law. So I do not mind this restriction.
  
• Sometimes I accidentally input the value of my goods incorrectly (incorrect decimal point or something). Not always, but sometimes they will override the price when they receive the receipt from e.g. Amazon. To modify the price, you have to send them a receipt. I would say 70-80% of the time, my accidental typos slip through the cracks.
  
• I feel like it is expensive. Very often I order books or shoes and I am in no hurry to receive them. Why pay $10 per pound for next-day delivery?
  
• While there weren't major screw-ups, support is not stellar either.
  
• They are closed on Saturday. Amazon ships to them via USPS which delivers on Saturday. I always get emails from Amazon saying to go pick up my package at the local post office. Most of the time, the USPS re-delivers but every time this situation arises, I am in a state of mild terror since Bongo doesn't lift a finger. They just email back "have your courier re-deliver."
  

At this point, due to positive reviews about shipito, I will probably try them too however I will not be canceling my BongoUS account anytime soon.

I have attached some graphs I made for Bongo's prices to Thailand.

And how do you like the Nexus One? I have a friend bringing me the HTC Hero from the US later this month.

It is too early for me to say. I have only used it for 24h, and just now got EDGE working. Despite developing iPhone apps for a living, I only recently decided to carry a smartphone for daily use. But I fear losing or breaking a twelve-hundred-dollar iPhone if I carry it everywhere.

I am a list-maker and I have started my pros/cons lists vs. iPhone. I guess I would say this for now: If you know iPhone is not for you, it is probably the best or nearly-best smartphone to get.

I have learned something people should be aware of. My primary language is English. Reviews I read are from the US and UK. iPhone has lots of "spit and polish" which I figured I didn't care about. Well, in an also-ran country like Thailand, the spit and polish can make a lot of difference. For example, right off the bat, I discovered that there is no Thai keyboard, and incoming SMSes do not render properly (just squares, see attachment). I am starting to learn that more is handled via third-party apps in Android so perhaps there is a solution there.

The information is out there, but hopefully the title of this topic will earn some Google mojo, making it easier for others to find.

I just received my unlocked Nexus One from the U.S. It is Google's latest Android-based smartphone. It has been a while since I set up my iPhone 3GS but I thought it got on DTAC's EDGE network without needing configuration. Anyway, the Nexus One definitely requires configuration before you can use it on DTAC.

1. Go into the Settings app
   
2. Tap: Wireless & networks
   
3. Tap: Mobile networks
   
4. Tap: Access Point Names
   
5. This is where I was confused as an Android novice.. Press the Menu soft-button and tap "New APN"
   1. 
      
   2. I set the Name to DTAC
      
   3. Set the APN to www.dtac.co.th
      
   4. No other configuration is required
      

[*]Tap the Menu soft-button and tap Save

[*]Tap the newly-created radio button and make sure it is active (green)

At this point, EDGE will work. I have not tested MMS but I will update this post when I do.

Sorry I misunderstood.

Unless they absolutely have to be here (e.g. in a data center), you will get far better price-performance hiring people abroad to work. Compensation in Russia and the Estern Bloc is about the same as here, however you'll meet ten qualified candidates and hire one before a decent Thai resume comes across your desk, if at all. I spent some years hiring Linux talent in Thailand. There is plenty of skill but it is all-but impossible firstly to find those people, and secondly to convince them to work for a small company. (If you are a large or foreign company yourself, then you have a decent shot.)

I suggest you work for foreign companies where the demand for talent is greater, not to mention compensation and benefits. That includes international companies with branches in Thailand, foreign companies where it's relatively easy to relocate to (e.g. Singapore), and companies that use 100% telecommuting staff (either contract or salaried--I know Canonical has a handful of employees operating out of Thailand for example).

If you are comfortable with the freelance career style, the various freelancing sites might be a good place to start. If you build up a reputation you can earn about the same as people in the West.

Unless you are in the technology industry or are some kind of entrepreneur, or unless you are very young or very enthusiastic, I don't see much reason to force yourself to use Linux. Linux is a huge investment because there is day-to-day pain but you can become adept at something that is strongly involved with the future of the technology industry.

I would suggest virtualization. Windows can be run from Linux (which is what I do), or vice versa (which you might want to look into). I also am not a big user of emulation tools but with virtualization, you have a traditional Windows (or Linux) system by all rights. I suggest looking into VirtualBox which is free and well-regarded. If you have been able to run Linux for a while, then you should have few problems getting it running on either Linux or Windows (it can run on both, and Macs for that matter).

(Also, you can sign up to download the Windows 7 release candidate, which is a free download from Microsoft and will run until late 2010. It runs from within VirtualBox quite well; or if you go the other route it is said to run on netbooks much better than Vista.)

Since the beginning of time, my in-laws got their rice fresh, from Or-Tor-Gor. They bought several varieties and mixed them. That was the standard rice for meals at home. Fresh (Thais would say "new") Jasmine is better than street vendors' rice; but this mixture stuff is better still.

I've been experimenting with their recipe, mixing the fresh rice from Siam Paragon. I am curious whether others have their own recipes (mixing ratios) they'd care to share.

Here's my current setup. I love it, but it might be improved upon. I broke the mixture into two halves: "normal Jasmine" for the basic flavor and texture, and "speciality rice" to take things in various directions.

1. 50% normal Jasmine:
   1. 
      
   2. 2 units: white Jasmine ("Kao hom mali" ข้าวหอมมะลิ)
      
      
   3. 2 units: pink Jasmine ("Kao hom mali si chompu," ข้าวหอมมะลิสีชมพู)
      

[*]50% speciality rices, consisting of:

1. 1 unit: Sticky rice ("Snake Fang" strain: ข้าวเหนียวเขี้ยวงู)
   
2. 1 unit: Red crab-cover(?) rice ("Kao mun pu," don't know the translation: ข้าวแดงมันปู)
   
3. 1 unit: Unrefined Jasmine ("Kao klong hom mali": ข้าวกล้องหอมมะลิ -- unavailable fresh in Paragon; I bought a bag from the nearby stand)
   
4. 1 unit: Japanese rice ("Kao yipun" perhaps: ข้าวญี่ปุ่น; Any brand from aisle 4; I know little about Japanese rice)
   

The colored rice grains are dyed, yes. But with natural ingredients. I think the purple ones are from the Anchan flowers, yellow from turmeric, but I'm not sure about red.

Cyanide is natural. So is gravel. I wouldn't necessarily want either of those in my rice, whether from nature or no.

I agree with Richard-BKK. Crossover Office is fabulous. I believe they either recently released or will release soon an updated version.

With computer capacity nowadays, though, I've been tending toward the virtualization route. I use VirtualBox personally, and I run Windows XP.

For the extremely thrifty, go and get the free Microsoft Windows 7 Release Candidate. (I'm not sure if you can still download it but it's worth a try.) It supports IE 7 and 6 (through "compatibility mode") and it's free to use until late summer 2010. Windows 7 RC on VirtualBox is a zero-cost method to use true-blue Internet Explorer these days.

Edit: The problem with Firefox spoofing and even Crossover is that many Thai sites are very tightly coupled to IE. They depend on its unique method of rendering and running Javascript, and several sites depend on ActiveX. So there's no getting around using Windows, really.

I would say it depends on the experience level and competency that you need in your employee.

The enthusiast forums and LUGs and all are great; however many competent, experienced Linux experts (or any field for that matter) are too busy or uninterested in beginners' forums to be found there.

Might I suggest Googling certain professional outsourcing sites. Take oDesk for example. The following searches find some people. No, not a ton, but at least they are actively seeking work:

• linux bangkok site:odesk.com/users
  
• linux thailand site:odesk.com/users
  
• bangkok OR thailand site:odesk.com/exams
  
• linux bangkok OR thailand site:odesk.com/exams (you can substitute "linux" for other exams within the site)
  

Of course, this technique work on other expertise meetup sites.

There also the job boards; however in my experience, if you are unwilling to hire a novice or intermediate and turn him or her into an expert, then job boards won't cut it. On the other hand, there are plenty of jobs requiring only entry-level or intermediate experience--it depends on your specifics. To get an expert who can hit the ground running, I a recruitment company is the only reliable source. (You might go fishing and get lucky, but you might not.)

I was in Central World the other day and asked about the 3GS at the True store.

• When will it be available? She said "mid-August" but she couldn't confirm a date
  
• Is it unlocked? She said sure, no problem
  
• Expected price? She specifically told me it would be between 30k and 40k baht (maybe a tad over) depending on the capacity. Whether the sales clerk in the mall has reliable information is debatable but these numbers jibe with the forum.
  
• Will there be insane iPhone lines like in the US? She hadn't heard of that particular American tradition, so it's not as big of an issue here. On the other hand, she felt that very many people have come in asking about the 3GS recently so there is a chance they will be hard to find initially.
  
• Edit: I forgot to mention, she also had me--I guess I would call it "register"--to be notified when the phone arrived. She asked which model I wanted and had me write my name and number on a tiny, loose scrap of paper. I have no idea if she'll call but it's something. It seemed unofficial and that she was just doing me a courtesy. I find unlikely that she just wanted my number due to my svelte physique.
  

Everybody's situation is different, but given this feedback, I much prefer the peace of mind having legit, updatable equipment with a reliable warrantee. I usually buy all electronics from the U.S. (although this place Winner sounds interesting); however Apple is trustworthy, even in Thailand. (Indeed, the U.S. is the worst place in the world to get an iPhone if you ask me!)

Incidentally, does anybody know if an unlocked iPhone works well with T-Mobile in the US? I have been mercifully spared from learning the US wireless labyrinth, but once I get this phone I will want to use its data features with my el-cheapo prepaid T-Mobile SIM. I would appreciate any feedback from forum members who've done this. Thanks.

There are many print shops in malls and around universities that will print and bind books. I absolutely love having eBooks printed up this way. The value is quite high and the cost is low. They usually don't come out perfect like from a publisher, but they can be darned close. The biggest issue is miscommunication.

If your book is in PDF format, check out my site, Siam eBook Printers, which does the exact same thing, but you order over the web and it's delivered to you. (And the whole site is in English.)

Good luck!

For those interested in the security implications and efficacy of some kind of "privileged passage" system, security researcher Bruce Schneier has some very interesting writings about them. (He was looking at passenger screening in airports.)

First, is a short blog post on the screening process at the Orlando airport.

That post references a more in-depth analysis of a private enterprise to make "I am not a terrorist" cards, which involve a thorough background check allowing you to pass through airport security more quickly.

Bottom line: such systems are very difficult to plan correctly and very prone to major failure modes.

If it is actually put into operation, I welcome the new immigration move.

Hear, hear!

(Although I doubt it will ever be executed effectively in practice.)

Bino is right, because Paypal are such nice people they do the conversion for you, and steal 10% in the process ! Paypal are always going on about scams and how much "safer" they are than any other method of payment, but at the end of the day they are the biggest scammers of them all !

To Taxin and Bino, I have been using PayPal for several years from my US account. While I can't complain about using it from the US, I definitely did have a problem a few years back, when merely logging in from Thailand was considered suspicious. (After having my funds frozen and going through difficult process, I learned the lesson that you should keep only the minimum funds in PayPal that you need!)

However, seeking a convenient and cheaper way to move funds from the US to Thailand, my wife set up USD PayPal and transferred $300 US to a Bangkok Bank checking account. Here are the figures:

• Transfer to: Bank Account
  
• Total Amount: -9,222.51 THB
  
• From Amount: -$300.00 US
  
• To Amount: 9,222.51 THB
  
• Exchange Rate: 1 U.S. Dollar = 30.7417 Thai Baht
  
• Date: Mar. 3, 2008
  
• Time: 0X:YY:ZZ PST
  
• Subject: Bank Account
  
• Transfer to: Bangkok Bank Public Co.,Ltd. Checking (Thailand) xxxxxxYYYY
  

I'm not a financial expert, but considering the offshore rate, I don't see a 10% cut in this. March 3 is the day that the BOT rescinded the capital controls, causing the offshore rate to change to about 31.6. Given a 31.6 "real" exchange rate, PayPal gave me 97.28% of that (i.e. they charge me 2.72%). That rate does not "stink" to me.

I don't understand the comments about the bad exchange rate. I just set up a PayPal account and the currency was USD. My understanding is that when you withdraw, you withdraw a certain USD amount and the exchange rate is a matter between you and your Thai bank.

Is that not the case?