Benjie

Something that you may not be aware of is that a lot of dealers will charge you 4 to 5k baht to test drive the vehicle of your choice if they do not have it on the lot. I believe that this is a type of delivery fee to the dealership. Just ask first, although when we were looking for a new vehicle all the dealers were up front about the fee.

If anyone of them does that... Just call the headquarters of that brand. You will see you get your test drive for free and very quickly at that. Just farangs getting skinned by ignorance.

Maybe not just farangs. We have a Thai working for us and he deals with all the Thai related stuff (Gov Depts etc). When we were looking for a new vehicle he went on his own to Toyota in Ari and made some enquires. He came back and told us about the fee. So maybe gullible Thais as well.

Depends, did you give him the money?

Does it contain Asbestos?

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy would be the way forward, basically forcing yourself (in small ways at first) to do the things that make you anxious, over time your anxiety level will drop and you can start to feel normal again, other forms of psychotherapy may help as may anti-depressants in the short term. The newer ones are certainly better than taking Xanax or similar, Social Anxiety/Depression etc... are very common there will be specialists at just about any hospital, choose the setting and Dr/Therapist that you feel most comfortable with.

What's the worst thing that could happen on a phone call, being over here the language barrier should shield you from embaressment as the person you will be talking to will be self concious of their English Language skills.

I think you will struggle to get hold of any meaningful X10 technology here so will likely have to import (which is generally a whole load of fun). X10 relies on powerline technology so here in Thailand you will have to make sure that your electrical install is entirely up to scratch else you'll be pulling your hair wondering why it isn't working consistently.

Most European installations use EIB/KNX nowadays so most of the hardware you will find out there is 110v, X10 feels Archaic compared to KNX and the reliability on good electrical wiring is a real issue here in Thailand, any reason you favour it?

Thai Whiskey = Poison

SangSom is actually pretty good stuff...in moderation, of course. Are you prejudiced?

SangSom is Rum

Na mate it was the 84K that lost it for you and life bored up-country!

Na mate it was the 84K that lost it for you and life bored up-country!

Nothing wrong with 85K a month for a chemical engineer. There is a chance in the future that she will be involved in Wheatstone, if that would give a clue to her employer.

Yeah she would have all of what? 2 maybe 3 years experience and still be a trainee, 20k baht more like.

As Jayman pointed out, I doubt these stick computers have enough processor power to be useful, but the geek value is incredible!

Another problem with all these Chinese Android knock-outs is complete lack of post-sales support. I doubt there are going to be any updates available, and with the speed and level Android is developing these days it effectively would mean a 3-6 months usable life spam for these gadgets. Rather pay a little more and get a device with some support, either by the manufacturer or the hacking community.

I own 3 or 4 of these devices and they can all play 1080p video, youtube, 1080p games etc... it's not like resolutions are going to go up any time in the next 3-4 years. The amount of these boxes/sticks they are selling, its likely the community will be where to go for updates if they become necessary. The great things about some of these is that they can be powered through your TV's USB port so use minimal power.

The ones with AMlogic chipsets can also play nicely with XBMC and one of the manufacturers or OEM companies is actually the main sponsor of XBMC, so it's likely that it will fork off in that direction considerably.

Thanks for your input. Would you please share your experiences on which if these cheaper sticks we are discussing will handle XBMC without stuttering the playback.

I've just got them but will be focussing solely on xbmc, My Amlogic box was $80 delivered and is about the size of an AppleTv

As Jayman pointed out, I doubt these stick computers have enough processor power to be useful, but the geek value is incredible!

Another problem with all these Chinese Android knock-outs is complete lack of post-sales support. I doubt there are going to be any updates available, and with the speed and level Android is developing these days it effectively would mean a 3-6 months usable life spam for these gadgets. Rather pay a little more and get a device with some support, either by the manufacturer or the hacking community.

I own 3 or 4 of these devices and they can all play 1080p video, youtube, 1080p games etc... it's not like resolutions are going to go up any time in the next 3-4 years. The amount of these boxes/sticks they are selling, its likely the community will be where to go for updates if they become necessary. The great things about some of these is that they can be powered through your TV's USB port so use minimal power.

The ones with AMlogic chipsets can also play nicely with XBMC and one of the manufacturers or OEM companies is actually the main sponsor of XBMC, so it's likely that it will fork off in that direction considerably.

Would be interesting to know if Nissan intend to actually manufacture anything, or to just assemble the imported parts here. I believe Ford were very clear in stating that their intended new plant in Thailand would only assemble and not actually manufacture anything.

There's the first one!... desperately trying to put a negative slant on a positive report.

Sorry to dim your rose-tinted specs, just trying to put things in perspective (and not really desperate at all!). There really is a huge difference between manufacturing and merely assembling. The former would show a real long-term commitment to Thailand in training a skilled workforce, the latter could be merely a short-term expedient to get round import duties, etc. to be easily shifted elsewhere once the AEC comes into operation.

Surely all manufacturing is simply assembly of components into a product?

I'm still trying to work out the food they left out of the unmentionable dish, why aren't you allowed to say what the dish was or what it was missing?

Googled ...found this !

H3 Digital

19/7 Moo7 Srisoontorn Rd

Thalang

Phuket 83110

Thailand

Tel.: +66-76-620 116

Mobile: +66-86-266 2786

Website: http://www.h3-digital.com

Western run high end audio company.

Too expensive and much cheaper options on the island.

Buy only from Thai companies, they don't fold and give you what you paid for.

H3 has been going for nearly 10 years now, we aren't the cheapest, but we do an expert job. If everyone were to compete on cost alone then it would be a race to the bottom for quality.

Not really our line of work but speeds can vary wildly depending on contention, time of day (when the kids get home from school speeds plummet) and a million other variables. Set up something that generally draws a stable speed (for example a big download from a fast/reliable server) and keep an eye on the speed throughout the day. If it still varies wildly, check out the modem and make sure that's running fine - If it's definitely the cable then you can probably get the TOT guys to pull a new one out of hours for you.

I would have thought the exact opposite...

Both methods are digital, so I would not expect any noticeable difference if it is simple audio, HDMI 1.3+ is superior to TOSLINK (optic), it has greater bandwidth capabilities.

But it depends a lot on the sound format, if it is Dolby 7.1, DTS etc then this could only be transferred by HDMI, so I would say in this case HDMI should be the superior one.

The limiting factor with multimode fibre is usually the attenuation caused by poor quality fibre,reflection, dirty or marred contact surfaces in couplers ,misalignment of couplers, whether led or laser emitters, distance etc ..

...newer MM fibres can handle greater ie more than adequate bandwidth using lasers rather than LEDs. over the short distances for home entertainment applications.

Having said all that would stick with copper wire....HDMI ,coax, Cat 6 ,whatever....

It's digital, the signal either gets through without fault or not (in which case it would be obvious).

Should be no difference between the HDMI and SPDif unless the WD is sending out different signals via one over the other, which is doubtful.

Summoned?

Presumably he took a sample, made a report?

Summoned to explain why he made a test for which they didnt ask, and the even worse, reported it. Whats to explain.

The test came back positive for opiates. Simple.

Cocaine isn't an opiate!

Ok a short Biology lesson as so many people are arguing about her weight.

Hypothyroidism: Will potential result in weight gain, as no thyroid hormones are present to regulate metabolism (and hence these people have a very slow metabolism). This can also happen in people who are extremely obese. Without treatment, it is very difficult for them to lose weight (so it could be an acquired thing for her, as women are more susceptible to it).

Hyperthyroidism: Pretty much the opposite of the above, overactive thyroid, high metabolism, weight lose (more severe problem then the first).

Now Diabetes is complicated, some people seem to lose weight, others seem to gain it. Usually it's not until your body actually can't overcome the insulin resistance weight isn't put on.

But she probably doesn't have any condition, ate a lot her whole life, which completely screwed her metabolism and even if she didn't get a lot of food in prison, diets DON'T work as it slows the metabolism even more, so isn't going to make her lose weight. She's big before, big after...she's getting spotlight for being an idiot really.

You still don't get it, regardless of how slowly her body burns calories (or fast) you will still gain weight as long as you are consuming more calories than you are burning.

If a Hypothyroid sufferer stopped eating altogether then they would immediately stop gaining weight and lose weight.

If your body is burning calories slower (Hypothyroidism) then obviously you have to consume less calories.

Here's a biology lesson, a human body can't create energy out of thin air, regardless of insulin, thyroids, hormones etc...

Who has the Chanote? If you have it in your (or a company's) possession it's all Moot.

Else you have to choose to take the money or perhaps offer them the difference and keep the land (and build on it).

Most Americans only travel abroad in a uniform.

My gosh, are you that jealous? To repeat 61.5 million non military trips outside of the US. Not only are you a little wrong but 61.5 million times wrong.

70 million UK residents go abroad each year, The UK has what about 1/3 of the population of the USA.

THIS IS THE MOST SICKENING and stupid video news reoort I have seen so far and this from a UK news site at that ...??? http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz1yACAO0Wu

Really ?? It is despicable .. these are times when censorship is needed

Which bit was sickening? A couple of pictures of body bags? Have you ever seen the Thai press?

Warrantees are most often worthless here, unless directly in writing with the international corporation, or sometimes from higher-end more expensive department stores. Note that manufacturer guarantees also must specifically be international, you can't contact LG USA for something you have a warrantee with LG Thailand.

And the best you can hope for in any case is repair, very rarely replacement and never cash refund. Sometimes only labor is covered and you have to pay usually quite inflated parts prices, often cheaper and always quicker to just get it repaired out of pocket.

Places with decent sale prices rarely have *any* after-sales service at all, getting it repaired will cost the same as if you bought it somewhere else.

I've found 99% of the business managed by locals in Asia take the attitude that they're doing you a favor allowing you to spend their money with them, no concept of customer satisfaction being important to long-term success. And the government certainly doesn't enforce consistently the very few consumer protection laws in place.

So basically you pay your money and takes your chances. Which is a big reason why the market is price-driven even at the high end, people minimizing their risk, never being able to trust a brand's quality reputation.

What a load of tosh - Computer warranties here are excellent.

Typically all the individual parts will have a sticker on them stating the supplier, distributor or shop that sold you the computer and the date that the warranty runs out. It's very simple to get things replaced under warranty, not always quick but certainly fair. The computer shops might not be interested in fixing your software problems but it's pretty easy to work out what component(s) are dead and get them replaced.

Same goes for electronics here in general, except with no-name goods I've always had excellent experiences replacing things under warranty.

International Driving License = Official Driving License from another nation.

It's pretty obvious that is what they are referring to, not an IDP.

Yes , I was trying to meet a retired business person who wants to share their insight or a semi-retired person who maybe has no web presence and needs that kind of info.My main interest just now was if anyone went through the coaching academy and kept the momentum up from their coaching. I hear so many courses just amp you up then the old blocks can arise soon after but it seems their method sticks from testimonials.

Successful Retired business people are too busy enjoying their retirement and spending their money, Perhaps the life coaching will help with leading a more fulfilling life without the need to be rich?

Make up your mind spend 25,000 to try to refocus your life and the secret to potential financial success is only worth a cup of coffee???

A coffee to start, then take it from there.If the person wants a coaching fee I'm fine or I can bring something to the table in the IT /internet marketing realm by way of exchange.

Those that are financially successful, I can't see them having the time or inclination to do this for a coaching fee. If you can pay them in an hour more than they can earn themselves in their own endeavours they likely aren't worth listening to.

While you're wasting time sneering at Lifan, Lifan owners are happily out riding. I'd buy one in a minute, but I still got a lot of life left in my lowly Phantom.

I'm not sneering at anyone, I considered a Lifan but haven't heard any good things, and no I dont count "I had this problem and then this problem and then it was back at the dealers for 6 weeks but now I've managed to reach 3,000kms, fingers crossed" as good.

The guy 2 doors down from me has a triumph.

People must just think differently from me I guess, because I don't think that braking issues, burning out 3 lamps, losing power, carb voltage issues, starter problems, plug problems, faulty fuel stop cocks, 75% of ownership time at the dealership etc... sounds reliable in the slightest.

I can easily get over the word Chinese and understand that probably 80% of the things I use reliably on a day to day basis are made there, however they are not Chinese brands - Which is IMO the difference.

Couple of guys had trivial glitches, others didn't, some of which may reflect setup. Friend of mine who's got a Lifan approaching 3000km, ridden daily, hasn't had the slightest problem. At this point, everyone who owns a Lifan is happy w/ his Lifan and isn't complaining. Besides, you ignore all the satisfied Lifan owners outside Thailand.

Glitches happen to bikes of Japanese brands too, new or old. And one may buy a lemon of any brand. You seem not to have noticed. In fact, some Japanese bikes may have some innate, potentially expensive, problems, like the Honda V4 premature camshaft wear problem. The Phantom has the cam chain tensioner issue. So if you had owned one of those, you'd deny there was any problem because, after all, it isn't a Chinese brand. I couldn't own a Phantom because it's "unreliable" owing to an issue or two.

I'm just following your bias, which you continue to deny is a bias, to its logical conclusion. I suspect if you hadn't learned that Lifan is a Chinese brand then you'd feel completely differently, as the evidence doesn't at all warrant its being labeled as "unreliable."

Problem is 100's of thousands have bought Japanese bikes, with perhaps the odd problem, whilst I've yet to even see a Lifan on the streets and there's lots of reports here in Thailand of some pretty big (yet basic) issues. You call them trivial glitches but they don't sound like that to me. I don't care if the ones they send to the USA or wherever are great, I live in Thailand so am curious about the ones available here.

Are you seriously suggesting that these bikes are as reliable as the japanese ones. Or are you just saying that because they are cheaper buyers have to put up with some faults? Because 3000km isn't a feat in my eyes.

People must just think differently from me I guess, because I don't think that braking issues, burning out 3 lamps, losing power, carb voltage issues, starter problems, plug problems, faulty fuel stop cocks, 75% of ownership time at the dealership etc... sounds reliable in the slightest.

I can easily get over the word Chinese and understand that probably 80% of the things I use reliably on a day to day basis are made there, however they are not Chinese brands - Which is IMO the difference.

Its good to start seeing some feedback about these Chinese bikes, it sounds like the Lifans reliability is pretty poor and from what I understand they are supposed to be the best of the bunch.