Firefoxx

OK, before other people start chiming in about they think it's practical, my comments were that it was not practical enough for my own uses. Yes, for certain applications, it's more than practical enough, but not for all. Just like a notebook is practical for a lot of purposes, but not for all.

Sfokevin, those pics are of the 8" screen, not the 8.9" screen. If Asus uses typical 8.9" screens, then it should have 1280x800 resolution (hopefully), but of course cost quite a bit more. *Then* I'll buy it.

A flash memory card like a harddisk can have files recovered, as long as the files haven't been overwritten yet.

I have also have had some very bad experiences with US Customs and Immigration. Very bad, even though I did nothing wrong. They, like most other US officials, tend to treat people like they were a few steps down in the scheme of things. Just take a look at how they call you to them, the same way that people call dogs to them (upturned hand, wiggle the forefinger). They also tend to chew gum all the time, something that would be considered extremely rude in other countries. I've had my laptop booted, but nothing beyond that.

Chinatown and Zeers, too.

Forgot to mention the price... re-celling typically costs around 1-2k baht, while a new battery costs around 3-4k baht or more (especially if you get it from the service center).

Yep, might just be. Really luck of the draw, but some people get really unlucky. Now if only I could get lucky with my ADSL and get an ISP that actually delivers....

So far I've only lost a modem (a US Robotics 56k modem) to a lightning strike. Nothing else, and this is even though I pretty much leave every thing on 24/7, since I frequently remote access my computer even when I'm not at home. Of course I turn off the monitor, but that's about it. Only when I'm pretty sure I'll be far away from any net access will I actually shut things down. I only started using a UPS in the last few years, with two decades of not using one (yes, in Thailand).

Of course the power around my place doesn't fluctuate too much. I've seen PSUs on computers fried from bad power lines, and plenty of modems killed too. Just doesn't happen to me.

Right now, the biggest crutch of the EEEpc is the screen. If they could just make it bigger, meaning they take away the black side bevel, then it would be much, much better. A resolution of 1024x600 would be much less limiting than the current one, which won't fit many web pages, let alone dialog boxes. I'll definitely buy one for my niece when it comes out, along with an external slim DVD writer. Otherwise, it's not practical enough IMHO. Cute, lightweight, intriguing, but not practical.

And why not put XP on it? You use the OS that has the programs that you need, you don't use an OS just because it's technically superior or elegant.

Why is it that nearly all the shops that display the EEEpc have a sticker saying in Thai "please don't swing the LCD" as in don't move the LCD screen on its hinge. Is the hinge *that* fragile?

Errrr.... What??? As I said, and as you quoted me to say "The price comparison is between the UK and Thailand, not the US and Thailand". Also, when I was saying to keep it on track, I was referring to replies like that from BlackArtemis, not you, because yours was on track. I probably should have been more specific (as I hate to quote unnecessarily), but I was hoping for people to actually read the whole thing.

Dell is offering the new Vostro 1200 in Thailand, for very cheap, around 29,000, for a Core duo, 12" screen, Wireless-N, bluetooth, dvd writer, etc. etc, and around 25,000 for a Celeron version. But alas, the nature of Dell Thailand really shows... the only reason that I know that the Vostro 1200 exists is because of an ad in a Thai newspaper. The Dell Thailand website has *no* information on this model at all (zero, none, nada). And of course you have to call them (the only choice) to get any more information or order. No outlets, no dealers, useless website... a phonecall is the only option. How quaint, in this day and age. They're operating in the last century, and dragging consumers with them.

As kitty says, AIS is the bigger network, with normally better coverage and larger user base. DTAC and True play catch up and so tend to offer better "promotions" to draw customers. True is the newest, and probably the least appealing, but has the best deals. I use AIS and travel a lot within the country, and so far I've yet to find a place that doesn't have coverage.

Postpaid requires some kind of residence for them to send the bill to, so you'll need some kind of proof of that. Prepaid is easy to get, but of course if you use it heavily you might find the top-ups tedious.

I think there's a misunderstanding. The price comparison is between the UK and Thailand, not the US and Thailand. It's pretty much common knowledge that notebooks in the US can be ridiculously cheap, especially when there are rebates, sales, and whatnot involved. But the UK is another story entirely, as with the rest of Europe. So let's keep this on track, folks.

I don't know about DVI and a switch box, but there are many companies that offer mid-to-high end graphics cards that are based on heatpipes with no fans. There are also third-party heatpipe replacements for graphics cards that originally use fans. Both are available in Thailand... the silent cards can be found at bigger shops, while the replacement coolers can be found at the exotic cooling places like jedicool. I think with some settings in the drivers you can avoid the DVI resolution issues.

As for bit-depth, it really shouldn't be an issue with modern video cards.

A year or so back I was using CS Loxinfo's SME service (but at home). Started out OK, but deteriorated fairly quickly. I called them to rectify, and sometimes got some results, sometimes nothing. In the end I was paying a premium for a service that didn't deliver anything beyond "mediocre", so I canceled.

It's cached content. Basically the file was already downloaded to your computer, and when you asked to save the link, it just copied from cache.

Basically a calibrator helps to make the colors you see across various mediums (normally, the printer, the scanner, and the monitor) fairly consistent and standard. The reason that they tend to not be the same is because each medium produces and interprets colors differently, and each has different capabilities for producing the range (gamut) of colors available. The one that people are usually most concerned about is the monitor, especially if you're doing professional work. This is because you need to set your monitor to a certain display "standard", so if you send your work to your clients, they will see the same picture (colors).

To get a fairly accurate calibration, you usually need a spectrophotometer (like the one used in the Eye One) or colorimeter (like the cheaper Spyder). Both are measurement devices connected to the USB port which you hang on your monitor to read and compare color output during the calibration process. A software-only solution will help (and be better than nothing), but won't be as accurate, but of course will be much cheaper.

BTW, as far as I've seen, the price for the Spyder in Thailand is way too much.

I don't see any reason why *installing* games on a work machine would lead to problems. Perhaps if the game included some TSRs or tray items (but few games do). Perhaps if you installed a *lot* of games and this led to major disk fragmentation... but that's a long shot. Perhaps if you installed pirated games with weird virii or cracks, but again, a long shot.

If an IT manager said something like that, it's more likely that he's afraid of the user using the computer more for games than work, rather than the games causing any problems. If installing games could cause problems, then installing most third party programs could be even more problematic.

There is really no "what's best" for everybody, since everybody has their own needs, usage habits, budgets, etc. etc. If it was that way, there would be only one notebook model in the world.

The really expensive high-end/lightweight/flashy notebooks really make no economical sense, but people buy them nonetheless. It's just the way the market works.

As for buying in the UK vs Thailand, as stated above, it depends. Price is generally comparable, since the UK isn't the US and tends to be on the expensive side, like the rest of Europe.

Pretty much all major department stores in and around the city have self-service digital printing kiosks. Look around. Some of the bigger photo shops also have them, but they're not as common.

Innovations for low-mid budget range? Not that I know of. Perhaps in the higher range.

Low weight means 12-13", which would give a weight of around 1.5-2kg. 14" means 2.3+kg.

All can watch DVDs, as long as they have a drive. Some of the smaller 11-12" ones don't have an internal optical drive at all (external).

Same goes for the burner.

RAM is cheap (around 1k baht/GB) and easily upgradeable. Not an issue.

The hard drive is also easily upgradeable, but the maximum right now is around 300GB (if you can fine one).

Big/bad processor is really unecessary if you're not gaming/multimedia, and is a drain on the batteries. The smaller notebooks usually come with lower power CPUs.

Currently Intel is the better choice, but AMD is cheaper.

Rolling shutter is not much of an issue, unless you take some *really* fast action at really high shutter speeds. What you'll see is that the top and bottom part of the scene will not be updated at the same time, thereby making something like a golf club swinging look curved. Thing is, rolling shutter has been with HDV camcorders for quite some time (my HDV camcorder, first generation, also has it). Again, it's only noticeable if you're going to really examine certain scenes shot by shot. In other words, you don't need to worry about it.

I'm going to guess that even if the HV20 is sold here, it will be quite a bit more expensive (20-50%) than the US, since that's how it's always been with Canon (and Sony, and other brands) of Thailand, especially with new products like this.

You've chosen correctly... the HV20 is probably the best high def consumer camcorder out there right now.

However, Canon Thailand (as usual) has only just introduced the HV20 to the Thai market. As of now, I have yet to see it sold in any Thai shops.

English websites... you can probably check at shop4thai.com, tohome.com, or some others in the sticky. They probably won't have this model listed.

Customs in Thailand is luck of the draw. Sometimes you're charged, sometimes you aren't. Sometimes the charge is ridiculous, sometimes it's small. Really. If you can find someone to carry it in, that would be the best bet.

www.camcorderinfo.com for reviews. The HV20 is sold in the US for around $800, but that's the NTSC version, which is generally OK (this is HD, after all). However, one of the best features of the HV20 is the superb progressive mode, and in NTSC land, it's problematic to get the progressive footage to the computer. For PAL, it's much easier, but the PAL version in the US is around $1200 (perhaps because of the easier progressive mode).

As of now, no, there is no problem with updates. Even if you don't go online, newer games will contain the updates, too. However, there's no guarantee that future updates won't brick a chipped Wii.

Note that this is a problem with updating a NTSC chipped Wii with a PAL game, and vice versa. It can brick your Wii. However, since there are so few PAL games sold, and most systems are NTSC, it shouldn't be of much concern in Thailand.

Yep, you need to go to a Thai forum to see Thais moan, and Thais tend to moan a lot. The most obvious place to read these posts is probably www.adslthailand.com.

Me, I don't need a 100mbit connection. I don't need a 15mbit connection. I just need a 1-2mbit connection that can actually deliver 1-2mbits consistently.

I'm considering the CAT Hinet GSHDSL 2mbit premium connection. I hope that it will be better than what I've had before (basically, pretty much anything that actually delivers will be better).

OK, this is my last post in this thread, since I seem to have been put into the "RAW haters" bin, even though I'm not.

When I mean that RAW processing is not trivial, I meant that JPEG files can be viewed and used *instantly* without *any* need for special software or manipulation. Any type of manipulation, be it silky smooth or oh-so-easy, is still an extra step. DSLRs aren't for the super-technical or super-rich any more, so many people don't buy them for those reasons.

And *again*, my point was that someone who buys a DSLR *doesn't* need to use RAW. Just the same as someone who buys a DSLR doesn't need to buy a $2000 lens. Doesn't need to buy a $400 tripod. Doesn't need to buy a $400 flash. Doesn't need to use mirror lockup. Doesn't need to use long exposures. Doesn't need to use high ISO. It's THERE but it's NOT why *everyone* buys a DSLR, OK?

I'm done.

Woops, it seems that like all Apple products, there are people who are very very protective of the iPhone, and even though I was supportive of it, I've been dragged into the argument. Anyways, I hope this thread is kept civil. And guys, there is a difference between "true" and "valid" or "of concern".

I'm talking about the body and the kit lens price, which is enough for starting to take pictures (and which many, many, many, many people buy). If you want to include the price of add-ons like lenses, you might as well set aside a couple million dollars, because for SLR add-ons, the sky's the limit.

I'm not arguing with you Nordlys. I'm not even saying that I shoot in JPEG (which should have been clear in what I said). Go ahead and look at my first reply in this thread. I responded because Kash implied that there was no use to buy a DSLR if you don't use RAW, which is ridiculous. Plenty of people use their DSLRs for learning to take pics, or just recreational photography, and they all take their pics in JPG. Would a P&S or prosumer digicam fit the bill too? Of course not, it's a totally different experience. You have a 5D, so of course you take your photography very seriously, but there is a HUGE segment of people who want to learn (the 350D, D40, etc segment) that will happily take pics in JPEG, since it's more than good enough for them. RAW processing isn't trivial, and can get in the way of the learning process and enjoyment of photography, so it isn't for everyone, especially not for someone just starting.