Need new notebook, suggestions appreciated, Chiang Mai

[scorecard]

My Lenovo is 6 years old, lid is cracked, other problems, time to buy a new notebook in Chiang Mai. My Lenovo has touch screen but after many problems I turned the touch screen facility off. Unless the technology has been well improved not so important.  

 

I'm out of touch re best shops, best services etc., in Chiang Mai. My needs are simple, Word and Powerpoint documents and surfing, and storage of a quite large amount of old files. Prefer solid state storage etc. Not interested in gaming or anything similar.

 

I'm flexible on brand, whatever seems to be the current best machine / good price recommendations, etc. Lighter weight would be nice. Prefer to buy at a shop which can and will transfer all old files, favorites etc. 

 

Appreciate your suggestions, thanks   

[JamJar]

Too vague.

No budget. No screen size. No screen resolution.

Learn to transfer your own data. It's not rocket science.

 

 

[JamJar]

Also, post the exact model number of what you have now...so that we can compare.

[scorecard]

6 hours ago, JamJar said:

Also, post the exact model number of what you have now...so that we can compare.

Thanks, here's a copy of the sticker on the bottom of the machine:

[JamJar]

Looks like the original cost was around 16k.

 

It's actually only four years old.  It actually shows the manufacturing date of 17/06/2015.

 

You can probably fix most of it's issues. Broken part at Verve Plus. But it's really not a good device. 

 

I had a look at laptops at a similar price range. They fall into a similar category. Nice specs, but but 'consumer quality'.

 

Some examples; 

https://www.invadeit.co.th/product/notebooks-laptops/asus/vivobook-14-x412fj-ek216t-slate-grey-p043663/

https://www.invadeit.co.th/product/notebooks-laptops/asus/vivobook-15-x512da-ej140t-slate-grey-p043694/

 

 

Would I buy 'em? No. I'd rather buy a second user high quality business device. 

 

If I see something special, I'll let you know.

 

 

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, JamJar said:

Looks like the original cost was around 16k.

 

It's actually only four years old.  It actually shows the manufacturing date of 17/06/2015.

 

You can probably fix most of it's issues. Broken part at Verve Plus. But it's really not a good device. 

 

I had a look at laptops at a similar price range. They fall into a similar category. Nice specs, but but 'consumer quality'.

 

Some examples; 

https://www.invadeit.co.th/product/notebooks-laptops/asus/vivobook-14-x412fj-ek216t-slate-grey-p043663/

https://www.invadeit.co.th/product/notebooks-laptops/asus/vivobook-15-x512da-ej140t-slate-grey-p043694/

 

 

Would I buy 'em? No. I'd rather buy a second user high quality business device. 

 

If I see something special, I'll let you know.

 

 

Thanks, appreciated.

 

Please see the photo attached showing the crack across the cover. I have been to several places in CM and in Bkk, they all tell me that it's not possible to repair the cover, and they say a new cover/monitor would cost more than buying a new notebook. How true that is of course I don't really know.

[KhunBENQ]

45 minutes ago, scorecard said:

How true that is of course I don't really know.

Might at least cost more than a comparable new notebook.

I have found a description on the net that says:

14" Full HD (1080p), touch screen, anti glare

i3 CPU, 1.9 GHz

4(??) GB of RAM

500 GB HDD

NVIDIA GeForce 920M

fingerprint sensor

 

Best you create a prioritized checklist and start with an online search before you walk into a shop.

 

2 hours ago, JamJar said:

Looks like the original cost was around 16k.

For that one can surely get more performance nowadays or a much lower price for a 14" model.

 

2 hours ago, JamJar said:

Would I buy 'em? No. I'd rather buy a second user high quality business device.

With the requirements the OP describes he has no need for that?

 

 

[KhunBENQ]

21 hours ago, scorecard said:

and storage of a quite large amount of old files.

Funny enough this might be a problem with some of the modern notebooks as they all come with fairly "small: SSD (256 GB, 512 GB).

Selecting 1 TB HDD will limit your choice.

BUT: they will have USB-3 connector where you can attach cheap external storage in the TB range.

[david555]

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

Thanks, appreciated.

 

Please see the photo attached showing the crack across the cover. I have been to several places in CM and in Bkk, they all tell me that it's not possible to repair the cover, and they say a new cover/monitor would cost more than buying a new notebook. How true that is of course I don't really know.

Maybe of topic , but don't throw of the cracked one.., as you can use as base machine by connecting to your Television by HDMI connection cable 

[scorecard]

Thanks for that. I'm a  total novice to this subject, so please let me clarify, I'm guessing that "..... attach cheap external storage in the TB range." means portable storage.

 

Your comment is making me rethink about 'old files', which in reality could be very useful but in retirement I will probably never use them again, but I would like to keep them and in reality (a re-think) portable storage would be fine. 

 

As mentioned I'm not a notebook guru or anything like it and my needs nowadays are just basic. I have no need for bigger notebook screens, a 14" screen is all I want or need.

 

My understanding is that most machines come with small RAM size and it's best to install, at purchase, bigger RAM.

 

Overall high speed not important to me.

 

The current Lenovo came with touch screen but after continuous problems (in the programming of the touch screen) I eventually turned the touch screen option off.

 

If touch screen is now better and not that much more expensive I guess I could try it again. 

 

Can I go back to asking for a couple of suggestions here in Chiang Mai. Thanks.

Edited September 26, 2019 by scorecard

[scorecard]

4 minutes ago, david555 said:

Maybe of topic , but don't throw of the cracked one.., as you can use as base machine by connecting to your Television by HDMI connection cable 

Thanks.

[tlandtday]

15 hours ago, JamJar said:

Too vague.

No budget. No screen size. No screen resolution.

Learn to transfer your own data. It's not rocket science.

 

 

also a lot more secure...

[tlandtday]

2 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Thanks for that. I'm a  total novice to this subject, so please let me clarify, I'm guessing that "..... attach cheap external storage in the TB range." means portable storage.

 

Your comment is making me rethink about 'old files', which in reality could be very useful but in retirement I will probably never use them again, but I would like to keep them and in reality (a re-think) re portable storage would be fine. 

 

As mentioned I'm not a notebook guru or anything like it and my needs nowadays are just basic. I have no need for bigger notebook screens, a 14" screen is all I want or need.

 

My understanding is that most machines come with small RAM size and it's best to install, at purchase, bigger RAM.

 

Overall high speed not important to me.

 

Can I go back to asking for a couple of suggestions here in Chiang Mai. Thanks.

ram is a big selling point which is falsely marketed unless you are doing serious video editing or photoshop etc you are fine with 2 gigs minimum for the internet and basic word functions however i would recommend 4 if possible.

[scorecard]

4 minutes ago, tlandtday said:

ram is a big selling point which is falsely marketed unless you are doing serious video editing or photoshop etc you are fine with 2 gigs minimum for the internet and basic word functions however i would recommend 4 if possible.

Thanks.

[wgdanson]

8 hours ago, scorecard said:

Thanks, here's a copy of the sticker on the bottom of the machine:

Six years old? Made in 2017

[Chazar]

14 minutes ago, david555 said:

Maybe of topic , but don't throw of the cracked one.., as you can use as base machine by connecting to your Television by HDMI connection cable 

K replacement  screens  are cheap.

https://www.kreplacement.com/category-50.html

http://www.kreplacement.com/

Edited September 26, 2019 by Chazar

[david555]

Just now, Chazar said:

K replacement  screens  are cheap.

http://www.kreplacement.com/

By some posts it seems difficult , my suggestion was only for to keep in reserve , as I needed once a second one to download software to repair  a crash on my only one ….then I realized a spare one is worth to have 

[scorecard]

6 minutes ago, david555 said:

By some posts it seems difficult , my suggestion was only for to keep in reserve , as I needed once a second one to download software to repair  a crash on my only one ….then I realized a spare one is worth to have 

Point taken, thanks.

[Chazar]

2 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Point taken, thanks.

Transferring data, walk in to tesco lotus ask  them for some USB memory sticks 64gb and copy  your files onto those, very easy to do.

[Lacessit]

Try Pantip Plaza for repairs/transfer etc.

[KhunBENQ]

34 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Six years old? Made in 2017

No, I think just confusion by unclear date format ("US").

15/06/17 -> 17 June 2015 ?

It would really not cost a fortune to write the year with four digits

[shady86]

If you are interested with a used business grade Dell notebook with warranty until 2021, you may contact via PM. 

[JamJar]

3 hours ago, shady86 said:

If you are interested with a used business grade Dell notebook with warranty until 2021, you may contact via PM. 

 

Post the Service Tag and price, if you please, so we can appraise it for scorecard.

[JamJar]

6 hours ago, scorecard said:

Thanks, appreciated.

 

Please see the photo attached showing the crack across the cover. I have been to several places in CM and in Bkk, they all tell me that it's not possible to repair the cover, and they say a new cover/monitor would cost more than buying a new notebook. How true that is of course I don't really know.

 

Donkeys.... ????

 

Lenovo themselves sell the top lid and all fittings including the hinges, for 3202 baht. 

 

They even, helpfully, supply pictures on their official website;

 

 

or just buy one removed from another device; https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lenovo-Yoga-500-14ISK-White-Laptop-Lid-Hinges-Brackets-46003R080002-5CB0H91137/362760023686

 

If the original hinge assembly is undamaged/intact, then you need only a new top lid, costing perhaps 800 to 1000 baht; 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-For-Lenovo-Flex-3-14-Yoga-500-14-LCD-Back-Cover-White-5CB0H91137/282487658446

https://www.aliexpress.com/af/5CB0H91137.html

 

The lid probably broke because of a stiff hinge;

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWr6UncPFRs

 

There is no need to replace the screen. Just nonsense from incompetents. As I stated, I think Vserve Plus in Chiang Mai may be a Lenovo service centre. So you can source the part yourself and get them to fit it.

Service Centres should have the schematic diagrams.

 

At the same time that can fit a solid state drive in order to speed things up considerably. Driver problems we can work on remotely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 26, 2019 by JamJar

[JamJar]

But don't belittle them. You can collate all of the evidence, including the link to YouTube video for the stiff hinge issue and present it gently. Like father to son. no shouting and no exasperation. Then they may want to help. 

 

Check with Lenovo beforehand, to find out who and where is their official service centre in Chiang Mai;

 

INFORMATION FOR AFTER SALES SERVICE

Lenovo Call Center

1800 012 220(โทรฟรี) | 0-2104-0792(คิดค่าบริการตามระบบเครือข่าย)

Phone support time :M-F 9am-6pm

(Consumer product เปิดเพิ่มเติม Sat 9am-3pm.)

อีเมล์ : [email protected]

 

 

VServePlus location

053 409 482

 

If it is they. But check beforehand.

[JamJar]

6 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Might at least cost more than a comparable new notebook.

I have found a description on the net that says:

14" Full HD (1080p), touch screen, anti glare

i3 CPU, 1.9 GHz

4(??) GB of RAM

500 GB HDD

NVIDIA GeForce 920M

fingerprint sensor

 

Best you create a prioritized checklist and start with an online search before you walk into a shop.

 

For that one can surely get more performance nowadays or a much lower price for a 14" model.

 

With the requirements the OP describes he has no need for that?

 

 

 

The problem is not specification, but quality. I guarantee that his four year old laptop has not been stellar in it's performance. But the specification on paper is more than enough for even now.

On paper, simply fitting a solid state drive and clean installing the operating system, will bring that device right up to speed. But obviously there are other niggling problems with the design and build. Not really acceptable for a 16k to 17k baht device.

 

I'm still using a ten year old laptop. Posting with it now. He has given up on a four year old laptop. Four years is just not good enough.

 

 

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, JamJar said:

 

Donkeys.... ????

 

Lenovo themselves sell the top lid and all fittings including the hinges, for 3202 baht. 

 

They even, helpfully, supply pictures on their official website;

 

 

or just buy one removed from another device; https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lenovo-Yoga-500-14ISK-White-Laptop-Lid-Hinges-Brackets-46003R080002-5CB0H91137/362760023686

 

If the original hinge assembly is undamaged/intact, then you need only a new top lid, costing perhaps 800 to 1000 baht; 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-For-Lenovo-Flex-3-14-Yoga-500-14-LCD-Back-Cover-White-5CB0H91137/282487658446

https://www.aliexpress.com/af/5CB0H91137.html

 

The lid probably broke because of a stiff hinge;

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWr6UncPFRs

 

There is no need to replace the screen. Just nonsense from incompetents. As I stated, I think Vserve Plus in Chiang Mai may be a Lenovo service centre. So you can source the part yourself and get them to fit it.

Service Centres should have the schematic diagrams.

 

At the same time that can fit a solid state drive in order to speed things up considerably. Driver problems we can work on remotely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Thank you, my Thai adult son called them, their response was that they need to see the machine to check if the hinges also should be replaced, but can probably help to get and fit new lid and hinges if needed, and very possible monitor can be used again in new lid. I will visit Vserve on Saturday.

 

From past experience do the Vserve staff speak much English?

 

Thanks again. 

 

 

 

[JamJar]

4 hours ago, scorecard said:

 Thank you, my Thai adult son called them, their response was that they need to see the machine to check if the hinges also should be replaced, but can probably help to get and fit new lid and hinges if needed, and very possible monitor can be used again in new lid. I will visit Vserve on Saturday.

 

From past experience do the Vserve staff speak much English?

 

Thanks again. 

 

 

 

 

Have no idea. Have never been there. 

If they supply the lid and hinges, it will be more expensive, as indicated. Perhaps more than 3000 baht via Lenovo, as compared to 1320 baht including hinges, delivered from the U.K.

Then whatever they charge for labour.

 

Remember that you also need an SSD; https://www.invadeit.co.th/product/solid-state-drives-ssd/crucial/mx500-250gb-2-5inch-internal-ssd-ct250mx500ssd1-p034803/ or https://www.invadeit.co.th/product/solid-state-drives-ssd/crucial/mx500-500gb-2-5inch-internal-ssd-ct500mx500ssd1-p034804/ are good.

 

 

 

Alternatively, you can just buy the cheapest; https://www.invadeit.co.th/product/solid-state-drives-ssd/crucial/bx500-120gb-3d-nand-sata-2-5inch-internal-ssd-ct120bx500ssd1-p040111/ or https://www.invadeit.co.th/product/solid-state-drives-ssd/crucial/bx500-240gb-3d-nand-sata-2-5inch-internal-ssd-ct240bx500ssd1-p040112/ Fine for day to day usage. 

 

If it were I, I would spend as little as possible on the refurb. Change the lid, get them to fix the hinges to move more smoothly, as indicated in the YouTube video and fit the SSD and clean install Windows 10 to it.

 

Towards this aim, source the parts yourself, so you only have to pay for their labour.

 

For example, obtain a inexpensive USB 2.0 8 GB or more USB Flash Drive and create your own Windows 10 installation media; https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

 

 

 

and pop on to eBay or similar to get yourself a product key(if you need one) 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Microsoft-Windows-10-Pro-32-64-bit-Operating-System/6031187488?iid=113862143925

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Microsoft-Windows-10-Pro-32-64-bit-Operating-System/6031187488

 

Order the SSD of your choice. Then you can present it all to them and request thy use those to install the operating system, as opposed to local methods.

 

 

So the whole thing can cost 2000 to 3000 baht.

 

[NoshowJones]

Whatever you do keep away from Lenovo, their after sales service sucks badly, I took my device to their head office at Fortune Town in Bangkok, and they told me it would be three days before they could look at it.

[NoshowJones]

On 9/26/2019 at 1:21 PM, shady86 said:

If you are interested with a used business grade Dell notebook with warranty until 2021, you may contact via PM. 

I am thinking about a Dell myself now, is it true they all come with a three year warranty?