I will arrive in Bangkok this Friday with a broken DVD player in my Macbook Pro. I am thinking that it would be easiest just to purchase an external DVD player/writer. I know that there are many places to purchase such things but where is the preferred place for electronics at reasonable prices and quality?

Any suggestions for how to approach such a purchase for a newbie in Thailand?

Fortune IT Mall is at the Rama 9 exit of subway and has a good selection of shops. But most do not open before 11-1200 (as is true of most IT shops).

Pantip Plaza will be the job right in the middle of the city not sure of road name but Taxi will know -I know its near Central Plaza and Bayoke Tower

For genuine Apple go to any of the authorised IStores in any of the major malls.

Siam Paragon

Central Work

Emporium

Esplanade on Rachadapisek Road

Do not forget to think about warranty. Try it where you buy it. At least better than nothing. The desktop computer I had before needed 5 replacements. The computer I have now needed only 3. The brand was Liteon. No idea if others are better or worse.

I have no idea about MAC books, but a normal laptop DVD drive can be bought in most shops in Thailand IT Malls and takes a few minutes to slide into place. Not expensive. Just a thought, I never owned a MAC.