Two questions here:

I would like to know what kind of cell phone service works best for some of the readers here. I will be moving to Chiang Mai soon, and would like to avoid having to top-up my sim card every week or whenever it runs low. What options are there for no-bells-and-whistles service? I have a simple Motorola model with camera only...nothing fancy.

The second item is that I've heard that one can use a laptop even in the rice fields outside of Chiang Mai if one does business with True. Can I connect my cell phone to my laptop via a USB cable and get on the internet? If possible, is the service good or are there glitches or limitations? Any advice along this line is appreciated.

I sue AIS and they seem okay, I do have to buy credit and top it up which can be bought in many places. If your is basic and only has camera will it connect to the computer? 3G is available close to Chiang Mai city but when you get out 15 - 20 KM it will slow down to about 20 kbps. Which is usable but not real good for bigger downloads or you tube etc..

I use one of the AIS promotional packages.....200 baht a month for 200 minutes of talk time, plus the obligatory 7% VAT with each minute after charged at 3 baht.

It's not often I run over the 200 mins/mth, and when I do, it's only a matter of 50 baht. Suits me fine