Mobile Phones And Laptops

[evstyper]

Am making the big move to BKK in about 2 months with my partner, so got some questions (I warn you there will be more as well....sorry)

With regards to mobile phones, when out there, I was hoping to get onto a contract that has some free minutes, some free texts and some free internet. In the UK, I have a phone with 300 free mins, 300 texts and unlimited Internet, along with an iphone for an extra £200, then paying £30 a month. Is there something similar in Thailand, obviously the price is important, but was wondering more about a phone + contract deal, or should I bring my phone with me and pick up a SIM. As I wont have a fixed internet connection for a while, if ever, I would like to get 3G/Wi-Fi on a mobile.

Can anyone recommend a deal/network? What is the rough cost for a phone and also monthly payments?

Then laptops, I need a new one, would I get a better deal out in BKK or again, should I buy one in the UK and bring it with me.

Thanks a lot for any help

[newsite12]

Bring your phone and buy a sim for about 500 baht from dtac, you can get them cheaper and you can pay more, but a lot of people here like to go for the premium 'easy to remember' numbers... then you can look at all the contracts they do, You can get free minutes packages and free texts and it is a hell of a lot cheaper than UK.. I use my phone a lot, and I don't think I paid more than 800 baht (£16) for my most busiest and expensive month. You can get unlimited internet access from dtac for only 49 baht a day.

You can get internet switched on here a hell of a lot faster than UK, you don't even need a landline where i am.. i got mine put on in 2 days, and 3BB just come straight out and strung a line straight to my house and bang, i had 8MB broadband for about £15 a month, but you can get 4MB for about 390 baht.

Laptops are about the same price here as the UK, but you can also look at ThaiVisa Classifieds, you can normally pick up a half decent laptop for about 6 or 7K or a very decent machine for 12 to 15K

Hope this helped.

[tw25rw]

I would buy the laptop in the UK unless you plan on typing in Thai. They are no cheaper and often come with pirated OSs installed. 3G in Bangkok is cheaper than in the UK.