Buying A Macbook Pro In Thailand

[GooEng]

i plan to buy a 15" macbook pro in the near future.

is the apple thailand site the best place to buy it in thailand or are they avaiable cheaper elsewhere?

i plan to pimp it out a little - up the standard configuration to include 8GB RAM, the 750 GB HD and a non-glare hi def display - i am guessing that adding these upgrades would be easier thru the site - would that be right?

i don't live in bkk so having a browse round Panthip or similar venues is a hassle, so any advice gratefully received.

[nullx8]

simple rule: NOT Standard = http://www.apple.com/store/

this saves you ALOT of trouble and time running arround argue with peoples never used a Mac before .. but try to sell you one

if you want to order over the internet ... there is a small shop in Fortune Town, they can order it for you to the normal prices (morelss)

but its not a official apple store. but there is no issue with warranty anyway since apple has worldwide warranty.

[GooEng]

nullx8,

thx for you answer ..... i think ....

i was planning on buying it online from the apple thailand site - http://www.apple.com/th - they offer 3 days delivery ....

why do you suggest going to the shop in fortune tower?

[petertucker48]

You may find theses useful:

http://www.uficon.com/

http://www.mac2hand.com/

http://www.unlimitmac.com/

[nullx8]

why do you suggest going to the shop in fortune tower?

sorry i meaned if you not want to order over the Internet ...

but to answer the question anyway, the shop caled "iStore" it is a very tiny (no mac-like) shop on the 4th Floor (not to be mistaken with the iStudio on the same Floor)

they where arround since Thai peoples where thinking owning a Mac has something to do with Fruit Farming ...

the owner is a Chinese Guy, travels Regulary to HK getting Batteries and other parts (Tax Free rules) and sell them 40% cheaper as the iStudio a few meters away. (with full Apple Warranty of course, not cheap copy shit) the staff know about mac's and they also place custom mac-orders in the same fashion.

oh petertucker48 mentioned unlimitmac ... this is also a hot tip ... they have a shop on Ratchadapisek 36 (or 32? i always mix this soi's up) ..

also quite a mac-gang ... very competent staff, good service & prices, they also have alot of used macs since they sell for customers trade in stuff as well.

Edited January 7, 2012 by nullx8

[nikster]

nullx8,

thx for you answer ..... i think ....

i was planning on buying it online from the apple thailand site - http://www.apple.com/th - they offer 3 days delivery ....

Yes, that's the way to go for BTO

Keep in mind though upgrading RAM is very easy to do yourself and about half the price of what you pay at the Apple store (3,000 vs 6,000 odd baht for 8GB I believe).

HDD is cheaper aftermarket too but I can understand if you don't want the hassle of migrating the system right from the get go. That's worth a little extra.

I'd get the high def glossy display but I know the die hard anti-glare display crowd cannot be swayed. The simple reason is that a glossy display is made from glass and so it doesn't scratch or otherwise deteriorate. My plastic displays always got the keyboard imprinted at some point, or little issues here and there - glass lasts. My glossy 3 year old MBP display is good as new...

[GooEng]

nullx8,

thx for you answer ..... i think ....

i was planning on buying it online from the apple thailand site - http://www.apple.com/th - they offer 3 days delivery ....

Yes, that's the way to go for BTO

Keep in mind though upgrading RAM is very easy to do yourself and about half the price of what you pay at the Apple store (3,000 vs 6,000 odd baht for 8GB I believe).

HDD is cheaper aftermarket too but I can understand if you don't want the hassle of migrating the system right from the get go. That's worth a little extra.

I'd get the high def glossy display but I know the die hard anti-glare display crowd cannot be swayed. The simple reason is that a glossy display is made from glass and so it doesn't scratch or otherwise deteriorate. My plastic displays always got the keyboard imprinted at some point, or little issues here and there - glass lasts. My glossy 3 year old MBP display is good as new...

Interesting and worthwhile points to bear in mind.

Thx nikster and all posters

[jamesbrock]

FWIW, I agree with nickster; I opted to upgrade the RAM myself and saved a bundle. I was in Australia at the time, and picked up 2 x 4GB modules (8GB) for $82.70 AUD, as opposed to the $240 Apple would have charged! That's roughly 2700THB instead of 7835THB (although they're only charging 6560THB on the Thailand store).

I also opted for the Hi-Res Glossy display, and can't fault it - it's a beautiful screen to watch, and the glare is rarely an issue.

HDD's themselves are pretty straightforward to swap; however, as nickster pointed out, migrating the system can be a hassle. You do, on the other hand, get the OSX and application install DVD's in the box with your Macbook Pro, so if you do the HDD swap before anything else, the hassles are diminished somewhat.

Upgrading to 8GB RAM and a 750GB HDD (5400RPM) on the Thai Apple store will cost you 9866 baht. If, for example, you bought the same two items from OWC, it would cost only you 6240 baht (inc. USPS Express delivery). You could even get a 1TB HDD instead of the 750GB one for 7650 baht (inc. RAM & delivery). OWC have some really good tutorial videos, if you do choose to go down this track.

Edited January 11, 2012 by jamesbrock

[nullx8]

Or just buy standard and get the upgrades done by the mentioned shops above, its a short job to do and you not have to worry the i stallation issues.

But it is not a big deal doing it yourself, since the "pro" comes with firewire it can boot from anoter mac as example, very easy

[GooEng]

ok good info and advice people thx

another question - i will use the machine for browsing and viewing/listening to web content and watching listening to my own digital media as well as some light gaming and other multimedia (kids games).

do a REALLY need to pimp a standard 15" MBP or will the bog basic model be perfectly adequate?

cos if i went basic i could pretty much buy an ipad with the change .....

[Jimi007]

ok good info and advice people thx

another question - i will use the machine for browsing and viewing/listening to web content and watching listening to my own digital media as well as some light gaming and other multimedia (kids games).

do a REALLY need to pimp a standard 15" MBP or will the bog basic model be perfectly adequate?

cos if i went basic i could pretty much buy an ipad with the change .....

I think you'll fine the standard issue model will be fine. I use a bit over 50 GB on my 500 GB internal drive. System, applications and iTunes. Most everything else is on external firewire 800 drives. As was said earlier, you can upgrade your RAM later for less, if you need it.

[zacatecas]

I just bought a 13'macbookpro online in Thailand. I forgot to check compatibility with CAT CDMA. Not compatible! So if you live in a rural part of Thailand, something to consider.

[GooEng]

In the end bought the 17" fully loaded - it's awesome!

[DMC1]

In the end bought the 17" fully loaded - it's awesome!

Did you check if everything worked when you bought it ?? Wish I did when I bought mine !!

[jamesbrock]

In the end bought the 17" fully loaded - it's awesome!

Great work! The 17" is a massive machine but if you're not carting it around too much, it should pose a problem - I find carting my 15" around loathsome nowadays... Looking forward to the new 2012 range, and hoping there's a 15" Air in there.

[GooEng]

In the end bought the 17" fully loaded - it's awesome!

Did you check if everything worked when you bought it ?? Wish I did when I bought mine !!

What didn't work?

[GooEng]

Yeah after much dithering about price vs. spec vs. requirements, I just got on the site one night more than half cut and plunged for the biggest fastest most expensive one I could - all pimps included.

Missus/kids did alright too - 64GB wifi/3G ipad2 ......

Best idea.....

Thank you MasterCard .....

[negreanu]

Antiglare is the way to go so defo custom order it. If you want to save $200 plus order from apple HK education store and get it delivered to shipito.com in Hong Kong Just did this myself last week.

This is my first AntiGlare Macbook pro out of many macbook pros i have had. And now I will never ever go back to glossy. Its just a much much nicer screen.

[DMC1]

In the end bought the 17" fully loaded - it's awesome!

Did you check if everything worked when you bought it ?? Wish I did when I bought mine !!

What didn't work?

The card reader doesn't work. I started a thread the other day about it.