Converting A Usa Laptop For Thai Use?

[Trenchant7]

Hi all -

I have an old laptop laying around (old in laptop years = 5 years old) and thought I'd send it to a friend in Thailand who needs one. It works perfectly and I believe has Windows Vista on it.

How would I get a copy of Windows in Thai for the laptop? Is that even possible?

The recpient doesnt speak or read english, and probably has no skills installing windows either. Id rather send it all ready to go, as if I were going to send it to a buddy here in the states.

Thanks for any tips.

[Lite Beer]

Hopefully you will get a better response in the Computer Forum.

[Darrel]

Very easy and cheap to buy Thai Windows here at any computer shop. Very hard and expensive to do it elsewhere, I imagine.

I would be more worried about postage costs and the eventual import duty that might be charged on receipt.

[pisico]

Very easy and cheap to buy Thai Windows here at any computer shop. Very hard and expensive to do it elsewhere, I imagine.

I would be more worried about postage costs and the eventual import duty that might be charged on receipt.

Cheap indeed. Any IT building will have several stores selling all sort of programs.

As far as Vista, it can be double booted (I have done it) but, the graphics in Thai become dismal because the instructions are not understood by Vista. It also matters if it is an Intel based configuration or AMD.

As far as using it only in Thai to write text and light internet browsing, the Ultimate Vista version sold in Thailand is OK. The problem starts when the authentication process starts. If the recipient is not computer savvy, it may get it lockout or not, depending on how aggressive Microsoft becomes at the time.

The shipping and the tax on importation will make your gesture of goodwill irrelevant as it may reach what a new computer can be bought for in Thailand. A desktop that is. Another fact is that notebooks sold in Thailand seldom come with a OS program in them.

Think carefully before you ship because the onus of the tax will be on the recipient.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Yes it will be hit for import duty more than the whole unit is worth secondhand back there, much better to send it over with someone in their luggage.

If you can get the hardware here, a local geek in the neighborhood will install and configure everything for B2-300, in this case most likely XP + A/V + Office, including the (zero) cost of software.

Or just send them $4-500 and they can get a nice new one.

[wayned]

If you do send it use USPS, not one of the courier services. I have had mnay things sent from the US by USPS, including a laptop, and only had to pay 7% VAT. Send it without the Thai version, he can get it done here. It's very cheap.

[CharlieH]

As said above, dont use a courier like DHL, UPS etc as they will be hit hard, us the standard US postal service.

[Trenchant7]

Sounds like it might make more sense just to buy them an iPad.

I see that you can get an iPad in phuket but they can run upwards of $1,000 USD .... whereas I see the wifi-only ipad on the Apple.com web site for $399 ....

Is that really the price difference?

[dddave]

Sounds like it might make more sense just to buy them an iPad.

I see that you can get an iPad in phuket but they can run upwards of $1,000 USD .... whereas I see the wifi-only ipad on the Apple.com web site for $399 ....

Is that really the price difference?

I was recently in Tukcom, Pattaya where they were selling a 10" Android (ICS 4.0) tablet called AIGO for B6000.

The salespeople claimed it was produced in Thailand but all I could find on Google was an Indian brand: ALL-GO.

I did play with one a bit, has 8gb memory and seemed to run smoothly enough. The display model had only a few apps so hard to really try it out. It does display Thai fonts.

More info at www.aigo.co.th

[Pib]

If you do send it use USPS, not one of the courier services. I have had mnay things sent from the US by USPS, including a laptop, and only had to pay 7% VAT. Send it without the Thai version, he can get it done here. It's very cheap.

Approx 75% of the time my experience in sending things via DHL and USPS has been: expect to pay customs and VAT; the other 25% expect to pay VAT. It's a crap shoot with the dice loaded in favor of the customs department.

[WhizBang]

You say your recipient does not read or speak english. Have you thought about how that english keyboard will figure into the usefullness of the computer to your Thai friend?

Buy a used laptop here. It will have a Thai keyboard.

[astral]

I doubt it is worth the shipping costs.

Hand carry would be a better option

Thai Windows will be available in LOS as will stickers for the keyboard to give Thai language

Win 7 will have better driver support for an old laptop

[Darrel]

You say your recipient does not read or speak english. Have you thought about how that english keyboard will figure into the usefullness of the computer to your Thai friend?

You can easily use a cheap USB Thai keyboard with a non-Thai laptop. Not very portable, admittedly, but it would suit anyone who intends using the laptop at home.

[astral]

Thai letter stickers will convert the keyboard

[mikecwm]

Windows Vista?

What did your friend do to deserve that?

[how241]

Tuk Com should be able to make it Thai friendly, so a small price.

[vijer]

55555 Send the laptop to your friend, don't do shit to it. He/She will take it to IT City or a similar place and within an hour someone will have installed an illegal copy of Windows 7 for 300 baht, about $10. Other than a brand new, from a major vendor, PC/laptop, there probably isn't much legal software sold here in Thailand. Same for movies and music.