Computer

[ergojoe]

have a question concerning computers for those of you who have made thailand home, will be moving there within the next year and would like an idea as to which is better for the expat a lap top or the standard desk type computer, i can see good in either one but for i would like to know what most of you are using and why. thanks for you assistance

joe

[tuky]

Joe,

I have both.

This is because, even though I have made Thailand home, I still need to travel to be able to pay my bills. I would suggest if you still travel then you buy a laptop, you can connect in your hotel (most hotels) and you have general mobility.

However, if you are staying where you are, for atleast the next 3/4 years then you should look at a desktop. I recently connected to Ipstar and had the company that sorted it out for me assemble a desktop pc. This is probably a little more expensive than what most people want to pay but I was able to get the ingredients that I needed to make my internet experience all that it should be (full of porn ). Seriously take a look at the Starmaster and you will see what I mean.

There are cheaper alternatives, cheaper by far but this has turned out to be worth every satang.

It is actually my pc that you will see on the site, and if you look hard enough you will see my 2 laptops, I need this kind of pc power for my work, if your just a recreational user then I am sure there are others here that can point you in the right direction.

Where are you staying and do you have access to the net is your first question, I went the Ipstar route because I do not, and will not have a fixed land line. Your situation might be different.

Joe, let us know how you get on as your experience will surely help the reast of us to decide when the time comes for us.

Cheers

[lopburi3]

If you are planning on bringing here then the laptop may make sense - or if you have real reason (travel) for one. But for me the desktop with CRT display is much easier to read (can use resolution I want) and much, much cheaper here than a laptop. As things change it is easy to upgrade or change complete system but that is not the case with an expensive laptop.

I keep trying to think of a reason to buy a laptop but have not convinced myself yet.

[ergojoe]

thank you two for responding, iwill be over in LOS in about a year and i want to make sure i do things right the first time. it really helps when you have people like yourselves who have experienced some of the issues that i have brought up, again thanks and once i get over there i will post a message on how what my choice was and how it is working out

joe

[kandt]

have a question concerning computers for those of you who have made thailand home, joe

Joe, in my view, definitely a laptop is preferable, making you much more mobile. Yes, price is a consideration as mentioned by others. Viewing can be easily solved with a stand-alone flat monitor. Actually, at home in Phuket I’m using a regular keyboard and a flat monitorconnected to my Compaq Presario, all bought in Thailand.

Cheers...........Kandt

[mrmnp]

I left my pc in the U.S. when I moved to Hawaii five years ago and bought a notebook from dell for $1500. Three years later, when the hard disc craped out and dell wanted $600 to replace, I got another notebook so I had Windows XP and alot more disck space, etc. in preparation for my move to Thailand.

I have never regretted saying goodbye to a desk and the essential uncomfortable chair attendent thereto.

Those who must work with their computers, may well require a desk enviroment, I, on the other hand, enjoy sitting in my lazy- boy recliner and with a thin arm to arm portable desk, am at my laptop for hours in complete comfort. When called upon to get up to answer the call of nature, visit the frig, etc, the laptop and arm to arm thin chair-desk are just plopped on an adjoining table, where it sits during the night, and when otherwise I am not using it.

I have a sim card from AIS that has a flat rate of 850 baht a month that allows me to access their GPRS local network for my IP at 54 bot rate (whatever that is called) and my connection is wirless though a Sierra AirCard Watcher, bought in Thailand for 15k baht,.

Having your feet up is definitely an issue when one spends hours at a computer, and I found doing a couple of hours a day on my accounting software when I needed to was no problem with my feet up and my back in a comfortable reclined position. The arm to arm desk (actually something I ordered from a catalogue and called a "lap desk", keeps the notebook and the attendent heat off my lap and air circulates under it to keep me comfy.

I did order dell's largest screen and I only have dificulty when typing in small mode and then trying to read what I have writtenk, as now, but then I am 70. Good luck on your adventure in Thailand.