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Where to Purchase a non-Camera LapTop & Smartphone..?


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Posted

I need to purchase a half decent laptop which does not have a Camera installed. 

Software disabling a fixed / installed WebCam is not an option. 

 

I also need a SmartPhone without a Camara (for personal use)

 

These are Govourment regulations are for working in a secure environment. 

 

The Company provide Secure Desktop PC workstations without an installed Camera...

However, I've found that I need my own LapTop on which I can have my own personal Files, Programs, Videos & Music etc for personal use. 

 

Has anyone any ideas or recommendations of where to pic up these 'non-camera' items in Bkk ?

 

Obviously I'll be trawling MBK and Fortune town....

 

 

Posted
2 hours ago, WorriedNoodle said:

Probably online from Dubai / UAE or somewhere in that part of the world where cameras are banned.

 

Yep, just got back from there but didn't really have time to look around -

And yes, its a UAE thing... CICPA (Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority) regulations.

 

I saw iNO Mobile (Singapore)  however, there is no re-seller in BKK. 

 

Camera-less Smartphones & Laptops are surprisingly difficult to get hold of. 

Posted

BUMP... 

 

iNO Mobile (Singapore) has the iNO3 and iNO Scout 2s - both of which they can ship to Thailand - I may get stung a little at customs (both are about 10,000 THB) - but I've ordered one.

 

Laptops: I'm having difficulty: I saw one second hand IBM Thinkpad (I'd guess about 10 years old - 3000 THB) - there really was nothing else. It was too old to be useful.

All shops were very quick with their 'No Have' response... along with looking at me like I'm crazy for wanting a laptop without a camera (until I mentioned its a Govournment regulation for my work).

 

I've contacted DELL and HP head offices here to see what they can offer... However, par for the course here, customer service is testing, I may eventually get somewhere, but its more a matter of getting lucky and getting through to someone who considers it their job to assist with something a little beyond an everyday equiry. 

 

 

Thus again: Might anyone have any ideas of how or where in Bangkok I purchase a LapTop without a Webcam ?

 

 

Posted

I presume that it needs to be obvious that there is no camera so just disconnecting it wouldn't work.

 

What about taking a regular notebook and drilling through the camera lens so that it is permanently and obviously disabled? 

 

Would they accept that?

 

 

Posted
1 hour ago, thedemon said:

I presume that it needs to be obvious that there is no camera so just disconnecting it wouldn't work.

 

What about taking a regular notebook and drilling through the camera lens so that it is permanently and obviously disabled? 

 

Would they accept that?

 

 

 

Thanks for the reply:

 

We can actually get arrested for having a Camera - thus the software disconnect or even opening up the LapTop and unplugging the Camera is not an option. 

 

I have thought about taking a regular notebook and drilling out the Camera...  and that has been suggested on a few other websites where guys have posed the same question. However, at this stage I am little reluctant to do this as it may still raise questions: For Example: There is no proof of when I 'drilled out the Camera' if I were to be checked when already on location, theoretically, I may have already been able to take a few photos of secure sites before drilling out the Camera.

Thus: I think the safer option is a LapTop in which no camera was ever installed. 

 

Ideally, I'd like a LapTop without a WebCam (Camera) that can be backed up with a Specification Sheet from the Manufacturer. This way I have something to show the Authorities when checked. 

 

HP have got back to me - They have no such Laptops (without a Camera) in Thailand. 

DELL Thailand are currently looking into this for me. 

 

Posted

Wow that's going to be a tough one in this day and age.

Maybe your best bet would be the second hand market on ebay.

 

Something like a Dell Latitude E6400 which I think didn't have a camera.

Old though. Are you that fussed about performance?

Posted

Thanks for that...  I appreciate your input.

 

I've been looking for Re-furbished (second hand) DELL Latitude 6430 models.

 

The issue is... They come configured to order... some have the Camera, some do not, it depends on the Specification on order (I believe the Camera was a $13 option)... a lot of the Adverts I have seen (Singapore) do no specify 'no camera' and remain rather vague.

 

Fussed about performance ??... At this stage Beggars can't be choosers !... something half decent will be ok.

 

I also need to source locally (Bangkok) as the computer is needed before next week - shipment times or unreliable timing may leave me hanging... 

 

DELL Thailand are still in contact with me, although its a slow process - the person I'm dealing with is either extremely busy, extremely stupid or has an excellent sense of humour !!...  

 

They are still unable to answer one simple question: Do they have 'any laptop' in stock which does not have a camera?... 

 

This no camera thing has really caught me out - Government Regulations, eh !!!

 

 

Posted

I just had a look through my parts boxes. How about something like this?

 

This photo shows a Samsung Series 9 Ultrabook screen assembly

 

 

WP_20161018_15_38_46_Pro.jpg

 

 

And this photo is of the same assembly with the front bezel removed. The copper coloured cable that leads form the webcam along the top left and down the left side is for the webcam. That cable is spliced into the main LCD cable which then connects to the mainboard via a single connector.

 

WP_20161018_15_40_38_Pro.jpg

 

So what about removing the entire webcam circuitry and then leave the bezel off? Doesn't look pretty but is otherwise functional.

 

There is no way to tell that there ever was a webcam.

 

 

Posted
36 minutes ago, thedemon said:

I just had a look through my parts boxes. How about something like this?

 

This photo shows a Samsung Series 9 Ultrabook screen assembly

 

 

WP_20161018_15_38_46_Pro.jpg

 

 

And this photo is of the same assembly with the front bezel removed. The copper coloured cable that leads form the webcam along the top left and down the left side is for the webcam. That cable is spliced into the main LCD cable which then connects to the mainboard via a single connector.

 

WP_20161018_15_40_38_Pro.jpg

 

So what about removing the entire webcam circuitry and then leave the bezel off? Doesn't look pretty but is otherwise functional.

 

There is no way to tell that there ever was a webcam.

 

 

 

Thanks... 

 

Actually I have thought of that... My 12" MacBook has some slight damage at the hinge and will require replacement at some point... thus, I figured I could do the same thing, by removing the bezel and physically removing the Webcam.

 

But,  upon replacing the bezel the LapTop would still 'look like' it has a Webcam, that could be sufficient for further questioning if checked... leading to delays and an awkward situation.. 

 

It would also be difficult for me to prove that the Cam had always been disconnected.

 

This is a tricky one as my Company provides us with desktop PC's on location, thus we can do our work. But I won't be able to access my own files (music, movies, banking files etc) the internet is too slow to stream and the firewall security of the Company network and Desktop PC Access is such that we have limited access to webmail and messengers services..  a personal computer on the secure connection does permit hotmail / gmail access.. 

... we will be on location for weeks at a time, thus, I'd also like to have my own personal laptop with me - it makes being away easier....

 

The clear work around, if I can source one is a Laptop which clearly has no camera....

 

 

 

Posted
48 minutes ago, thedemon said:

 

 

So what about removing the entire webcam circuitry and then leave the bezel off? Doesn't look pretty but is otherwise functional.

 

There is no way to tell that there ever was a webcam.

 

 

 

Leaving the bezel off after physically removing the Camera is an option... and you are right - it does look very very messy indeed...  a little unorthodox - I wonder how many eyebrows that would raise..

 

Its a Possible Option - last resort !... 

Posted
2 hours ago, Chicog said:

Well well well.

As an alternative, open up Amazon and use this as your search criteria...

 

"Laptop without webcam".

 

:thumbsup:

 

Used, but:

https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Latitude-E6420-Professional-Integrated/dp/B00XGYZ07K/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1476778878&sr=1-1&keywords=laptop+without+webcam

 

 

 

Another issue - these items cannot be shipped to Thailand... 

 

I'm not sure if this is an issue with Shipment of Batteries... or if its simply that these sellers from Amazon.com will not ship to Thailand.

Posted
58 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Another issue - these items cannot be shipped to Thailand... 

 

I'm not sure if this is an issue with Shipment of Batteries... or if its simply that these sellers from Amazon.com will not ship to Thailand.

 

Yeah that'll be the problem buying from the US. It probably isn't about the batteries - FEDEX still ship LI batteries without restriction and even USPS will ship up to 2 devices with built-in batteries. 

 

There are hundreds of that model Dell on ebay, some of which appear to be without webcam. You could probably get one sub $100. But most US sellers can't be bothered shipping internationally and of those that will, most don't include Thailand.

 

I use regularly use shipito to reship purchases from the US. It works pretty well. But if you need it in Thailand before next week - forget it......unfortunately.

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