New Laptop: Import or Panthip ?

[Sleesy]

About time I bought a new laptop I reckon and am currently in the UK.

Anyone know how Heathrow Duty free prices compares with Panthip Plaza....
or Tesco-Lotus !

Then again if I put it through my Thai company does tax relief/depreciation make a purchase in Thailand a better idea ?

Cheers,
Sleesy.


Ps Plan B would be to keep my current Thai Sony Vaio Laptop and buy a dual monitor pedestal system for the office. In this case is Panthip or Phuket my best option ?

[ToTheBeach]

Without answering your question...
If you should decide to buy in Bangkok I would recommend Fortune above Panthip. In my opinion are prices same but Fortune much more pleasant and much better accesible.

[LivinLOS]

UK discount retailers may be your best bet.. Tax is not so high and I can find MUCH better prices especially on higher end stuff when looking at UK retailers..

I often find the idea of duty free stuff is a con.. sure theres no tax but the prices seem inflated anyway and choice is low..

Sony (as usual) have some really slick lappies now..

Be aware windows Vista will launch inside of a year and will have high requirements for the aero interface (the new slick GUI).. You want a lot of video ram.. I hear that machines may be specced with a VISTA READY sticker but not seen that yet.. If you can wait a little until that clears itself out I would (I am in fact)..

[jojo78]

If you are going to be mostly living in Thailand, I would recommend buying in Bangkok, either at Panthip or Fortune. You might be able to get it a bit cheaper in the UK, but if anything goes wrong with it, trying to claim on an international warranty is a pain in the ****. Before they would do anything, they had to request documents from the UK which ended up taking a couple of months. This was with Dell but i've heard similar stories about other brands.

Buying in Phuket is slightly more expensive than Bangkok but the main problem in Phuket is there's not that much choice.

I agree with Livinlos about buying duty free at Heathrow. If you want to buy in the UK, look online. I always used Ebuyer.com and was never disappointed. Fast delivery and no fuss, including returning an item on one occassion (i ordered the wrong one).

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/store/5/cat/Notebooks/Laptops

Look around though as there may be others that are cheaper or have deals on.

[LivinLOS]

I have had both compaq and acer machines serviced here under international warrantees without any question or comment (acer was fast and really good).. Yet a Thai bought laptop usually does not come with an international warrantee so you are stuffed if it breaks outside of Thailand.

[jojo78]

I guess you are right Livinlos, waranties on items bought in Thailand are usually only valid here.

Whatever you do, don't buy Dell though. They don't have a service centre in Thailand and all parts have to be shipped from Malaysia. Things started getting expensive when my waranty ran out. eg. a new laptop keyboard was 400 baht - plus another 800 baht shipping fee!

[Sleesy]

Thanks guys,

Think I'll skip the UK route then and look at my options when I'm in Thailand.

I fancied a Core Duo processor and the Mrs isn't happy with her laptop (my old Compaq Presario....the size of a small buffalo, heavier but slower) so I was gonna kill two birds with one purchase:

ie she gets my current but 2 years old Vaio, and I get a new shiny thing....


Cheers,
Sleesy.

Ps Agreed hate Panthip, I usually want to leave by the time I'm half way up the first escalator....

[urtheman]

I've had three friends start using the Apple G4's and they are coming out with something even better (I forgot the name ) but when one came here to Phuket and showed it to me it was quite a nice machine. I think I'm going with an apple for the next computer this one was very fast. They are coming out in black as well.
Everyone I meet when they use an Apple they will never go back to a PC.

Cheers!

[erik1]

Powerbook Pro with dual core intel processor and widescreen (about 1300 pounds to start with) very nice machine

just walked into an acer dualcore widescreen 15" 1GB DDR 100GB HDD integrated webcam etc for 599 pounds. Was tempting

[tomyam]

Originally Posted by urtheman

Everyone I meet when they use an Apple they will never go back to a PC.

moved over to apple 4 years ago , purchased a g4 powerbook (15" , 17' not out then) from panthip plaza in bangkok , although the price was no different than uk , they gave me free an ipod , targus case , set of international plugs/adaptors , palm organiser , extra 256mb ram , clip on holder for the ipod , still have it and use it daily frequently it has never crashed or presented me with any problem , unlike previous models inc. compaq , sony.

[Raw]

I dont know about prices in UK but just bought a HP Pavilion a Core Duo processor, upgraded to 1gb memory 3 weeks ago from fortune BKK it only cost be B37,200 still very happy with it. got a view sonic 19"wide screen for B 12000 at another shop near it.

[Nid Noy]

Originally Posted by tomyam

moved over to apple 4 years ago , purchased a g4 powerbook (15" , 17' not out then) from panthip plaza in bangkok , although the price was no different than uk , they gave me free an ipod , targus case , set of international plugs/adaptors , palm organiser , extra 256mb ram , clip on holder for the ipod , still have it and use it daily frequently it has never crashed or presented me with any problem , unlike previous models inc. compaq , sony.

I'm a Mac Hardcore. Also a G4 PowerBook owner - and I'll not sell this for a LONG time. It's still a great machine after 3 years.

I heartily recommend the new MacBook and MacBook Pro line. Totally smokes my G4 Laptop. And you get the killer and easy to use iApps for your digital life. PM me if you need any techie info about macs, video or DVD stuff. I'm considered a guru here in beautiful SF.

[jojo78]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

I have had both compaq and acer machines serviced here under international warrantees without any question or comment (acer was fast and really good).. Yet a Thai bought laptop usually does not come with an international warrantee so you are stuffed if it breaks outside of Thailand.

I have checked around as I want to buy a replacement for my Dell laptop which is falling to pieces after only 18 months of very light use. All the main manufacturers e.g. Acer, Toshiba, Compaq offer 1 or even 2 year local warranties in addition to an international warranty.

[jesper_dk]

I just bourght a Fujisu/Siemens laptop...The best i ever had..But also bit expencive 1800euro here in Denmark but got a 50% off through my work so not bad....I had acer before but now i really don´t understand why i was waiting so long to buy a F/S....
jesper_dk

[dawsey]

I'm no expert,but the two HP Compaq laptops my daughters use are very good value for money. Different models,but very reliable.

I asked around before getting the second laptop,and four independant retailers recommended Toshiba as the best laptop on the market. Sony Vaio,although good are overpriced IMO. Better spec PCs around for much less money.
I think PC equipment,like cars, when replaced if you have been happy with the previous model you tend to buy the same brand again unless you are ready for a change.

[jesper_dk]

Originally Posted by dawsey

I'm no expert,but the two HP Compaq laptops my daughters use are very good value for money. Different models,but very reliable.

I asked around before getting the second laptop,and four independant retailers recommended Toshiba as the best laptop on the market. Sony Vaio,although good are overpriced IMO. Better spec PCs around for much less money.
I think PC equipment,like cars, when replaced if you have been happy with the previous model you tend to buy the same brand again unless you are ready for a change.

Guess you are right about that dawsey...i have an acer for years but got the offer to buy a F/S and that made my yeas open for something better...But in the end of the day it´s what suit your needs.right...
jesper_dk

[bikeboy]

I didn't know how to post a new thread, so I am replying here.
I live in Seoul, S Korea and am coming to Bangkok to buy a SONY Vaio laptop. But I am concerned that the software and Windows will be in Thai. Is this true? In Korea, the SONYs have Korean Windows. Of course I can reinstall ENglish WIndows XP, but I would lose all the great software that comes with the Sony. Would I have the same problem with Thai software? I guess my main question is "Can I buy a SONY in Bangkok with English WIndows/software"? thanks - Bikeboy

[LivinLOS]

Most sonys here are sold with English windows and east asian fonts instaled..

Though many laptops (not sony usually) ae sold with no OS and they install a bent windows for 200 baht.. Can make problems down the road for updates and patches if they dont use a keygen and simply clone a serial..

[bikeboy]

thanks for the update - I will check out both Pantip and Fortune Tower in late Sept when I come to BKK - thanks