Phuket

Ozskin · #1 30-01-2005, 10:43

Anybody have any experience buying or shopping for laptops notebooks in thailand ?

Best places to buy them? Bangkok ? Pantip Plaza or elsewhere?
What prices would you estimate for cheap non branded, v's name branded laptops.

In australia, prices are approx 45,000 baht for a cheap low end name brand model, through to about 75,000 baht for a mid to high end name brand model.

I need to buy a couple of machines, and am trying to figure out whether the cost saving of buying it in thailand will pay for a flight (and a short holiday there).

Also does anybody know if name brand notebooks bought in thailand have true international warranties that can be serviced in countries like AUS if the need arises.

Thanks for any responses!!!
OZSKIN

LivinLOS · #2 30-01-2005, 11:20

Lots to cover so will do the easy stuff first..

Warrantee's can be all over the place, ranging from 1 year local only to 3 years global.. I find branded machines have usualy at least 1 year global but this is totally machine dependant..

I see branded (acer) low end down as low as 35.. High end can be over 80 (Sony has some very special looking viaos displayed) I saw some very nice compac machines in what I would define as mid class not so high processor but everything else great spec, good screen 1280x720 widescreen, DVDR, etc was IIRC 39 - 48k baht depending on celeron to Pentium M's.. I was kind of taken to this and nearly bought one but I dont need it so..

Pantip had quite the selection.. Watch out as one trend I am seeing in asia is to sell a machine with some flavour of DOS only, no bundled SW or real OS or anything.. The shop will usually put a warez XP version (as well as whetever else you spec) on there for a 200 baht and 2 hour wait..

I personally would never buy another unbranded laptop, warrantee and after warrantee work all becomes a nightmare and its just not worth it for the relatively low savings you get..

Of course if you really want to save money look at HK or even scan your eye over the new with warrantee stuff on ebay.. There are some stunning machines on ebay which are factory refurbs etc with even up to date ones at 500 or so USD factory refurb or whatever.

scubamatt · #3 30-01-2005, 13:00

My father got a fantastic deal on a new Compaq laptop in Phuket in early Jan. Not sure of the specs, but it was pretty quick with DVD / CDRW combo drive etc. It was a latest model but the lower end of the range, for only about 35,000 Baht. He also got the tax back at the airport when he left. It was from Bus Computer on the lower floor in Big C, Phuket.
He was told that the international warranty was good - he lives in Zimbabwe, so would need it, and Compaq are the only big name computer company to have a service department there - but he has had no need to test the warranty yet.

Baltic · #4 30-01-2005, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

High end can be over 80 (Sony has some very special looking viaos displayed) .

Hi LivinLOS,

where could I see Sony VAIO laptops in Phuket?
I have now second one (first VAIO laptop is also still alive, and doing well... but too heavy and old

).

I would like to buy third one now, if any nice deal in Phuket should be possible...

Baltic

gregor200 · #5 31-01-2005, 03:20

Keep in mind, that they mostly sell then with thai keyboards, therefore no match for german/french/italian countries

Nicke · #6 31-01-2005, 04:04

Thats true but I dont see that as a major problem, I use Thai keyboard but can type in Swedish easily since I know where the swedish characters are located. Just switch keyboard with ALT-SHIFT or use the mouse, just make sure you install windows with your country specific keyboard. (Or add one afterwards).

I only use Eng/Swedish on my computers and ocassionally Thai keyboard. It is easy to switch keyboard.

For notebooks, I guess the best deal can be found in Kuala Lumpur althought Thailand is also competive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregor200

Keep in mind, that they mostly sell then with thai keyboards, therefore no match for german/french/italian countries

dawsey · #7 31-01-2005, 04:05

As LivinLos has suggested,I would look at what is offer on ebay with refurb back to new condition with mfg warranty.I got a great deal in UK for my daughter on a big spec HP laptop for a fraction of brand new cost.

jimholio · #8 31-01-2005, 08:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baltic

Hi LivinLOS,

where could I see Sony VAIO laptops in Phuket?
I have now second one (first VAIO laptop is also still alive, and doing well... but too heavy and old

).

I would like to buy third one now, if any nice deal in Phuket should be possible...

Baltic

If you find any in Phuket they are most likely quite more expensive than they are in a big retail store in Bangkok.

K2 · #9 31-01-2005, 09:56

Baltic-

There is a SONY shop that carries VIAO laptops in Central Festival Mall (2nd floor hidden somewhat behind the TOT office/shop) - staff don't know much about the products they've got there and SONY control the pricing, so not easy to really get a great deal. However I have also been very happy with both my VIAO's - first one 5 years old and still going strong!

Bus Computer (in basement of BigC) is good - Khun Rut is the only service engineer who I've found how knows what he's doing and will explain in english - also happy with their return policy - had 3 modems suffer from power surges and replaced FOC every time.