I will start living in Udon in a couple of weeks.
I am bringing with me a laptop (HP Pavilion dv5z Entertainment PC) and a wireless router (D-Link). I will buy a desktop in Thailand. Will I save enough by buying the desktop in Bangkok to matter in a taxi fare to Udon. If the answer is 'no', then where in Udon should I buy.
What type of internet access do you recommend. I will live in Hansa, 1-2 Km to the east of the ring road toward Kut Jap.

Ray go to Hardware house on the 2nd floor in complex they will build you a desk top do not buy in BKK
reason is if you have a problem you have to travel back to BKK

If you will have a telephone line available at your Hansa home I highly recommend you get an ADSL hook-up from you telephone company. Whether TOT or TT&T, the ADSL is by far the quickest way to go locally. They have several 'speeds' to offer and I'm using their fastest which is still slow at times during the middle of the day.

BTW, Hansa isn't 1-2 km to the East of the ring road. It's 2 Km West of ring road. If you go 2 Km East of ring road you'll nearly be downtown.

Be VERY careful about buying a desktop or laptop PC in Udon, Ray. Chances are good they will stick you with a pirate copy of IE. Almost impossible to get updates with the pirated IE like a couple of months ago when a virus required a patch.

Saving grace for me was it necessitated downloading Mozilla Firefox as my internet browser, a far superior browser in many ways.

if you like your hp laptop, you can get a desktop here or in bkk. they sell basically for the same, same promotion. i think you know already, they have a service shop here, good service while under warranty, cheaper DIY afterwards.

sent you a pm

polehawk wrote:Be VERY careful about buying a desktop or laptop PC in Udon, Ray. Chances are good they will stick you with a pirate copy of IE. Almost impossible to get updates with the pirated IE like a couple of months ago when a virus required a patch.

Saving grace for me was it necessitated downloading Mozilla Firefox as my internet browser, a far superior browser in many ways.

I was told by a good source,true or not I dont know.That all computers bought in Thailand are not the"windows genuine article" .
If you download updates and it is'nt geuine, you will be left with a display from windows everytime you open your computer.They will want you download it for 5,000 baht!........ Beware!it is hard to disable it!

all computers

my desktop was purchased here and has real windows. that was from data it in pantip plaza, all hp authorized dealers, all sold from same promotion hp flyers.

polehawk wrote:Chances are good they will stick you with a pirate copy of IE. Almost impossible to get updates with the pirated IE like a couple of months ago when a virus required a patch.

Nonsense. IE7 is now available to all and you can download a copy direct from Microsoft.

mortiboy wrote:That all computers bought in Thailand are not the"windows genuine article" .
If you download updates and it is'nt geuine, you will be left with a display from windows everytime you open your computer.

You can get a genuine copy or a pirate copy depending upon how much you want to spend.

The Windows Genuine Advantage program is easily disabled in about 5 mins if you can use Google and follow simple instructions.

I do not need a landline to make voice calls from my home. Cellphones (mobiles) should do it for me. But then for the data service, I may need a landline. Pakawala, I believe that you live within Udon central, perhaps not too far from a wireline distribution point to get the ADSL at a good rate. I wonder how far my house the Hansa is from the nearest wireline distribution node. Does anyone here know the coordinates of the only two guys I met in Hansa: Michael, a retired American navy guy, and the Australian guy who runs the restaurant there. I am trying to order the service before I get there. Thanks for your help.

I used to live just past Hansa, (across the small bridge 200 mtrs East and a left turn following the canal) and had an ADSL hook-up from TT&T there. It was quite satisfactory.

Marmite The Dog wrote:

polehawk wrote:Chances are good they will stick you with a pirate copy of IE. Almost impossible to get updates with the pirated IE like a couple of months ago when a virus required a patch.

Nonsense. IE7 is now available to all and you can download a copy direct from Microsoft.

Thanks for the wakeup call, Dog. I already had IE7 downloaded on my desktop but Microsoft wasn't allowing me to download security updates on old IE6 or IE7. Didn't get the "Seal of Authenticity" manual when I bought the PC a couple of years ago. It was a surprise but was able to download IE7 from Microsoft site last summer when it came out. When the Microsoft virus scare occurred a few months ago I tried to download the security patch but got a message that "suggested" again that my IE wasn't legit. Tried again today and now able to download the security updates that I couldn't get previously. Can't explain why but must have been something I was doing incorrectly.

Anyway, now on track with Firefox and finally agree with others that it is superior to IE in many ways so it will be my main browser. Will admit that Favorites/Bookmarks in IE was much easier to use and maintain.

Polehawk if you look under "Help" in FF there is a help section for IE users, not very long, but worth a read for anyone used to using IE & also explains how to move Favourites etc over automatically.

polehawk wrote:When the Microsoft virus scare occurred a few months ago I tried to download the security patch but got a message that "suggested" again that my IE wasn't legit. Tried again today and now able to download the security updates that I couldn't get previously. Can't explain why but must have been something I was doing incorrectly.

MS allowed everyone access to IE7 a couple of months ago, that's why. You weren't doing anything wrong.

Cool. It's good to hear that Microsoft did something right about it all. I dunno about releasing all of the mozzies at a meeting, tho.

Thanks for the info, Marmite.

BobHelm wrote:Polehawk if you look under "Help" in FF there is a help section for IE users, not very long, but worth a read for anyone used to using IE & also explains how to move Favourites etc over automatically.

Thanks, Bob. One click took care of my having to flip-flop betwixt the two browsers looking for a link.

Hi All

On the subect of internet access, I need a little assistance.

We are living about 3k from Nong Wua Sor which is on the road to Nong Bua Lamphu. Went to TOT on Tues and enquired about ADSL as we have a phone line here at the mother in Laws place. We were advised that should be no problem. Next day we return with Phone Account holder as that was required and same lady was not there so went to next. Sorry to far away, cheched with technical guy sitting behind. Yep to far away.

I know people in village have ADSL and in Nong Wua Sor also which is further away. I have GPRS but getting a little expensive with exchange rates they way they are and would like ADSL as it is more than 50% cheaper.

Anyone else have somilar problems ? How did you overcome or did'nt you?

Thanks
Kevro