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Computers : Hardware and Software
If you want to check out computer outlets in Central Bangkok, we can recommend two major centers :
1) Pantip Plaza
Pantip Plaza is located a 5 minutes walk from Ratchathewi skytrain station. It can be really busy in there, and the airconditioning can not really cope with a lot of people. Annoying is also that there are numerous 'touts' that bother you to buy pornographic material.
2) Fortune Town
Fortune Town is located at the Subway station called Rama IX. It is where we bo to buy the computer goods we need. It may be just a bit more expensive than Panthip Plaza, and not quite everything will be available. But shopping is much more convenient, because it is less crowded, and really a lot is on offer anyway. First and second floors have lots of mobile phones and equipment, computer hardware and software are on the third and fourth floors. On the third floor is a True Internet Cafe outlet. True Internet Cafes are easily the best in town, offering speedy connections and priced at 40 baht per hour, and you can order good freshly brewed coffee.
In both centers, you will find lots of computer hardware and accessories, as well as supplies of software and games. Both centers are famous for having pirated computer software of about everything, but the last year or two, there has been a well intended crackdown on pirated software. Nevertheless, while we certainly do not recommend buying it, there seems still to be a regular supply of software at 150 baht a disk. The best deals may be the compilation disks of mostly freeware and shareware, that can contain tens and tens of useful items on one CD. We recommend fullheartedly to buy the games that are available for instance at Zest. Popular computer games (legal version, only to be sold in Thailand) can be had for 350-600 baht, a real bargain.
Both Pantip Plaza and Fortune Town are also good locations to find numerous shops that sell digital cameras, lenses and equipment.
At both Fortune Town (4th Floor) and Panthip Plaza (upper Floor) we recommend a visit to IT City outlets, where you can find most things you are looking for (except software) under one roof. Personally, we feel more secure when dealing with a major shop (that also is listed on the Thai Stock Market), than relying on one of the many small little computer outlets.
3) Commart Thailand
Computer hardware exhibitions and sales are scheduled by Commart Thailand regularly, but exact dates of the exhibitions in advance are a bit difficult to come by. You can buy computer hardware at cut-rate prices there. A main event seems to take place in March each year at Queen Sirikit Convention Center, but events are also scheduled in other cities in Thailand. In Bangkok the usually 3 or 4 days lasted exhibition can be an extremely crowded event. We regularly buy computer accessories there or have a quick look around to see what is available with the current prices.
When you buy a computer or other hardware, you have to be mindful of one thing. Lots of boots will be manned by personnel of different computer shops in Bangkok. For example, we bought an HP computer at Commart. Later we discovered the shop that actually sold us the computer was located at the outskirts of Bangkok. We never had any problem with the device, but possibly the location of the shop might create some hardship if you need to have repairs done etc. A good advice would be to make sure you check the name of the shop (get a name card). The staff will usually wear T-shirts with the name on it. A good idea is to buy from shops that have a location at Pantip Plaza, so you know where to go if problems arise. Alternatively, you may try to locate the local head office, and take it from there.
4) Mac Computers
There is a brand new shop, called iStudio, located at Siam Square, south of the Siam main skytrain station. It is a rather flashy shop, and sells a lot of Apple products, such as Apple computers, iPhones, and iPods.
Add-on : Buying a Computer
Recently we have been looking to buy a new desktop computer. It is amazing how cheap computers have become over the years. When browsing around IT City we found HP computers prices less than 10,000 baht. These are obviously not the latest models, but anyway with processing power that is higher than what was available say just two years ago. A small problem is that they come with neither a monitor nor a operating system. So it is kind of a gimmick to make it look really cheap (also done by other computer manufacturers, by the way).
What is a bit disturbing though is that no operating system is available (except for DOS) on most models. So apparently one is obliged to go and find something outside the store. To be honest, some models offer Windows Vista in its various shapes. Our experience with this is not so good. A few years ago, we bought an HP Pavillion (this text has been 'written' on it). It came loaded with XP Basic (or Home) version, which of course we paid for. When we decided to change the operating system to XP Professional, we did need to pay the full price, so we basically paid twice. The same system is still being used at present, when asking around in the shops. When a computer comes loaded with Vista Home and you want to change it to Vista Business, you have to pay the full price for Vista Business. Not quite a fair business model, we think.
Anyway, after browsing through the IT City Shop (in Bangna) we walked outside and noticed some small shops selling various games and software. Interestingly, Windows XP and Vista were available at cheap prices. In the case of Windows XP, various updates were present. You can buy XP Professional, dated recently or older, if you prefer an older version. We are not blaming accusing IT City of anything. After all, most likely, the individual computer manufacturers decide on how to sell their equipment in the stores. However, selling computers without a proper operating system on them, is not the best way to avoid the use of pirated goods.
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