MTT commented : So, anybody have any information about product features? I am particularly interested in the Galaxy S phone and the new Galaxy Pad versus the Apple products. Additionally I need to know whether to go with the Android system or wait for the Windows version. Any info would be helpful. -------------------------------------------------- As a side note for the service in Thailand topic: After you have opened your account with iTunes, and if you cannot get help with your Apple product for whatever reason (I assume the phone companies selling the phones can provide a lot of help, I have no trouble getting service from the True stores where my Internet/GPRS service is from and from AIS who has my telephone number. I bought my phone second-hand at a small retail shop in Panthip on Ngam Wong Wan Road). (I have no desire to own a MacBook at triple the price. My Acer PC and my eeePC will have to do.) When I had trouble opening my iTunes account for my iPad which I bought at some shop named iStudio or something like that, the Apple Shop in Central Chaeng-Wattana gave me the following number for the Apple Hotline 001-800-0441-2904. This is a US number but it was answered in Singapore. They asked me to write to them at http://www.apple.com/asia/support/itunes - select email and tell them the problem. An answer arrived in less than 24 hours and the problem was solved in about two days. After I got all this done, I heard they then released the iPAD in Japan. Surprised me, too, since I already had one up and running. I then realized that the Apple Store here probably did not have any iPADS for sale yet because Apple had not 'released' them (ergo the term [i:29dwvm45]jailbreak[/i:29dwvm45]), but they had no problem getting me help for the one I bought at another store. I think the service is reasonable and quite possible to obtain from a variety of sources. I am not unfamiliar with service in Thailand. If you are using a stall (or any) shop, the trick is to use one which has a guy actually making repairs at a table in the corner. The ones which only have used phones surrounded by phone cases and other goods can't help you much. The final trick is to go back a second time if you must and take a friend who can speak Thai and knows about electronics and technical stuff. After they have finished with the obligatory small talk like 'making toast' and where the farang is from and where he works, they will either give you an answer or tell you where you can get an answer if they know. If they don't, just tell them that you do not need to buy a phone case today when you are asked and everybody is happy. Then go to another shop - do not go to the shop next to the one you were just at because that will be her sister's shop and she doesn't know any additional information.

gormenghast commented : Why is "freedom of speech" such an elastic term? I will defend the right to express oneself logically and honestly even if I am totally opposed to what that person says. At the same time, I am appalled that so much space can be used to argue about an allegedly offensive T-shirt. On the historical front, the American determination to disassemble the British Empire at the end of World War II involved a great deal of horse-trading in Southeast Asia, as a result of which Britain regained and retained Hong Kong, Malaya and Singapore, while permitting Thailand to fall within the American "sphere of influence". This was greatly expanded during the Vietnam debacle and resulted in Bangkok delights such as Soi Cowboy, not to mention the preferential status of US commercial enterprises in Thailand. However, Americans are in a minority among the Farang community here, which is probably a blessing today. If they all started issuing [i:3tpnqjfb]ukases[/i:3tpnqjfb] about -- to them -- offensive T-shirts, we would be here for several more pages. Have a wondeful weekend!

Asianexpat commented : [quote="philhal2":2bop54r1]Very little knowledge displayed here . Simple internet search shows requirements for Thai citizenship , 5 years continuous residency , able to speak Thai and have sufficient funds or suitable employment .100 people from each nation are able to apply annually .I guess unless you can have dual citizenship most " FARANGS "would not forgo the benefits of their own homeland , pensions ,embassies etc !!!!! [quote="overhaul38":2bop54r1][quote="Ian":2bop54r1]I've never been completely sure about why exactly this "special" treatment exists. I''ve never found it in Indonesia - for example - where I used to travel a lot. Nor in Malaysia. Nor Singapore. Nor in Cambodia, Laos. I can only compare it to Japanese racism - but Thais have always seemed far less rampantly racist that what one finds in Japan.[/quote:2bop54r1] It is only a matter of a minor degree. The prime similarities are: 1. Denial of citizenship. To my knowledge no farang has ever been granted Thai citizenship. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong. 2. Denial of land ownership. 3. Special pricing at some facilities/markets. 4. Personal reporting requirement every 90 days. I don't know Japan's.[/quote:2bop54r1][/quote:2bop54r1] In Taiwan one can not get a local passport without giving up their own local passport and I believe that is the same in Thailand. Odd how the US allows them to keep their own passport while giving them a US passport while the Thais and Taiwanese will not give them a local passport unless they give up their own. Biased or Hypocrisy?