I have tried to check it out before and you are right about the blurriness. I'll have a look now!

Can you post a link on how to access that? All I am coming up with is "pay for" stuff, and things I have to download. (Didn't have to download anything previously...)

hello Maneki Neko, I think you have to have the initial download but I haven't ever paid for anything nor did I notice it updating itself., so I can't tell you how it got there, Magic? maybe it updates itself through the internet while your on Google Earth? not really IT smart, sorry, callao

It's clear enough outside Vientiane too - I can see our house and individual trees.

About downloading - it is free and should come with just a few clicks.I've done it on a couple of computers in Vientiane. You can also buy CDs of Google Earth in Vientiane but they are likely to be older (fuzzy) versions, but which can be updated online.

A drawback with the latest version I downloaded onto my Vientiane-bought laptop is that all the instructions and details are in Thai language and I have no idea why that happened or how to change it. I see that on English versions it is possible to change the viewing angle so that you get a 3-D view and not just straight down. A really impressive feature.

Thank you callao.. LP is still a bit blurry to me. Maneki I remember afew months ago I clicked on google earth & it told me to update, no costs where asked for. Been thinking of how to send you, but my new icon just says “google earth plus” no cut & pastes site info. Like callao I not good with this IT stuff, but my guess is, you need to update to the new version ( it Free)

philiplaos, Thanks I had read in our local Queensland papers that ‘the google earth 3D car was spotted’ afew months ago. The 3D pics are still blurry to me, of my area & Laos, but I also need to play around with for awhile. It’s amazing isn’t it, I can not imagine how clear it will be in afew years time. OK I back to have a stickybeak around the world :-)

Philip-

How much was your laptop you purchased in Laos, if you don't mind me asking? A college kid I am sponsoring needs one and I am thinking of getting him one. I'm often in Bangkok and they are quite cheap there, but I'm wondering if they are compatible to use in Laos...

And thanks for the info, Alice! I'll try again. The old system I just accessed with no problem...

Maneko,

I wouldn't recommend buying a laptop in Laos. I did so just because by passport expired 2 years ago and I haven't got round to renewing it so I can't leave the country. Your best bet would surely be Bangkok where they are much cheaper and there is much more choice.

As far as laptops for youngsters are concerned, you should be able to get a cheap notebook-style laptop which has all the functions they would need. I've heard they can be had for around $300 if you shop around. Second hand machines can be a good alternative too if you can locate an honest seller.

There is a project run from M.I.T. in the U.S. called 'One Laptop Per Child' which aimed to produce laptops for $100, specifically for children. Unfortunately, they couldn't do it for les than $200 and I don't think they intend them to be commercially available to individuals, but you could check by googling 'one laptop per child'.

Your best bet is Bangkok.

Philip

Maneko - about compatibility: if you buy a laptop in Bangkok and bring it to Laos for the student you are sponsoring, you would need to first take it to a computer shop in Vientiane so they can install the Lao fonts.

Philip

Maneki, Philip is making things over complicated. A laptop bought anywhere in the world is compatible with anywhere else. Trust me on this; I am in the IT field. Best bet to buy one here is in Udon. There are heaps of computer shops and you can get a decent deal. Acers are pretty reasonable. You can get them here in Vte as well, of course, but you willpay a little more - it won't be too much more. Bkk of course is a great place to buy one as well. I would definitely NEVER buy a second hand one, unless I bought it from a friend.

You don't need to go to a PC shop to install Lao fonts. You can download them from the web or buy a CD with Laos fonts from any PC shop for about 20K Kip. Installing fonts is so easy any child can do it.