BenQ rolls out Joybook Lite U101, the dream netbook perfect for net generation

Responding to consumers' demands and integrating BenQ's core competencies, Joybook Lite U101 is designed to fully address net generation's primary requirements for netbooks.

BenQ netbook weighs a mere 1.1kg, boasts a large 10.1' LED backlight screen, ample 160G storage capacity, a bigger and more user-friendly keyboard (90% of a standard keyboard) and longer battery life.

Netbooks are aimed at a range of consumers from students to business travellers and they are viewed by the industry certainly not as a laptop replacement but more of a companion device.

"The ultra-portable, affordable netbook, could well be the driver of the PC industry and well be a popular niche in the coming months. Not surprisingly, we only see things go up from here. While notebooks and netbooks are currently driving PC market growth, they also allow the PC to enter a more personal and consumer-oriented sphere where product designing is critical. This is where we come in as an innovative product design expert, which is also one of our core competencies. Plus our long standing in the consumer electronics industry has resulted in better understanding of consumer demands than others. Joybook Lite not only blends with our brand value proposition and commitment to consumers, it is also the field where we can best leverage our strengths,"

said Manish Bakshi, General Manager BenQ Middle East and Africa.

The devices have re-energised the regional PC market, with the most recent figures from International Data Corporation (IDC) indicating that the additional momentum created by netbooks contributed to a 27% increase in PC shipments in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region in the third quarter of 2008.

Joybook Lite U101 is the market's first netbook to adopt a 10.1', 16:9 wide LED energy-saving screen, offering users the perfect native aspect ratio to enjoy video content without black bars and distortion. With a 8ms fast response time, users no longer need to endure ghosting or motion blur around picture edges; instead, they are able to relish the best video entertainment experience while on-the-go, claims BenQ.

To ensure utmost product quality, Joybook Lite U101 underwent 28 strict product testing methods including hard-wearing testing on its IMR cover, palm rest & keyboard and 15,000 times hinge test. It is highly reliable and durable, with the ability to withstand a weight pressure of up to 50 kg and a 76-cm drop.

At the same time, Joybook Lite U101 features a faceplate patterned with emoticons on a scratch-free IMR cover. The universally-known 'emoticon' (emotion icon) is the core design concept behind Joybook Lite U101's faceplate. This concept is derived from BenQ's full understanding of Net Generation's behaviors over the Internet- they are used to supplementing their text communications with emoticons to express non-verbal cues and feelings more clearly and on-the-spot.

"The future of the netbook market looks increasingly bright. We are expecting a lot of casual users moving to netbooks rather than feature packed cell phones. This is due to the netbook's enhanced features that make it a perfect mobile internet device along with reasonable pricing & portability," concluded Bakshi.