BenQ demonstrates advantages of digital hub technology at Gitex

Additional growth is expected thanks to added exposure the company will get from participating at Gitex 2003 and Gitex Computer Shopper.

Before entering the Middle East's mobile computing segment, BenQ conducted extensive research to learn what functionalities people in the region wanted.

'Our research indicated that the demand for mobile computing products in the Middle East was strong. At the time of the launch, we set ourselves a two month target, which we had exceeded by the end of the first month,' said Robert Dung, managing director, BenQ Middle East.

'People in the region have really caught on to our 'digital lifestyle' concept and the strong sales results indicate that the people here do view notebooks as a lifestyle product - not just a resource for business,' said Dung.

With a stronger than ever before presence at Gitex and a stand at Gitex Computer Shopper for the first time, BenQ's Joybook sales are expected to sustain their meteoric growth levels. During the exhibition, BenQ will be offering models from its Joybook range at significantly reduced prices.

'Gitex attracts technology-minded people from around the region and from the response we have experienced so far, we are confident visitors will be impressed with the Joybook range. To celebrate our success with the launch, we are offering a special pricing structure during the show on our Joybooks,' commented Manish Bakshi, director and chief operating officer, BenQ Middle East.

Sales of Joybooks have been particularly strong in the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where sales have exceeded original expectations by a factor of three and four times, respectively.

Digital Lifestyle Popular In Middle East
The Joybook 8000, Joybook 5000 and Joybook 3000, which were launched in August, have integrated internal software representing the BenQ digital hub concept by being fully-fledged multi-media devices.

'Here at Gitex we have been able to demonstrate to visitors just how the Joybooks can be used as an entertainment device and undertake a wide array of tasks including connecting personal digital equipment, editing videos, sharing files and storage functionality,' said Bakshi.

Resellers across the Middle East have reported since the launch of the product line strong demand for the digital hub line products. 'At BenQ, we are working towards combining digital entertainment with computer processing,' said Bakshi.

'Enjoyment is at the centre of BenQ's objectives and this concept has met the needs of the Middle East consumer market.'

The Joybook Range
The Joybook 8000, which has an ultra-bright 15.2' LCD panel, produces sharp colors ideal for watching videos. The Joybook 8000's digital hub concept is further enhanced by its Firewire (IEEE 1394), USB 2.0 compatibility and type II PCMCIA slot, giving users the option to connect a myriad of digital devices such as MP3 players, flash drives and other peripherals.

Additionally, an internal DVD/CD-RW combo allows users to readily share information with others. The Joybook 5000 - which includes Intel's latest Centrino mobile technology - enables users to access the Internet and work on the move. Further, the Joybook 5000 includes a 200-nit high brightness LCD display for optimum standards in viewing, while its ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 graphics chip provides the highest standards in 3D animation and gaming.

The Joybook 3000, which delivers high-quality audio entertainment, is aimed at music fanatics. The Joybook 3000 can play music without being fully booted up and features audio source accessibility from its front panel. It also features a 15-inch high-brightness screen and a Nvidia Geforce4 Go 32 MB graphic card.