BenQ Joybooks take centre stage at COMEX

The region's large youth market is increasingly attracted by state-of-the-art products featuring light weight, pin-sharp visuals, higher performance and affordable pricing.

"Nearly two-thirds of people in the Middle East are below 25 years of age, and the youth market is very open to new technology," said Robert Dung, managing director, BenQ Middle East. "They're looking for notebook computers that can give top-class performance both in work and play."

The forthcoming Oman COMEX-2004 IT and telecommunication exhibition from 12th-15th April will feature the lightest notebook computer on the market. BenQ's 'ultra-mobile' Joybook 6000 weighs in at a trim 1.6 kilograms.

But the lightweight machine packs heavyweight performance and functionality. Centrino mobile technology provides wireless connectivity, while a bright, wide-screen display, Q-Media AV entertainment integration software and full selection of ports make the Joybook 6000 perfect for use with video, photography and music technology.

"The Joybook provides cinema-smooth playback of DVD movies," said Mr. B. C. Fernandes, head of Loay International, BenQ's distributor in Oman. "It's amazing. Video conferencing is almost a real life experience."

Another favourite with the youth market is sure to be the Joybee 110 multi-functional music player.

The Joybee plays MP3 and WMA music files, functions as an FM radio and includes QMusic editing software. It is also perfect for business or study use, since the integrated audio recorder enables recording of hours of sound - perfect for meetings, lectures, or audio notes. With 15-hour battery life, and convenient USB recharging, users are free from worries about running out of power at a key moment.

Meanwhile, more and more young people in the Middle East are enjoying the fun of digital camera technology. The ability easily to swap picture files with friends and relatives overseas has proved a big selling point, according to executives at BenQ. The smooth design of BenQ's latest S30 and C50 cameras encloses an array of sophisticated functions, including 4.1 mega-pixel resolution and a 3X optical zoom lens for exquisitely detailed photographs.

"These are the most advanced cameras on the market, but they're also the simplest to use," said Dung. "Enjoyment is a core objective at BenQ."