According to the Taipei Computer Association, Softex--a leading software and hardware exhibition now entering its 22nd year--shrugged off sluggish consumer spending patterns prior to the March 22 ballot, with over 370,000 visitors passing through its doors during the event's five-day run. Moreover, sales at the show were up 20 to 30 percent compared with last year.
"Our figures indicate that this year's show was a success, attracting more visitors and seeing an upswing in transaction numbers and value," Bruce Shen, public relation marketing manager of the Lenovo Technology B.V. Taiwan Branch, said March 28. At the show, Lenovo promoted its latest notebook computer dubbed "IdeaPad," the first of such models equipped with an integrated 1.3-megapixel camera as well as the innovative facial recognition security software. "Superior to existing fingerprint recognition technology, this facial security system can make a user's face his password and help control access to the notebook by recognizing when he's sitting at the keyboard," Shen stated. "The system can even record the face of others who try to access the system without permission, thus locking the system immediately."
Targeting commercial customers, the IdeaPad series features a Dolby Home Theater premium audio system that guarantees theater-style sound, Shen noted, adding that the model boasts five speakers, including a subwoofer, as well as Multimedia Control Center--offering a one-stop total entertainment environment with a convenient Shuttle Key that puts volume and equalizer controls within easy reach. "Similar to features found on the legendary ThinkPad notebooks, IdeaPad's 'touch' even extends to a full-size keyboard that gives great response on each key-press, reducing mis-hits and typos," Shen said. "And the touchpad pointing device sits flush with the notebook palm rest for a unique, modern look."
The moment when Steven Jobs, chief executive officer of Apple Computer Inc., took out the MacBook Air--the thinnest notebook computer in the world--from an interoffice memo envelope in January, the epoch in which ultra-thin and ultra-portable laptops became the mainstream had arrived. "One month after the debut of MacBook Air, Lenovo launched its thinnest ThinkPad ever to tap into this niche market," Shen remarked. ThinkPad X300 features LED backlighting, a removable battery, integrated DVD burner and solid state storage drive (SSD). "Small size and light weight are now two important factors that consumers emphasize to satisfy their mobile computing needs," he claimed.
Given the increasing demand for notebooks featuring 12-inch screens, or smaller, most personal computer manufacturers cater to fashion-savvy consumers with machines that combine the latest technological breakthroughs and trend-setting elements. Taiwan's Asustek Computer Inc.--the world's ninth-largest computer manufacturer--presented its "ASUS U2E" product at the show. The model incorporates an 11-inch display with LED backlighting, ultra low voltage Core 2 Duo processor, thin built-in optical drive, a light-weight chassis with a hand-polished stainless steel frame, and a premium leather case.
"ASUS is one of the few PC manufacturers to use genuine leather on their notebooks, which creates an interplay between warmth and high-tech aesthetic," Jose Liao, product sales manager of ASUS, said March 28. "In addition to its stylish appearance, the memory module based on solid state drive is one of U2E's biggest features," he continued.
According to Liao, the company's new offering is less power-thirsty, produces less heat, makes no noise, and is considered less likely to break down than traditional hard drives. "SSDs can definitely make a notebook more light-weight with less electricity consumption; however, the production cost is still too high," he added. "Once the cost can be lowered to more affordable levels, it won't take long for the SSD to become standard on notebooks," Liao stressed
Aside from the U2E, ASUS' Eee PC has been a tremendous success since its inception. At the show, the company further boosted sales of its newly developed Window XP-powered Eee PC by offering a color in skin tone with cartoon figures from the animation "Horton Hears A Who." "This affordable gadget provides users with an efficient online and work management experience that incorporates Windows Live and Microsoft Works features," Liao said.
Packing a mighty technological punch with its bevy of full-function features fitted into a surprisingly light 920 grams, the Eee PC stands out from other ultra-low-priced laptops, because of its 7-inch LCD screen, Intel central processing unit, wireless fidelity technology and memory of up to 1 gigabyte.
With ASUS constantly on the lookout for technological developments that could impact upon its notebooks, Liao said the announcement by Japan-based Toshiba Corp. in February to stop producing its high definition DVD format could equate to price rises in the company's range of products. "With the demise of HD, Blu-ray Disc devices developed by Sony Corp. will dominate the DVD format market in the foreseeable future," he said. "However, it might take a period of time for Blu-ray to replace HD across the board," adding that this delay could see the technology come down in price and lessen the impact on consumers. "But this change is definitely an unavoidable trend, both for desktops as well as for laptops," Liao said.
Consumer purchasing behavior, inevitably affected by the M-shaped society's appearance in Taiwan, sees customers focusing on either premium or budget products. The Ferrari series notebook, unveiled by Taiwan's Acer Inc.--the world's third-largest computer vender, fits the category of premium product and became a hit at the show. The company promoted the sale of its Acer Ferrari 1100 model using carbon fiber on the case lid. Sporting sublime looks, the 12-inch Ferrari features an LED backlight, Dolby-certified surround sound system, slim type slot-in 9.5-millimeter DVD, bio-protection fingerprint solution, and enhanced disk anti-shock protection.
While Taiwan's computer hardware sector seems to be going from strength to strength, indicators are also good that the free software industry will similarly perform well and reach US$495 million in sales by the end of 2008, according to the Industrial Development Bureau under the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Leu Jang-hwa, director of IDB's Information Technologies Division, said March 28 that the production value of the domestic free software sector amounted to approximately US$350 million last year, which was up 73 percent compared with 2006.
The free software sector is one of the emerging industries that the government has been endeavoring to boost in recent years, with the goal of generating more commercial opportunities for Taiwan's businesses, Leu explained. During the current Web 2.0 age, he continued, to obtain and develop free software online is easier for innovators, which generates more new business models across the nation. Assisted by the IDB, some local information software companies and organizations jointly set up a "free software products" booth at this year's show, displaying free software applications for governments, businesses and schools. They were Axtronics Technologies Inc., the Chinese Open Systems Association, Gjun Information Co. Ltd., TransStep Technologies Ltd., and UDB Digital Co. Ltd.
Analysts believe that on the basis of increased visitor numbers and better-than-expected sales figures at the 2008 Softex Computer Show, Taiwan's computer hardware and software sectors are experiencing an unexpected renaissance. The nation's computer industry seems to be in good shape and ready to move forward while shaking off the slowdown of previous years.
Write to Allen Hsu at allenhsu@mail.gio.gov.tw