I reviewed the LG Application Store last year. This year, Samsung released theirs. I cannot confirm this but most of their applications should work on Windows Mobile phones, not just Samsung’s. I took a quick look around and like the LG store, the applications have versions on multiple other platform. It is weird though that I don’t see any applications for Samsung’s feature phones such as Jet.
Anyways, Samsung phones are quite popular on our island so if you happened to own one, sign up via your device or their custom PC client to get a S$10 voucher! Unless your phone is not running on Windows Mobile.
Once in awhile manufacturers surprised us with computers of very unusual form factor. It often defer so much that you will be deem as unusual if you are an owner of it. Unusual could mean that you look really cool with it or you are just a weirdo.
The Dell Adamo XPS is one such device, launch in Singapore at this event, it is also quite surprising that it is not sold at premium price. Very smart move indeed by Dell. The price tag and performance of cheap notebooks are very different as compared to the past, even as recent as 3 or 4 years ago. Today, a netbook cost about 600 bucks while not a speed demon, will suit most consumers.
In other words, only the rich and the geek will purchase computers of high end specifications. Question is “How big is that market segment?”.
Price: S$1,799But then again, Dell Adamo XPS probably will not get widespread adoption because of its form factor. And Dell’s brochure covered most of its unique features; the slide-your-hand-to-open latching device and the replacing battery in sleep mode.
It is not as flimsy as it looks. The aluminum casing feels very sturdy and the laptop will not shake due to typing on the keyboard. The keyboard are the pebble-type and its pretty comfortable to type on. And of course, this Adamo XPS will certainly allow you to carry it round all day long.
Outside of the event, Adamo XPS has originally been fully launched back in January’s Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas, USA. And many gadgets site in USA said that Dell actually produced the Adamo XPS with the intention to show off their technology advancement and try to change perceptions that Dell only produces cheap notebooks with existing designs.
Well… that could be in some ways true. But one way or another, this product is certainly usable, buyable and show-off-able.
On the first day on February in 2010, Dell kindly invited us to a event entitled: “Come and Touch The Future with Dell”. As it turns out, it is indeed the future, not the very far in the future, but its Dell’s future. Future in terms on how we can expect Dell’s product to be.
Just last year, Dell’s lineup of Vostro (Business notebooks) and Inspiron (Personal notebook and desktop series) spot pretty plain and boring designs. Fast forward to this year, Dell certainly try to mark its change in design of the products; Elegant, Trendy and Glossy.
This launch event is certainly very impressive; we had Ian Chapman-Banks, the General Manager - Asia Pacific Consumer, to introduce the 5 new products/series for the event.
Adamo XPS: The highlight of the event in my opinion, the form factor is certainly refreshing and attractive to most visitors on the show. This laptop can be only open via a touch swipe on its motion sensor, strange but true. It may look like a premium notebook in the price bracket of the MacBook Air, but the recommended retail price suggest otherwise: S$1,799.
Alienware M11x: Remember M17x released back in October 2009? Dell’s Alienware is back with M11x. In short, its a gaming laptop with a 11” LCD. Absolutely gorgeous casing coupled with powerful specifications (Intel Core i Series and options of graphics card). Another shocking retail price: S$1,699.
Inspiron Zino HD: A small CPU that acts as a media server connected to the LCD TV. Comes with covers of different colours. Specifications do implied that HD movies (HDMI ports) will not be a problem. Looks really small and comes with Dell’s custom remote control.
Inspiron One 19 (Touch): Dell’s version of the touch screen desktop. Capacitive touch screen. 19” with custom Dell’s software. Multi-touch? Works only with those custom software, confirm by the Dell’s personnel on the ground and we tried it ourselves, pinch and zoom is possible. More importantly, the touch screen is reasonably responsive.
Studio 14 / Studio 15: Refreshing the Studio line of laptops, with Intel Core i series processors and HM55 processor fin the updates. HDMI ports are other the notable additions. Something strange is the batteries, with a 9 cell battery, the back part of the laptop will be lifted as the battery are designed to be a arch-shape one.
Mini 10: Dell’s update of their netbook lineup. Still netbook? Yes. Still 10” only? Oh yes…
Studio XPS 8100: Desktop with optional 3D capabilities (with graphics card such as GT220)! This is also a Desktop with plenty of customization options: From RAID to TV Tuner, and other standard Dell’s options. If you want to powerful and all-round desktop, this is the one you are looking for.
Towards the end of the event, we are surprised that the event planner brought back the exact same competition we had the last time when Dell unveiled Alienware locally. This time we got to play. The experience remains wonderful, smooth and fast graphics.
So if this event is anything to go by, Dell is certainly moving swiftly into the consumers’ homes with some really exciting products for home entertainment. For example, Zino HD is I suppose would be very interesting for many consumers whom would not want to assemble a Home Theatre PC and yet trust only major brands.
And while some products are certainly of a premium design, the prices aren’t of the same class which makes them even more attractive.
In the next few posts, I will take a specific look at each product and I will also post up images I took on the day itself!
Click here to go to Lenovo’s Promotion Page
This year, the Valentine’s Day will be in the week of the Chinese New Year. While the first of the Chinese New Year will come before the lover’s day, Lenovo have decided to put up their sales campaign for the Valentine’s Day instead of calling it a CNY campaign.
Anyways, I always think that notebooks and netbooks make great gifts unless you are the one buying it!
Lenovo have not update their product line this year as far as I know and I did not find anything particularly unfamiliar in the deals offered in this campaign. As I scrolled thorough the catalogue of products, I was again surprised by how far the prices of these computers have come. If only I am a freshman in the university now. (Oh boy, I am graduating in 3 months time!)
Well, as usual (ok, not that usual but I will try to make that happen every time I cover GADGET DEALS from now on), I will try and pick a product from the campaign that I think is worth a special mention (maybe good or bad, or just I have more comments about!)
Lenovo IdeaPad U450P is my pick for this round because its specifications are rather strange. It is branded as “Ultra Mobility on the website but for this particular model, it ships with a 14” LCD, which is quite contradicting since 11” and 12” LCD are certainly more portable.
The most disappointing area is the battery; a 4-cell one. Therefore the battery life certainly will not be spectacular. Which is again contradicting since the notebook uses a low-voltage processor to save power and yet using a 4-cell battery means this is like using a 6-cell notebook with a more powerful processor. Contradicting? You probably save some weight because of the smaller battery but its quite marginal I think.
Aside from my ramblings, I think it’s good to mention that the prices are certainly competitive in my opinion, not the cheapest but not that expensive either.
Samsung’s touchscreen phones are just about in the 2nd position if you ask me. But its a combination of all Samsung touchscreen phones. There are as many as Samsung phones models as the ERP gantries in Singapore. The korea company is simply trying to gain market share by giving consumers as much choice as possible.
The latest is Lindy. Not the name of a pretty lady, but a phone.
Singtel - S$88
M1 - S$48
Starhub - S$58
(As of 1st Feb, 2 year deals. According to respective online store.)
Super similar to the Samsung Corby, it has a 3.5mm jack, better camera and Wi-Fi. And that’s probably it and it is not much more expensive. Great budget phone (it’s not a smartphone). Now… who buys Corby then?
A tech tibits blog by a Singaporean. The blogger is a honest man that shares genuinely what he have experienced. His current favourite phone as of 9th August 2016 is Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.
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