JEDDAH, 4 October 2005 — There is a marked increase in the demand for laptops across Saudi Arabia. Particularly in demand are small wireless notebooks.
The annual demand for laptops has increased, especially in the last few years, as small models are being increasingly marketed.
Demand is in the region of 130,000 units a year, a team representing LG Electronics said on Sunday.
“People are evincing more interest in wireless and DMB-equipped mini notebooks,” LG Saudi Arabia General Manager C.K. Cho said at the unveiling of the Korean electronic giant’s latest wireless and DMB-equipped mini notebooks - LW20 and LW40.
The global and regional digital leader claims that its terrestrial digital multimedia broadcast receiving mobile (DMB) television-enabled notebook computers are the world’s first.
The LW20 mini Express notebook features a 12.1-inch fine bright LCD screen and a powerful 3D sound card, and the LW40 Express notebook has a 14-inch fine bright LCD screen and five-in-one memory card reader. Both notebooks offer enhanced portability and Internet access for notebooks in their category. The LW40 offers integrated Bluetooth.
“The GCC PC market is driven by demand for notebooks, and regional shipments of notebooks are estimated to have increased by a phenomenal 108 percent in the year up to the second quarter,” Cho said, adding that total consumer notebook sales increased by 258 percent across the Kingdom alone during the same period.
“Globally and regionally, notebooks are a priority for LG, and the company will continue to bolster its reputation for making lightweight, capable machines with long battery life,” he added.
The LW40 had its global launch in April. The LW20 is super-slim at 29.6 mm and weighs just 1.7 kg.
Designed specifically for a mobile lifestyle, both notebooks feature the latest Intel wireless connectivity, and true 5.1 channel Dolby digital sound system. The LW20 especially is equipped with a 3-watt speaker. Both are equipped with the Windows XP operating system.
“Both notebooks are packed with entertainment and business features ranging from enhanced graphics to better responsiveness and support for grater security options, which don’t compromise important capabilities such as integrated wireless LAN access and extended battery life,” LG’s GCC Regional Marketing Manager Timothy Kim said in his presentation.
Equipped with the super multi DVD drive, 3D surround sound, and powerful 3D graphics thanks to Intel’s graphic media accelerator, the two mini notebooks are best in their class, said Khaled A. Mustafa, LG general manager at J. Al-Jassim Electronics Est.