Notebook computer buyers have more choices

Notebook computer buyers have more choices

Sudibyo M. Wiradji, Contributor, Jakarta

Even though a desktop computer remains popular for individual
or office use, the laptop or notebook computers are becoming
increasingly popular in Indonesia.

Despite its size and weight, a laptop offers specifications
and features comparable to those of desktop computers. For a
particular series, the notebook has more features that you cannot
find in a personal desktop computer.

Laptops started to appear on the Indonesian market in the
early 1990s and since then, the demand has grown significantly.

Standard specifications of a laptop include processor, memory,
hardisk, built-in modem, connecting network and optical drive.

New series of laptops of different brands now on the market
also feature processors with Pentium 4, USP ports and bluetooth
and wifi wireless. The bluetooth & wifi wireless allow for the
connections with a cellular phone without using a physical
connection.

This might explain partly why using a laptop is highly
preferable. An executive, for instance, might prefer using a
laptop when he or she has to go somewhere to give a presentation
at a seminar or conference.

It is no wonder that the demand for laptops, be it new or
second-hand, continues to rise. Laptop brands available in the
local market include Acer, Acus, Compaq, Dell, ECS, Extron,
Fujitsu, IBM, MITAC, MUGEN, NEC, Prestigio, Sony, Toshiba,
Twinhead and Zyrex.

Each brand has its own type or model and series but when
linked to what customers really need, there seems to be an
'unwritten marketing perspective' that divides the laptop into
'economy', 'powerful' and 'full of technology' classes.

Basically, what model or series of a laptop a customer wants
will depend on his or her own needs. For instance, when a
customer uses a laptop mostly for writing, then he or she might
take one from the "economy" class, which is cheaper than the ones
from the "powerful" or "full of technology" class.

But when a customer uses a laptop for various purposes, such
as designing, programming or displaying pictures or graphics for
presentation, then he or she might take the one with "full of
technology" class.

Computer traders said that when it came to hardware, the
market responded positively to laptops with smaller size and
lightness.

Fujitsu of Japan, the producer of Notebook, Tablet PC and PDA,
recently launched its new product series called Tablet PC, a
handwriting recognition device.

Introduced in Singapore in November 2003, Tablet PC entered
Indonesian market in early 2003. It can convert handwriting and
human voices into text. Most also have an infrared connection
capability, no physical connection, (i.e. cables or cords) is
needed. It is only 1.48 kg in weight, with display screen
measuring 10.4 inches.

The battery life is 4.5 hours, compared to an average of 3
hours for most others. "Tablet PC is suited for those who work in
a field," PT Nexcom Technology's Marketing Manager Daniel
Septiandy said.

Notebooks from Fujitsu are distributed in Indonesia by PT
Nexcom Technology with its central office in Surabaya, East Java.
Its Jakarta branch office is located on the Jakarta Stock
Exchange (JSX) building on Jl. Sudirman, South Jakarta.

How about the prices? Compared to the prices for desktops, a
laptop costs higher. Commonly, features and brands are factors
contributing to the prices for a laptop. "A notebook with high
capacity processor and memory, and with a bigger screen is much
more costly. Or the smaller a notebook is, the higher the price
is," explained PT Bhinneka Mentari Dimensi's Sales & Marketing,
Multi Media Division Budy Kurniawan.

On average, the price of the newer laptops range from US$800
(about Rp 7.5 million) to US$3,500 (about Rp 33 million),
depending on the brand, model and series.

If you are on a tight budget, you can buy new ACER TM 225 X.
or a Toshiba Satellite 110 at about Rp 9 million. But if money is
not an issue, then you can buy a Fujitsu Lifebook C2210 priced at
US$2,550 or Fujitsu Lifebook E7010 at US$3,585 or Toshiba Portege
3500 at US$2,615. If you require an IBM, you can get the cheapest
IBM Thinkpad R32 ABA at US$1,450. The highest price for an IBM
notebook is the IBM Thinkpad A31R54 at US$2,875.

Fujitsu notebooks are relatively higher priced because they
offer more features and better quality. The price of a Fujitsu
notebook is between US$1,500 and US$3,500.

Distributors or dealers of laptops provide easy access to
customers wishing to buy a laptop. Customers, for instance, can
order a particular brand of laptop via e-mail or by phone. Backed
up with technicians, the dealers allow prospective buyers to
consult first before eventually deciding to buy one.

The pertaining purchasing system is "cash and carry" but
particular dealers might allow a customer to buy on credit
provided all terms and conditions are fulfilled.

PT Bhinneka Mentari Dimensi, for instance, offers a credit
scheme allowing a customer to pay by installments with
installment term of between three and 24 months.

"If a customer pays through Citibank Ezzy Pay, he or she does
not have to pay a downpayment," he said.

Even though the distributors of particular brands have their
own authorized service center, retailers also offer technicians
to handle a repairs of new laptops suffering a technical problem.

"We don't want the concerned customer to bother himself
carrying his damaged laptop to our distributors' service center
so our staff will pick it up and repair it," one distributor
said.

PT Nexcom Technology offers after-sale service for its
customers. "If the problem is related to software, the customers
should contact the dealer where he or she bought the computer,"
said Daniel of PT Nexcom Technology.

"But when the problems are related to hardware, the customer
is advised to send it to the distributor at the Jakarta Stock
Exchange (BEJ) Service Center for repairs without extra charge in
warranty periods," he added.