The Softex computer software and applications show is boasting a feast of high-tech gadgets this year, with trendy designs the order of the day.
"The products on display at this year's show come with eye-catching designs that connect with the masses," said Queenie Chang (
Spanning computers, digital cameras and even MP3 players, these new hip products are making up for the lack of new products sporting technical improvements at the show.
Sony Corp is debuting its PC Vaio L-series of portable panels.
The L-series is a desktop-notebook hybrid. It has notebook looks with a fold-up keyboard, while the carrying handle at the back enables easier movement from place to place, despite its 4.5kg weight.
It features a 1.83GHz Intel Duo Core processor, a 120GB hard drive and 1GB DDR2 SDRAM. The 15.4-inch widescreen liquid-crystal-display monitor is surrounded by a stylish, transparent polycarbonate frame.
Unfazed by its steep NT$59,800 (US$1,791) price tag, shoppers such as 30-year-old PhD student Lu Chun-Chi (
"The whole computer offers a cozy feel. It does not occupy space like a traditional desktop and is easy to move around," Lu said.
Senior citizens, who often find themselves lost when it comes to operating high-tech gadgets, will love the C740 digital camera from BenQ Corp (
The C740 features 7-megapixel resolution and a 2.5-inch display, forsaking rechargeable batteries for disposable ones, which users can easily buy at convenience stores.
Available for NT$5,290, the camera has been praised for its extremely easy-to-use interface, which won this year's Germany iF Design Award.
BenQ is aiming to squeeze into the top five local digicam brands, having adjusted its shipment goal for this year to 100,000 units from its earlier 60,000 units, according to a report by the Chinese-language DigiTimes newspaper in March.
MP3 player fans, meanwhile, may want to check out iRiver Inc's T50, which boasts an iconic triangular shape which stands out from its peers.
The T50 will run for 52 hours on a single AAA battery. It also has an FM radio, support for Microsoft's WMA Digital Rights Management and OGG music formats, and a handy voice recorder.
Softex, which has 120 vendors and a total of 620 booths, opened on Thursday [May 3] at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall I and will wrap up on Monday.
Around 120,000 visitors dropped by the show during the first two days, an increase from last year's 90,000, according to the figures released by TCA yesterday.
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