Softex trade show gets off to a slow start

While the number of visitors were fewer than expected on the first day of the annual Softex Computer Show, exhibitors said they were still upbeat about sales for the show.

"It seems that a lot of consumers are not aware of the Softex Computer Show, as this is the first time the show has been held in March," Karl Chen (陳瑞豐), manager of Acer Inc's computer mall business department, said yesterday at the show. "The media's focus on the presidential election last week also led to a lack of advertising."

However, Chen said he was still upbeat about the company's sales for the five-day show, as consumers are expected to become more interested in shopping now that political uncertainties have been eliminated.

Acer Inc, the world's No. 3 PC maker, expects its sales for the show to increase by 20 percent to 30 percent from last year's show, Chen said.

Jose Liao (廖逸翔), product sales manager at Asustek Computer Inc (華碩電腦), said his company expects to see between 2,000 and 3,000 units of its popular low-cost computer Eee PC with Windows XP, with prices ranging between NT$10,499 (US$350) and NT$14,490.

He expected laptops priced around NT$36,000 to be the company's bestselling items at the show.

Softex Computer Show runs until Monday at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1.