PC Expo 2012 Penang to spotlight consumer tech

PC Expo 2012 at Penang International Sports Arena, March 30 – April 1, 2012 to spotlight tablets, ultra-thin notebooks and smartphones

MARCH 21, 2012, KUALA LUMPUR – Tablet devices, ultra-thin notebooks and smartphones are ready to take the limelight at PC Expo 2012 Penang this week. The three-day Expo will start March 30, 2012 and held at Penang International Sports Arena, Penang.

According EM Exhibitions (M) Sdn Bhd project director Jeslynn Wong Lee Chen, the popularity of tablet devices are at an all time high, followed closely by ultra-thin notebooks. This echoed recent outlook by IDC, citing global PC market set to experience modest growth in the first half of 2012. The IDC outlook said the release of Windows 8 and a new generation of ultra-thin notebooks will “invigorate consumer demand” for personal computers during the second half of the year. PC Expo is organised by EM Exhibitions.

“Consumers remain fixated with tablet devices. As a result, the local consumer digital lifestyle retail landscape now offer more choices and price ranges to cater various consumer segments,” she said adding ultra-thin notebooks and smartphones are also much in demand.

She added a key consumer concern is mobile data connectivity cost. “It certainly makes sense to expect more price competitive mobile data charges and subscription plans as there are many more consumers adopting digital lifestyles and correspondingly, mobile data usage is experiencing a higher market penetration rate. For example, Penang has a progressive digital lifestyle community, with the second highest broadband penetration rate at 81.9 per 100 households1,” she said alluding to data from Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

MCMC cites the number of hotspots in Penang has grown exponentially to 2,493 in Q3 2011 from only 832 in 2010. “This growth reflects the rapid digital lifestyle development in Penang. However, access to computing devices and mobile data connectivity remain key as both elements enable consumers and businesses to enjoy greater productivity and convenience, giving rise to a more vibrant and exciting Penang,“ said Penang State Executive Councillor for Religious Affairs, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Abdul Malik Abdul Kassim. “PC Expo 2012 Penang is most welcomed and a beneficial platform catering to the needs of consumers and local digital lifestyle retailers.”

The Expo enters its fourth leg next week from March 30 to April 1 and held at Penang International Sports Arena in Penang. Participating exhibitors include international and local retailers like Avira Sdn Bhd, Brother International (M) Sdn Bhd, Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, Gadget Zone Sdn Bhd, Hewlett -Packard (M) Sdn Bhd, Mind Maker Sdn Bhd, Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd, Pineapple Computer Products (M) Sdn Bhd, PIXUS Sdn Bhd, Thunder Match Technology Sdn Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Berhad, Vknow Systems Sdn Bhd, Western Digital (S.E Asia) Pte Ltd and YTL Communications Sdn Bhd.

Visitors to PC Expo 2012 Penang can participate in activities like “Lucky Draw” and “Register&Win”. Lucky Draw prizes include Apple iPhone 4S, Samsung Galaxy Note and ASUS Transformer Prime while goodies for Register&Win winners include RM200 and RM100 PC EXPO 2012 Gift Vouchers.

Early birds to PC Expo 2012 Penang can take advantage of special offers like RM10 for a 4GB Kingston USB drive and RM179 for a Buffalo 500GB hard disk. “We are rewarding consumers who purchase a notebook or laptop PC at the Expo with complimentary 2GB DDR RAM,” she said adding there are also online activities like PC Expo 2012 “Like&Win” where an Apple iPad 3 is the main prize.”

The following leg is scheduled April 6 to 8, at Alor Star Mall in Alor Star while the last leg of PC Expo 2012 will be held May 25 to 27 at Mid Valley Exhibition Center in Kuala Lumpur. Visit www.facebook.com/pcexpo for regular updates.

1 C & M:Pocket Book of Statistics, Q3 2011 (English)