What economic downturn in Singapore? Just go visit the IT Show 2009 and see for yourself the annual consumer electronics and IT trade show at Suntec Singapore jam-packed with bargain hunters.

I talked to 3 of my friends who visited the IT Show 2009 and all said this year’s show is no different from last year – “just as crowded”. In fact, the organizer of the IT Show said that he expected more revenue this year because people waited since last December to make purchase at this year’s IT Show.

Ready to buy something? Digital cameras, netbooks, portable HDD, IBM laptops or the iMac 24-inch.

Go check out this IT Show 2009 Price List…

[Update 16 March 2009]
IT Show 2009 generated a record $58.5M – $4.5M more than last year! – The worst may be over? If you think figures don’t lie then start buying up Singapore stocks.

Today, I went shopping and it was impulsive shopping at Challenger Hougang Mall. I should have waited for the IT Show 2009 for some of the items e.g. 4-port USB hub.

I tend to shop at the IT Show more than the other 3 shows… PC Show, Comex and SITEX because it is the first IT & Home Electronics trade show of the year.

So here’s what I want to buy:

• 32″ LCD TV
• DVD HDD Recorder
• External DVD Burner
  – the new Asus External Slim DVD Drive SDRW-08D1S-U
  
• Small Form Factor (SFF) PC

Best Sellers at the IT Show

I guess beside the Netbook, accessories for the Netbook would be also the best sellers. People will need external DVD burner to install software, burner photo albums and more. Well, I definitely need one for my little eee PC.

So what are you buying at this year IT Show?

It’s not even February yet and the organizer of IT Show Singapore has already advertised numerous times in the Straits Times and other local newspaper.

The IT Show will be from 12 to 15 March 2009 at Suntec Singapore.

Typically, home electronics and computer and IT shows will advertise in the newspapers and local TV station a week or 2 prior to the event. So I find it a bit “strange” that the buzz started early this year.

Maybe it’s because of the economic downturn that prompted the event organizer to advertise heavily so that potential exhibitors will come attend the IT Show.

But ONE thing is for sure, I will be more careful to spend money on these electronic gadgets and I will definitely look for the best bargain at the show.

IT Show 2009 Hot Pick: The Netbook

I will say the Netbook(aka UMPC) will be the hot item for this year IT Show.

Why?

It’s most affordable!

And it’s not difficult to justify buying a cheap, light-weight, mobile computer even if you already have a desktop computer at home and use a laptop at work.

The Netbook is for you to carry around and use it in the car or the train!

So, what are you buying at the IT Show? Laptop? Computer accessories? Or just go and see what to buy?

Suntec Exhibition Centre has been preferred location for computer and electronics trade shows in the recent years. The IT Show 2008 was held at Suntec. So is next week PC Show. Suntec is more convenient and accessible than Singapore Expo. To me, when the PC Show is at Suntec then it’s must go!

However, not everyone likes the idea of PC Show @ Suntec.

Some prefer the more spacious Singapore Expo. Also, at the Singapore Expo, you don’t have to climb up 6 levels to hunt down the booth selling the gadgets you want to buy.

Talking about gadgets. Here’s a list of hot items people are looking forward to get at offered price at the Singapore PC Show in June.

PC Show Shopping Listing

• Laptops
  Acer Aspire and Travelmate
  Dell XPS M1330 Vostro 1310
  Cheap laptops and no-brand budget laptops
• UMPC or Netbook
  HP Mini-Note
  Asus eee PC
  Kohjisha ultraportable PC
• Thumb Drives
  The super-fast Buffalo
• External Hard Drives
  500GB/1TB External HDD
• Privacy Screen Filters
  3M privacy filter
• LG KS20 Phone
• In-Ear earphones
• TV Tuner
• 22″ LCD Monitor

Cheap Ultraportables and UMPC’s

I expect the cheap ultraportable and UMPC should be a hot seller at the PC Show. These toys are perfect for ladies with small fingers.

Must go check out the new Asus eee PC and HP Mini-Note.

Privacy Screen Filter for Laptop

I find it interesting that more and more people are looking for Privacy Screen Filter.

It was not too long along when laptop LCD has a very narrow angle of view and was impossible to make a presentation with a laptop to more than 2 persons.

Now, with better technology, the view angle of LCD on a laptop extend beyond 150 degree and people want to spend money to buy privacy filter to prevent their neighbours from peeking.

See you at the PC Show Suntec on 12 June.

Saw the Asus Eee PC for the first time at the Singapore IT Show and the price was so attractive that I was very tempted to bring one home.

The price was super affordable – IT Show special price at S$598 for a Eee PC 4G. This is the most affordable UMPC I’ve ever seen.

My first impression: the text is very readable on the 7″ screen and the keyboard is not too tiny for most Asian fingers.

At that low price for a fully functional laptop, I really wanted one and keep it by my side at all time – to work on the train, while waiting for appointment or when an idea struck and I just have to blog it.

How You Can Use The Eee PC

Watch the video below and you’ll know why I think this Eee PC is the perfect companion (I nearly want to call it the MacBook Air killer!).

Want to see how the Eee PC loaded with Windows XP performs?

Check out this video on Asus Eee PC review by Bill Myers:

I was at the IT Show 2008 yesterday and went again earlier today to take a picture of a little gadget that kept me awake thinking last night. Here’s the culprit that caused my insomnia.

Made in Korea UMPC

I am impressed by the Made in Korea UMPC. This little gadget runs Windows XP, weigh only 500g and can last for 6 hours.

Everun UMPC

Here’s a video showing the Everun S60H UMPC (S$1,438) in action and also the WiBrain B1H (S$1388).

Asus Eee PC

If you are on a budget and in need of a UMPC for your work or travel, take a look at the Asus Eee PC. It is affordably priced at S$598 for the Eee PC 4G model. Or you wait for the price to drop even further when in the new model is available April. The new model Eee PC 900 was announced 4 days ago at CeBit 2008. The new specs for the Eee PC 900 are:
- 8.9″ screen at 1024×600 resolution
- 1GB RAM with upto 12GB storage
- Linux and Windows XP versions
- Price €399

This is a follow-up to my earlier post on IT Show Singapore. Found Hardware Zone article on IT Show 2008 Preview a must-read before you go shopping at the IT Show 2008 on Thursday at Suntec City.

You will want to visit the IT Show 2008 Forum and check out the discussion there. You may find the answer to your question in one of the threads.

If you are looking for IT Show 2008 brochures, check out this page which has all the major ads and even prices there.

The IT Show Singapore is here again in March at the Suntec City, Singapore. Since the IT Show is in the city and not at the far flung Singapore Expo, I will be visiting to pick up some computer hardware and accessories.

What to buy at IT Show Singapore

1. I need a spare 80GB/100GB hard disk drive for my Dell notebook. My current hard disk drive is filling up quickly recently because I am taking more pictures and videos with my digital cameras to make Youtube video.

2. My 2-year old A4 X-750F Laser Mouse has not been behaving properly recently so I’ll need a new mouse. I really like this A4 Laser Mouse and I think it is very important to get a good mouse since I spent more than 8 hours hold it every day. My budget for the new laser mouse is S$70.

3. Also, I am looking for a Memory Stick Pro Duo 4GB for my little T200 Sony digital camera. According to the prices at PriceGrabber, the 4GB memory stick is between US$31.88-US$119. I’ll set a budget of S$100 for the memory stick.

What’s the hottest products at the IT Show

Even though it’s called the IT Show, the hottest products may not be the computer hardware or software.

In the recent years, digital cameras and flat panel TV such as the HD LCD TVs and Plasma TVs have been the hottest selling items in the IT Show.

You will also be able to see the latest mobile phones, smartphones (maybe the iPhone?) and ultra-portable notebooks… MacBook Air and Lenovo X300.