Carapelli sets trend for $130 computers

Dubai: Taiwanese firm Carapelli Computer is set to launch the world's smallest and cheapest laptop in the Middle East for a mere Dh699.

The Impulse NPX-9000 weighs only 725 grams and will be available in Dubai after 15 days.

"We have shipped 100 units initially and the demand for this product is going to be robust. We have got a lot of queries about this product," Bunty Punjabi, sales manager at Carapelli Computer.

The Impulse NPX-9000, Carapelli's first computer, has a seven-inch analog screen, a 400MHz processor, 128MB RAM and 1GB NAND Flash storage.

It does not have a hard disk drive and runs on custom Impulse Linux operating system without a built-in LAN card. The netbook has an optional built-in WiFi support and USB LAN Dongle, which cost extra. The product cannot be upgraded.

The China-assembled netbook is priced at $130 each (Dh477) for orders of a minimum of 100 units.

Other netbooks available in the market are Acer's Aspire One, which retails from Dh1,097 to Dh2,000, and Asus's Eee PC at Dh1,400 and HP's Mini-Note PC, currently not available in Dubai.

Punjabi said the next model with built-in WiFi will be available in October and the Windows version will follow. "The competition in Dubai is very hard. We see demand coming from both students and businessmen alike and African market, which is a major re-export market.

"We have asked the company for an Arabic version of the netbook. Once we have that, we expect to sell 10,000 units within three months," said Punjabi.

The netbook's other features include an SD card slot, 80-key keyboard, VGA port, two USB ports, and a mini USB port in addition to two audio ports.

It seems that the days of $100 computers are not far away. This netbook is going to give major headaches to other netbook makers as the competition for market supremacy is getting hotter and hotter.

Do you think prices play a large role in influencing a person's decision when buying a laptop? Would you be interested in purchasing this laptop? Why? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com or fill in the form bellow to send your comments.

Well this is certainly an inexpensive alternative to a full size and full options laptop. I believe this would be great for students as long as they can produce Word documents and save data to a USB drive. For the professional not a chance, as anyone using this for a professional role will rely on such programs as in MS Office and Adobe programs as well. I welcome this for my student aged child, certainly worth looking into. I live in the USA and read your paper online every day. Very informing and I am looking forward to coming over to see this wonderful country.
Keith Schulze
Florida,USA
Posted: August 11, 2008, 02:53

I am already a happy owner of an EEEPC and would consider buying this laptop to check it out.I would recommend people take a sample of their data on a USB and try out the Linux versions. The Linux versions are likely to be faster and very secure than the windows versions.
Khawar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 10, 2008, 10:52

Prices some time play a key role but for me good brand is more important than price when buying a Laptop.This Low cost note books will be helpful for students. But it might not be very attractive at professional level. Low cost Laptops usually have low level configuration as in your article there is no Hard disk, no built in LAN etc in NPX-9000. In the presence of such big names in Laptop Market I am not seeing this product will get popularity.In spite of these facts I will welcome this new technology and will experience it.
Sana
Ajman,UAE
Posted: August 10, 2008, 09:43