Recently, many major cities are filled with Wi-Fi coffee shops, giving rise to a new “syndrome” that those involved have dubbed with a very 8X term: the laptop syndrome.
It is no longer surprising or shocking to witness familiar scenes: young faces absorbed and glued to their screens, whether at school, in cafes, or even on the sidewalks. Laptops have transformed from a coveted item into an “inseparable” part of the lives of Vietnamese youth born in the 1980s.
The laptop market now offers devices ranging from the most luxurious to the most affordable. Prices vary from a few hundred USD to tens of thousands of USD. Each demographic has its own needs and limited financial resources, yet owning a laptop is no longer a daunting challenge for today’s youth. The cost of desktop computers now rivals that of second-hand laptops, making them accessible for students and office workers who don’t have high demands; a second-hand laptop is often more than sufficient.
“Today’s youth view owning a laptop as a means to affirm their new status in this era of different thoughts and actions!,” asserts Quang Ha, a young director. There are countless things to do with a laptop. For the youth today, a day without touching a computer or accessing the internet feels like a… punishment. The conveniences that a laptop provides allow the 8X generation to assert themselves in work, study, and even leisure activities. For many in this generation, life + work + love can be simplified to just needing a laptop + a Wi-Fi coffee shop to solve everything.
Wi-Fi coffee shops have now become not just workplaces, but also relaxation spots, meeting places for business partners, or venues to hang out with friends after work. “A laptop has become a tool that extends working hours, replacing the heavy, rigid briefcase, allowing one to bring the entire world, along with their company and work, into one device. It’s incredibly convenient and lightweight!,” comments Hung, a young director. In stark contrast to those who view laptops as tools for enhancing their work, there is a segment of youth who see laptops as a means of showing off, a “decorative item to assert their wealthy status.”
Every day, Q. Minh (Economics University) carries his laptop worth over 1,500 USD to a Wi-Fi coffee shop to chat, make friends, read news, watch movies online, and then take it home. For him, a laptop is merely a tool for entertainment, nothing more. Hung, a serious gamer, invested in a high-end VAIO laptop (also over 1,500 USD) just to indulge in his obsession with the game “Võ Lâm Truyền Kỳ.” If you stumble upon a noisy crowd in a coffee shop with eager faces whispering, you can bet 100% they are browsing “adult” websites and watching explicit films. Some individuals form laptop clubs solely to exchange or showcase their expensive, rare laptops or simply to prove they are busy citizens. The money they invest in laptops worth thousands of USD may only enhance their “stylish” image rather than add any economic value.
