Laptops under 800 USD dominate the market

“Products at this price range will see the highest demand, currently accounting for over 30% of all Acer laptops sold. This summer market will be very dynamic as manufacturers have new offerings across various segments,” said Mr. Trần Quang Thọ, Product Director of Acer Vietnam. 

A wave of new models priced under $800 is being launched by computer manufacturers such as Acer, HP, and Toshiba. Most of these laptops utilize Celeron processors, or higher-end models with Pentium M or Centrino processors. Acer has introduced the Aspire 3642, 3628, and TravelMate 2428. Meanwhile, HP Compaq has released the V5208TU and V2633TS models. Toshiba has unveiled the Satellite L30-C330, BenQ has introduced the A32-408, and GigaByte has a model called N512U.

According to Ms. Tô Hồng Trang, Marketing Director of Digital World Company, a distributor of many laptop brands in Ho Chi Minh City, back-to-school season is the most active business time, so the release of new products at affordable prices is in line with the trend of increasing laptop usage, especially among students, teachers, and office workers.

A laptop is a dream for many students. That dream is no longer out of reach. Photo: V.H.

A few years ago, laptops were still considered luxury items, and it was rare for students to own one. However, recently, the diversity of products, brands, and decreasing prices have led this demographic to shift towards laptops. “With over 10 million VND, one can consider purchasing a brand-new laptop, which isn’t much more expensive than a desktop and can be used anywhere from classrooms and libraries to cafes,” predicted Minh Anh, a third-year student at Hong Bang International University. “After mobile phones and MP3 players, laptops will make Vietnamese classrooms more modern as everywhere will be high-tech.”

For working professionals, even with personal computers at home and at work, the issues of data usage and transfer can be obstacles, causing inconvenience and wasting time. Laptops that can be used anytime and anywhere offer a solution. Ms. Lưu Thị Mỹ Ngọc, a graduate student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, shared: “I am working at the office while also diligently writing my thesis, so my time is very tight. I have dreamed of having a laptop for a long time, but I thought I would never be able to afford it. With these prices, many middle-income earners will have more opportunities to own a laptop.”

Currently, the common features of “affordable” laptops include CPUs ranging from Celeron 1.4 GHz to 1.6 GHz, Pentium M, or Centrino M 1.7 GHz, RAM from 256 MB to DDRII 512 MB, hard drives of 40 GB or 60 GB, DVD-RW or DVD-CDRW drives, and screens ranging from 14 to 15.4 inches (some models use glossy or widescreen displays) with most supporting wireless Internet connectivity.

As technology becomes more accessible and beneficial for users, the approach to it has also become easier. The explosion of broadband networks (ADSL) has led to a rapid increase in Internet users from schools, offices, hotels, tourist spots, cafes, and even sidewalks. Wi-Fi hotspots are developing rapidly alongside the integration of wireless networks in most laptops. Not long ago, laptop users were indifferent to the Wi-Fi function, but now many consumers choose laptops for this convenience.

“I am heavily addicted to the Internet, so when there’s a power outage, I’m not at the office, or I have to work outside without a computer, I feel very uncomfortable even though I just check emails, communicate with partners, and read the news,” shared Mr. Lê Hữu Danh, a marketing staff member at a cosmetics company. “An affordable computer that can entertain and browse the web is essential for me.”

The significant advantage of today’s budget laptops is their ability to meet the real needs of the majority of average-income Vietnamese citizens. Besides price and warranty conditions, the attractive design, compactness, and long battery life are strong competitive factors against second-hand options. Many who have limited knowledge about computer hardware feel more secure choosing genuine products.

According to Ms. Nguyệt, Sales and Marketing Director of GreenSys (Ho Chi Minh City), the market for budget laptops will continue to grow strongly to encourage average to low-income individuals to access technology. Here, the store sells about 200 units a month, with over 40% of models priced under $800.

However, the trend of laptops becoming cheaper has raised concerns about quality and the technology used. A representative from Acer Vietnam stated that standardization of components, mass production of products, and a good distribution system are why laptop prices are decreasing. Additionally, processing technology is focused on specific product lines and customer segments. At this price point, the CPUs primarily include Celeron processors, with Pentium options possibly in the future.

Currently, among Vietnamese brands, only the CMS Sputnik C4 is available for 10.8 million VND, including VAT and pre-installed Windows XP Home software. This laptop measures 333 x 277 x 31 mm, weighs 2.8 kg, uses an 8-cell Smart Li-Ion battery, 4400 mAh, with a battery life of up to 5 hours. The CMS Sputnik C4 is equipped with an Intel Celeron M 370 1.5 GHz processor (1M L2 cache, 400 MHz FSB), 256 MB of RAM, a 40 GB hard drive, an 8X DVD combo drive, a 915GM chipset, a 15-inch screen, a wireless card compliant with 802.11b/g, and wireless Internet access.

Prices of some models under $800 (excluding VAT)

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