Event Coverage

Comex 2013 - Notebooks/Systems, Networking, PC Accessories/Software & Gaming Gear Buying Guide

By Team HardwareZone - 5 Sep 2013

Notebooks

Comex 2013 Buying Guide

Comex 2013 is currently taking place at the Singapore Expo at Halls 5 and 6. The show is on from the 5th to the 8th of September, and is open from 12 noon to 9pm. One of Singapore's longest running tech shows, Comex 2013 will feature a wide range of products ranging from notebooks and tablets to televisions, automotive accessories and more. As usual, admission will be free!

There will be a ton of products at the show, so in this handy buying guide we'll be giving you tips and tricks on what to look for in a great product, specifically notebook and desktop systems and networking and miscellaneous PC accessories. But before we begin, here's a video highlight of the top 10 new gadgets from the show floor:-

Buying Guide Index

 

 

HardwareZone Comex 2013 Portal

For more on Comex, including maps, brochures and Twitter updates, click on through to our Comex portal.

Notebook Deals at the Show

Here are some highlighted Notebook deals at the Comex this year.

Aftershock XG13

The Aftershock XG13 might not be the most portable ultra-portable gaming notebook around, but we like that it is highly customizable and that it comes at a very attractive price. Also, it is the only notebook in its category to offer a Full HD (1080p) IPS display.

Comex 2013 Offer

  • Comex Price: $1868 (Usual Price: $2055)
  • Comex Promotion: Free upgrades (750GB 7200rpm HDD, Killer BigFoot 1202N, IC Diamond thermal cooling compound and professional color calibration)
  • Brochure

Location

Hall 5, Booth 5465

ASUS G750

The ASUS G750 might be big and bulky, but it is one of the most powerful gaming notebooks available now thanks to its quad-core Core i7-4700HQ (2.4GHz) processor and mighty NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M discrete mobile GPU.

Comex 2013 Offer

  • Comex Price: $3598
  • Comex Promotion: Free Trend Micro Internet Security Suite, gaming headset, gaming backpack, gaming mouse and NVIDIA 3D glasses
  • Brochure

Location

Hall 6, Booth 6221

HP Envy 14 TouchSmart (k022TX)

HP's new 14-inch Ultrabook is one of the few in the market to sport a QHD display, which means a resolution of 3200 x 1800 pixels and a greater pixel density compared to Apple's Retina MacBook Pros.

Comex 2013 Offer

  • Comex Price: $1699 (launch price)
  • Comex Promotion: Free Symantec Norton Internet Security, HP Carrying Case, Premium SmartCare Service Plan, Second year warranty
  • Brochure

Location

Hall 6, Booth 6101

Fujitsu LIFEBOOK CH702

The Fujitsu LIFEBOOK CH702 offers mobile computing in an attractive and portable form factor. Packing a Core i5-3317U processor and 500GB hybrid HDD, it weighs just 1.45kg, has a slim design and is available in a variety of colors.

Comex 2013 Offer

  • Comex Price: $1588 (Usual Price: $2088)
  • Comex Promotion: Free Fujitsu wireless mouse, Fujitsu pouch and Fujitsu carrier case
  • Brochure

Location

Hall 6, Booth 6028

Lenovo IdeaPad Y510

The Lenovo IdeaPad Y510 is unique because of its Ultrabay technology, which lets users add an additional graphics card for better gaming performance. Elsewhere, it is powered by the latest Core i7-4700MQ processor along with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB hybrid HDD.

Comex 2013 Offer

  • Comex Price: $2099
  • Comex Promotion: Sure win lucky dip, Free 2nd year extended warranty, 3-years subscription of McAfee Internet Security, Samsonite YB600 bagpack, additional power adapter, Removable DVD burner
  • Brochure

Location

Hall 6, Booth 6216

Lenovo Yoga 13

The Lenovo Yoga 13 features a unique 360-degree flip design than enables it to function as a notebook or tablet. Under the hood is a Core i5-3337 processor, 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD.

Comex 2013 Offer

  • Comex Price: $1699 (Usual Price: $1899)
  • Comex Promotion: Sure win lucky dip, Free 2nd year extended warranty, 3-years subscription of McAfee Internet Security, Samsonite Toploader T7650s
  • Brochure

Location

Hall 6, Booth 6216

Toshiba Portege Z10t

The Toshiba Portege Z10t is one of those new breed of hybrid computers that functions as both an Ultrabook and tablet. The 11.6-inch Full HD display detaches to become a tablet when you need that extra bit of portability.

Comex 2013 Offer

  • Comex Price: $1399
  • Comex Promotion: Free 1-year Norton Internet Security, Notebook bag
  • Brochure

Location

Hall 5, Booth 5116

Toshiba Satellite U840W

If you love movies, the Toshiba Satellite U840W is one of the few notebooks in the world to have a display with a 21:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1792 x 768 pixels. Under the hood is a Core i5-3337U processor, 6GB of RAM and a 500GB hybrid HDD

Comex 2013 Offer

  • Comex Price: $999
  • Comex Promotion: Free 1-year Norton Internet Security, 2nd year warranty extension Notebook bag
  • Brochure

Location

Hall 5, Booth 5116

 

 

Comex 2013 Notebook Portal

 

Notebook Buying Guide

Whether you're after a lightweight touchscreen convertible Ultrabook, a subwoofer-toting monster gaming machine, or something in between, you'll be spoiled for choice at COMEX 2013. Read on as we give you some tips on choosing the right notebook for you and also show you some of the standout deals from the show.

 

NOTEBOOKS TODAY

With the introduction of Microsoft's touch-enabled Windows 8 OS we've seen a wealth of new convertible and hybrid notebooks enter the market. Of course, you'll still find slim and light Ultrabooks, great value multimedia notebooks and powerful, high-end desktop replacements too.

 

 

 

Convertible & Hybrid Notebooks are designed for Windows 8's touch-enabled Modern UI, utilizing a touchscreen and the ability to transform into a tablet-like form factor. Convertible Notebooks are defined by having a permanently attached keyboard section, while Hybrid notebooks utilize a separate keyboard and screen that can be docked together. If you want to get the most out of Windows 8, these are definitely the way to go, as they offer the dual-functionality of both a notebook and a tablet. 

Note that not all convertible or hybrid notebooks can be classified as Ultrabooks, as some of them use different processors such as the Intel Atom processor found inside HP's Envy X2.

 

 

Ultrabooks are becoming more and more affordable and make a great choice for anyone looking for a lightweight, portable notebook. All Ultrabooks must meet Intel's strict specifications which include an Intel CULV processor, thickness less than 18mm for 13-inch models, or 21mm for 14-inch models, a minimum battery life of 5 hours, a maximum of 7 seconds wakeup time from hibernation, and a storage transfer rate of at least 80 MB/s.

Ultrabooks are also available with touchscreens for use with Windows 8, however, we have found these to be less than satisfactory, and we recommend a convertible or hybrid Ultrabook instead if you want a touchscreen.

 

 

Multimedia Notebooks offer great value as they often pack top-of-the-line specs and other features not found on an Ultrabook such as a Blu-ray optical drive and better speakers. These notebooks will handle most tasks with ease and thanks to their discrete GPUs, can often be used for some light gaming as well.

 

 

Desktop Replacements are the most expensive notebooks available but are also the most powerful. Packing quad-core Intel i7 processors, powerful discrete GPUs, and full HD 17-inch displays, these machines are made to run the most intensive applications and games. Some also offer 3D displays or superior sound with built-in subwoofers.

Ultra-portable gaming notebooks are a new breed of notebooks that are slim and lightweight (compared to traditional gaming notebooks) but pack serious firepower under their hood, and are more than capable of playing the latest games at decent resolutions and settings. These notebooks typically have 13 or 14-inch displays, quad-core processors and a mid to high-end discrete mobile GPU.

 

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

Processor: Most notebooks today use an Intel processor, but how do you choose between an Intel Atom, Core i5 and Core i7? Intel's Core i7 processors are the most powerful, with Core i5 following close behind, while Atom processors are quite a long way behind them that are meant for light content consumption needs. In our experience, only choose a Intel Core i7 processor on a desktop replacement or high-end multimedia notebook. The CULV-class Intel Core i7 processor found in Ultrabooks isn't much more powerful than the i5 version, and will also drain your battery faster.

Windows 7 or Windows 8 OS: While all convertible and hybrid notebooks will come with Windows 8 as standard, others may come with an option of either Windows 7 or Windows 8. If you're given the choice, you may want to opt for Windows 8 even if you don't have a touchscreen, as most notebook trackpads are capable of handling gesture and swipe commands that work just as well for navigating the Windows 8 Modern UI.

Screen Resolution: While a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels is considered standard for most 11 and 13-inch notebooks, some notebooks offer much higher resolutions, up to 1920 x 1080 pixels (Full HD) on a few models. Our preference is for a resolution of 1440 x 900 or 1680 x 1050 pixels as you an cram more information and do more on a given notebook size than the standard resolution screens. However, the latter could help keep costs down, so it's really a matter of your criteria in getting a notebook.

Check out the latest Notebooks and reviews at our HardwareZone Notebook Product Guide.

 

 

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