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EVERYBODY’S RUSHING TO BUY A LAPTOP

There seems to be a mad rush in the UAE to buy laptops amidst the general growth in sales of electronic devices and computers, say salesmen. Window-shopping by visitors to the emirates drawn to the showrooms and malls by the electronic gadgets is also rampant, they say.

If China is considered a huge factory of high-tech products with international technology companies having set up units there, the UAE — especially the markets of Dubai and Abu Dhabi — has been transformed into one of the greatest exhibitors of computers and the laptops in the Middle East, if not in the entire world.

Tamer Shawky, a sales official of one of the biggest technology companies located in Abu Dhabi, said that there has been a state of madness among people for buying the laptops with the majority of buyers aged between 18 and 30 years.

He said that the youth adore the computers and their accessories beside the software, which allows them to browse the web and listen to the digital music as well as chatting via Internet. This is very common among the UAE nationals.

The Indian residents also are very fond of the recent technology, he said. The workers of the petroleum companies form a great percentage of the laptops buyers, he informed adding, that they can easily contact their families and friends via Internet. These devices are also considered a means for amusement when they go to net shops, he added.

He said that the majority of the UAE nationals look forward to obtaining the recent kinds of the laptops.

Salim al Masry, one of the sales officials, declared that the European tourists are more careful while buying such electronic devices. “They know what they want to buy and what sort of computers they need. Most of them bring the price lists of these devices from their countries to compare them with those devices in UAE,” he said.

The Arab communities always come to watch what is new in the market, besides looking out for discounts. Regarding the prices of the laptops, they vary starting with Dh2, 900 and reach Dh12.000 for one piece according to the specifications of the appliance, Salim said.

Ehab Fathy, a civil engineer working in the UAE for four years, stated that ''it is not important for me to look for the recent kind of laptop even as I search for one that assists me in work and my personal life. I look for the newest technical apparatus like flash memory because I do need it in my work.''

Some youth try to buy the expensive laptops, even though they are not in dire need of them, he points out. He thinks that the main function of the laptops and other technical devices is to be effective for the purpose in mind and at less cost.

Regarding mobile phones he said, the market is witnessing a sharp competition among the manufacturers in an attempt to attract the consumers.

Hossam Saleh, a sales representative, noted that Filipinos and Indians are fond of buying mobile phones much more than UAE nationals and other Arab residents. He noted that the Filipinos search for highly technical mobile phones and do not care for the high prices. Most of the Filipinos prefer mobile phones of a leading company, having multiple features.

On the other hand, the UAE nationals also look out for mobile phones of a world leader in the field because they can sell them even after a long period of time without losing a lot of money. Most of them seek the recent and highly technical types, he added.

Egyptians and Jordanian expatriates may think more than once before buying mobile phones. Egyptians prefer mobile phones of a particular popular brand to any other kind, he stated.

As for Indian expatriates, they look for the suitable one and they do not pay attention to the shape of the mobile phone, which raises the price of it, he declared.

Women prefer the bright colours and the small size of the mobile phones, as they would rather be seen carrying expensive mobile phones than cheap ones in order to feel distinguished, he added.