Parents look for 'back to school' laptop deals at Gitex

Many parents were at the exhibition to scout for an entry level laptop that will help their children develop their computer skills.

Parents looking to purchase a laptop for their children will be spoiled for choice at the ongoing Gitex Shopper 2017, as retailers unleash a torrent of deals to suit every child's need.
With the start of the school season, many parents were at the exhibition to scout for an entry level laptop that will help their children develop their computer skills.
Maya Ibrahim, a mother of two, was at the exhibition with her husband to look for a laptop for her older daughter. She noted that many schools are encouraging students to turn in their homework assignments digitally and that it was slowly becoming the norm for parents to provide their children with a laptop at home for their schoolwork.
"My husband is looking for a very basic laptop that my daughter can use for research and for her homework," she told Khaleej Times. "Right now, we use our computer at home for everything but soon she will need her own for her schoolwork."
Ibrahim is not the only one looking at different laptops for her children. Many parents with their children in high school and those entering university, were also the event for a new device.
A salesperson at the Sharaf DG stand noted that parents usually have a budget between Dh1,500 to Dh2,000 for an entry level laptop for younger children that are just starting to learn how to work on one. However, older kids in high school or those in university require a device with better performance that will run heavier programs. These usually range from Dh3,500 to Dh4,500.
For parents looking for an entry level laptop, Sharaf DG is offering an Asus X541UA, with a 4GB Ram and 1TB HDD for Dh1,499. The laptop comes with a Dh100 gift voucher that can be redeemed as a cashback. Another deal includes the Asus TP203NAH notebook for Dh1,399 that comes with a Dh150 cashback offer.
For university students, Sharaf DG has a deal on the Asus ZenBook UX310 with two options priced at Dh3,499 and Dh3,999. Shoppers will receive a Dh300 gift voucher with both purchases. Both devices are geared towards students in university that require more powerful laptops for their courses.
Atanu Dasgupta, stall manager at Jumbo Electronics, revealed that many of the deals for entry level laptops come with MS Office, which is a key requirement for students. Brands that were popular with parents looking for options for their kids included Lenovo and Dell.
Jumbo's selection for students includes the Dell Inspiron series ranging from Dh2,199 to Dh3,199. Bundle deals for models in the series include a printer, mouse, antivirus, headphones, and backpack. Shoppers can also opt out of the printer and instead select the MS Office option.
"Many parents are also interested in 2-in-1 convertible laptops and tablets, and there are many such options in the market right now at very attractive prices," Dasgupta said.
A popular selection for shoppers in that segment includes the Asus VivoBook Flip which are available at Jacky's. The TP203NAH 2-in-1 convertible laptop and tablet has been marked down to Dh1,249 and is a great option for people on the go.
"Many times, parents will opt for something lighter which their children can carry around easily at university or in school," said Nadir Suleyman, a parent attending the exhibition with his son. "I want to get my son a newer laptop for his college since he will be studying engineering and that requires a faster laptop than the one he has right now."
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com

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