IN ITS 18th year now, the PC Show has kept up to date on the latest technologies.
Taking place over four days starting this Thursday, it is spread over four floors at the Suntec exhibition centre.
Surviving the sale
GOING to the PC Show this weekend? Here are three tips to help you navigate the PC Show smoothly.
Transport
Drivers, be prepared for traffic jams and stop-go traffic in the Suntec area.
Alternative parking spaces can be found at the Marina Bay hotels, Marina Square, Millennia Walk, The Esplanade and even the Singapore Flyer - but only if you can endure a longer walk.
Best to take the MRT. The nearest MRT station, City Hall, is just a 10-minute walk away.
Early bird specials
The doors open at noon. Draw up a shopping list by checking out the killer offers in the PC Show supplement in The Straits Times.
Map out which booths you need to make a beeline for. Then, zip in and zip out before the crowds flood the exhibition halls.
For the really special deals, brave the crowds this Sunday. Vendors are likely to clear what's left on the display shelves at fire-sale prices. Of course, most of the killer buys might have sold out by then.
What's eating you?
For energy, fill up at the various food outlets and restaurants in Suntec City. There is a Food Republic food court on the first level of Suntec City and a Starbucks if you need that caffeine jolt to continue shopping.
Every tech gadget and object-of-desire can be found at the show, not just computers. You can definitely find the most powerful desktop PCs and slimmest notebooks plus MP3 players and the latest cellphones too.
Regular trade show visitors know what to expect. They will find the latest tech gear on sale, with attractive prices and often bundled with goodies like an additional memory card or a free printer.
Graphic designer Melissa Poon, 27, will be scouting for special deals on a digital SLR camera.
She said: 'I am sure I can get more freebies bundled with my camera when I buy it at the PC Show.'
The Show is divided into four special zones: The PC Show 08, Digital Imaging 08, Game 08 and Consumer Electronics 08.
You can get deals on not just computers, but also digital cameras, camcorders, smartphones, multimedia players, all-in-one printers, HDTVs and the hottest games - to name but a few categories.
A big draw
SHOPPERS who spend $50 and above in a single receipt can take part in a contest where the top winner will walk away with $10,000.
Also, look out for new products as some companies will be launching and displaying theirs.
Toshiba and Acer will be showcasing new cutting-edge notebooks, while Canon will be demonstrating its new Pixma printers with the Pigment Reaction Technology.
For photography buffs, there is Panasonic's new flagship Lumix FX520 digital camera.
Be prepared to fight the crowds though: Show organiser Lines Exposition and Management expects about one million visitors to explore the offerings from 600 exhibitors.
This article was first published in Digital Life, The Straits Times on Jun 10, 2008.
