THEY are slashing prices, throwing in freebies and tempting visitors with a $20,000 cash prize in a lucky draw.

Yes, tech companies are pulling out all the stops to convince consumers to whip out their wallets.

For tech-savvy consumers, it's a great opportunity to get the latest gadget must-haves at jaw-dropping low prices.

These gadgets aren't past-season models either.

Brands like BenQ and Creative are lifting the veil off their new products at Comex.

Here are the latest (and very affordable) gadgets that are poised to turn heads at the show.

Shiro VJ
Offer price unavailable (usual $149), with free speakers worth $39.90; booth: 6231

WHAT is the similarity between a Shiro VJ and a pet Chihuahua? Answer - they both fit nicely in a handbag.

Just the size of a credit card, the lightweight gizmo packs a sweet 2GB worth of brain juice in its tiny body. This lets you tote around thousands of music tracks, video clips and photos wherever you go.

If you hate listening to the same insipid Fergie songs on your player, fire up the FM radio function to listen to the latest tunes.

Going on a flight to Japan? This baby promises to run for 15 hours straight - great for long plane rides.

HP TouchSmart IQ500 Series PC
$2,499, with free Total Care Concierge Service; booth: 8150

TIME to ditch the computer mouse. The TouchSmart lets you power up applications simply by gliding your finger across the screen.

So nifty, it makes clicking on a mouse seem so 20th century.

What's more, this baby is a godsend for mediaphiles. Its built-in DVD burner lets you burn personal home
videos and its stereo speakers blast out punchy tracks.

Long to hear the voice of your sweetheart who's halfway across the globe? The built-in Web cam and microphone lets you hold video-chat marathons whenever you want.

Also, who says PCs need to look boring? Its glossy black finish lets it sit pretty in any room.

Asus M50Vm multimedia notebook
$2,998, with free carry bag, optical mouse and bundled gifts; booth: 8310

FOR most parents, the laptop is a must-have for long road-trips. Just pop in a DVD, plonk it in front of your tyke and you won't have to stave off annoying "Are we there yet" questions.

The M50Vm promises to be the ideal device for multimedia usage. For one, this 15.4-inch beauty comes with Altec Lansing speakers that blare out juicy audio, turning your car into a mobile cinema.

Even better, it boasts Blu-ray playback which lets you watch movies in high-definition glory.

Gamers will also dig the built-in nVidia GeForce 9600M GS graphics card, which promises to soup up the image
quality of games and let you fully immerse in the blood and gore of World Of Warcraft.

Creative EP-630i In-Ear Stereo Headset
$79; booth: 6121

THE iPhone 3G might be the most stylish gizmo to hit mankind and its audio quality will send sound buffs to musical nirvana.

Those flimsy earbuds, though, do no justice to Kurt Cobain's vocals. Snag the EP-630i instead. Made specifically for the iPhone and iPod, these earphones boast a noise-isolation feature which gets rid of background noise. This means that nothing will come between you and your muzak.

Its bass enhancers also promise crisp tunes with meaty bass.

Add to that - the built-in control button lets you pick up calls without having to rummage through your bag for the phone. Nifty.

Toshiba Portege M800-E3317P
$1,999; booth: 8143

TOSHIBA'S M800 is one of the cutest, most stylish notebooks in the market. At just 13.3 inches, it won't hog space on your table top.

Its pretty candy-coloured shells will also let it tug at the hearts of women. Juiced up with Intel Core 2 Duo processor technology, this compact gizmo promises to run at the speed of light.

Users who love listening to the rambles and chatters of radio deejays will love this darling - it boasts a
built-in FM tuner with antenna. Sweet.

This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life on 27 August 2008.

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