THERE is a new addition to the list of made-in-Singapore gadgets.

Axioo International yesterday unveiled two laptop computers, as well as opened a manufacturing plant in Kaki Bukit to produce them.

This makes it the first homegrown company to make and develop laptops here.

The company's managing director, Mr Stephen Lim, said the company was focusing on laptops as he believed more people would go for them as "desktop replacements".

Already, he has set his sights on bringing the laptops to countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan and Bangladesh, to name a few.

As such, the company is introducing two products - one is a colourful, basic laptop priced at just $1,299; the other is a sleeker, business-like package which costs $1,799.

The notebook computers will only be sold from Feb 1, but shoppers my paper interviewed weren't sure if they would be a hit.

Business analyst Aaron Chin, 25, said if the price of the locally made computers are the same as other known brands, "most people might go for the recognised brand".

He said: "Then again, Singaporeans are very practical people. If the product is one of quality, people will surely buy it."

Other homegrown companies that have made a splash with their products are Creative Technology and its digitalmultimedia players, and Qool Labs with its smartphones and Internet phone call devices.