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It’s that time of the year again, when IT Show started in Suntec City Convention Centre. It was held from Thursday to Sunday, and I went there three times, every day from Friday to Sunday for various reasons.

Pre-IT-Show
Almost a week leading to IT Show, I’ve started my research, mainly on notebooks as I’m planning to get one for my mum. It’s high time for her seven-year-old laptop to be replaced. I browsed various notebook manufacturers website, mainly focusing on Dell and Lenovo, various forums (e.g. Hardwarezone), and Intel website for explanation of their very-confusing processor numbers. Gone are the days when it’s easy to understand that Intel Pentium 3GHz is better than Intel Pentium 2.8GHz. Now, instead they have model numbers like T2330, T5470, T7250 and processor families like Core Duo, Core2 Duo and Pentium dual-core. Core2 Duo @ 1.5 GHz is certainly faster than Core Duo @ 1.5 GHz, but is it faster compared to Core Duo @ 1.8 GHz? It’s confusing to say the least.

Here are a couple of points that I’ve tried to understand a little bit better.
- Core2 Duo is a newer technology compared to Core Duo, and therefore it’s more efficient per clock cycle. Core2 Duo 1.5 GHz will probably be on-par with Core Duo 1.8 GHz. Core2 Duo processors starts with T8xxx, T7xxx, and T5xxx.
- Pentium dual-core, as far as I know, are rejected batches of Core2 Duo, and therefore marketed using a different name, cheaper, and generally has half or even a quarter cache memory of Core2 Duo. Pentium dual-core model starts with T2xxx. Some benchmark says that Core2 Duo with the same clock speed perform almost twice compared to Pentium dual-core.
- Models that ends with Txx50 has half of the cache memory of those that ends with Txx00. For example, T7300 has 4MB L2 cache while T7250 only have 2MB L2 cache.

Lenovo G410 with Intel T2370 processor

If you’re reading this, wanting to get a notebook, and think all these processor numbers are very confusing, let me try to summarize some key points for you.
- Be careful with the description, Pentium dual-core is NOT Core Duo or even Core2 Duo. They are simply rejected batches. They are cheaper though.
- If possible, try to get notebooks with Core2 Duo processor (T5xxx, T7xxx, or T8xxx). They are generally S$100-200 more expensive, but I’m sure it’s worth it. The higher the model number, the better it is.

Friday, 7 Mar 2008
After I work, I headed straight to Suntec with two things in mind, Singnet 10Mbps broadband signup, and a new notebook purchase for my mum. I reached there at 6.15pm, and immediately went to queue at Singnet booth. It didn’t take long, probably about 5 mins before I was served.

Me: “Hi, I would like to sign-up for the 10Mbps one”
Sales guy: “What’s your home phone number?”
Me: “Orh, I have Starhub one, can I use that?” (act blur, I knew the answer already)
Sales guy: “No, you have to signup a new phone line with Singtel”
Me: “Very well.”
Sales guy: “Can I have you IC please?”
Me: “Sure”. I took out my wallet, open the compartment where I kept my IC, and went *gasp*

Flash back to last Sunday, 2 March 2008. My sister needed two witnesses for her new born baby to be reported to Indonesian Embassy in Singapore. I was one of the two. They needed a photocopy and original of my IC, so I passed to my sister, and hasn’t gotten it back from her.
Jump back to Friday, 7 March 2008.

Me: “errrrrrmmmmm….. I left my IC”
Sales guy: “How about driving license?”
Me: “I don’t drive.”
Sales guy: “Army card?”
Me: “Don’t have” At this point, I was SOOOOOO upset with myself, how can I ever need my IC in this one week when I didn’t bring it? 
Sales guy: “Sorry, you can’t sign up without your IC”
Me: “Oh well, thanks then” *walks away with head hung low, deflated, and upset*

Mission One failed.

Dell Vostro 1400, one of my initial target

Mission Two, scout for notebook.
There are a couple of notebook models that I have been considering for the past one week, and after getting prices from the show, I narrowed down my choices to three models: Dell Vostro 1400 @ S$1,231, Lenovo G410 @ S$1,099, or Compaq Presario V3638 @ S$1,099.

After asking questions, checking prices, I took myself away to not-so-crowded area to compare. You simply couldn’t stand there around their booth without they bothering you or pushing you to quickly decide to buy. Comparing these three models, in the end I decided that the Compaq Presario was the most worth-for-money, as it’s the only one that gave Core2 Duo processor while the rest only came with Pentium dual-core. Moreover, that Lenovo looks ugly to say the least.

I decided to get this one as it has the best value for money

So, I went back to Compaq booth and said that I would like to get that model. I asked about 0% instalment. They had that, but I need to pay extra 3% for credit card fee. Using NETS will be 1%. The only way not to get extra charge is to pay by cash. I didn’t bring so much cash there and they said the cash in ATMs around Suntec has been completely drained. I thought, since I need to come back here again the next day to signup Singnet, then I decided to come back the next day.

Saturday, 8 Mar 2008
I went to my sis place in the morning to get my IC card, then I went to Suntec (again). I went to Singnet booth, signed up 10Mbps speed with Macbook premium package. Everything went smooth, they mentioned it’ll be activated on the 20th, and within seven days of activation, an Apple representative will contact me to arrange the Macbook delivery. Nice.

They also had a lucky dip for every signup I believe. Out of the possible prizes of notebook, mobile phone, bluetooth headset, I got this.

One pathetic stress ball !!! How worse can it get?

Anyway, I proceeded to Compaq booth. Reached there, looked for the same person who served me the day before (After all, he deserves the commission) and said that I would like to buy that notebook. To my surprise, the prize has dropped from S$1,099 (including GST) to S$999 (excluding GST, which equates to S$1,069). Not much, but a welcomed surprise nonetheless. I checked the notebook before I left, and that’s it for second day.

Mission accomplished, or so I thought.

Upon reaching home, I dig through the receipt from Singnet, and to my horror, instead of “10Mbps with Macbook“, it’s mentioned there “10Mbps with Acer Mini PC“. What ???!!!!!!

Sunday, 9 Mar 2008
I had no choice but to get back to IT Show (again). I need to be sure that I’ll get a Macbook, not Acer Mini PC. C’mon, it’s SOOOOOOOOOO different. I want Macbook anytime. Fortunately, after I talked to three persons in the booth, they made the amendments. Now, I just need to wait for next week for Apple’s representative to call me. I hope there’re no more hiccups, and this Macbook will soon be on my doorstep.

Apple Macbook worth S$1,688

Out of the record S$54.5m in sales generated at IT Show this year, I contributed S$1.1k of it.

Did you buy anything during IT Show?