Neo laptops used to have a bad reputation, that of being “madaling masira” and unable to handle the rigors of daily use over a period of time. It also didn’t help that the company chose to label its line of laptops “Basic,” which many consumers probably took to mean they were not up to par with the more advanced models of other computer makers (even though “Basic” in the Neo sense does not mean “offering or consisting in the minimum required without elaboration or luxury” as the dictionary defines it). Deservedly or not, Neo was not the brand one would give when asked for recommendations on what computer to buy; in a world ruled by Dell, HP, Toshiba, and other big players, Neo was, well, a newbie, with all the attendant negative characteristics one would attribute to a neophyte.
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Last week, however, Neo sought to leave this bad rep behind by launching a new line of laptops that marry the power of traditional laptops and the convenience of netbooks — with a sleek form factor that gives them a razor sharp appearance to boot. In so doing, Neo also relaunched itself as a brand that its users can be proud of, one that can go head-to-head with the biggies and carve out a niche for itself. Of course, when Neo released its newest line of computers in Davao City last Friday (October 16, 2009), few of those in attendance were surprised that the company would launch ultra-thin laptops. After all, other companies have already launched their own sleek versions, and computers that are powerful yet easy to carry are no longer a novelty.
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What caught everyone by surprise during the launch of the Edge line of laptops at The Apo View Hotel was the information that Neo is a Filipino company. That information literally made my jaw drop, especially since I and pioneering Davao blogger Oliver “Blogie” Robillo had been wondering aloud about Neo’s corporate identity just before the event started. According to Neo product manager JP Domingo, the Neo brand was launched in May 2003, with Neo notebooks being released later that year. Neo Manufacturing and Services was formally incorporated in January 2008 as a fully Filipino-owned company based in Pasig City, and the same year saw the birth of Neo’s targeted marketing strategy with the launch of its primary notebook product lines: the aforementioned Basic, the colorful Vivid, and the powerful Elan.
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Domingo said Neo sources its parts from the same suppliers that other “branded” computer manufacturers use, but since it is a Filipino company, it is able to sell its computers at much lower prices – without compromising quality. The latest Neo offering shows just how much “bang for buck” one can get these days: the Edge line features the latest advancements in mobile computing, making it feature-rich, powerful, and connected – with a form factor that rivals the convenience of the current crop of netbooks. According to the Neo website, the new Edge laptops “were carefully designed to strike an amazing balance between ultra-portability and performance.”
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The Edge Z3240
The pioneering product in the Edge series is the Neo Edge Z3240, a full-featured but ultra-thin notebook that sports a 13.3” WXGA LCD display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Utilizing an ultra-low voltage Pentium processor with 2 MB of L2 cache and 3 GB of system memory, it is ideal for both business and multimedia applications even on long trips because it has a longer battery life than standard-voltage notebooks. The hard drive size was limited to 120 GB in order to keep the notebook’s weight and thickness at a minimum. The Z3240 is complemented by connectivity options including USB 2.0 and HDMI. VGA, LAN, and additional USB ports are provided by the mini port replicator which is bundled free. It also provides wireless connectivity through Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi, and most notably 3G/HSDPA using a local 3G-enabled SIM card. Arguably the most notable feature of the Edge Z3240 is its ultra-thin design, sleek silver metal finish, and lightweight construction, tipping the scale at less than 1.5 kilos and thinner than 22 mm all throughout.
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The Edge Z3265
Next in line is the Edge Z3265, which is sligtly thicker at 23 mm but still thinner than most netbooks. It has the same 13.3” LCD size and aspect ratio with the added bonus of HD resolution. Running on an ultra-low voltage Core 2 Duo processor with 3 MB of L2 cache and 2 GB of system memory, the Edge Z3265 boasts of a much higher CPU class with dual core advantage to boot. The 320 GB SATA hard drive is also more than double the capacity of the previous model. It is complemented by connectivity options including USB 2.0 ports and HDMI for playing high definition video and audio content on compatible HD LCD screens. It also provides wireless connectivity through Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi, and 3G/HSDPA.
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The Edge Z1280
And what computer company doesn’t make netbooks these days? Third in line is the Edge Z1280, which features a 10” widescreen LCD and weighs less than 1.4 kilo even with a 6-cell battery. Powered by Intel’s Atom N280 processor technology, which was designed with the Internet and low power consumption in mind, its performance is greatly enhanced by the free upgrade to 2GB of RAM and a jump to 320 GB hard disk space. Additional features such as a multi-format card reader, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth give more storage and wireless connectivity.
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The Edge Z3240 is priced at P45,999 while the Edge Z3260 is at P49,999 — still a little steep for many buyers, but some will be enticed to buy them for the convenience of having something they can carry without breaking their shoulders or backs. The Z1280 is more attractively priced at P23,999 — about the average for netbooks in the Philippines, but this one has a whopping 320 GB of hard disk space while others top off at 120 GB or 160 GB. Domingo said the Edge line is not expected to ease out its Basic laptops, but the new products are seen to “heighten our brand image.” Like he said at the start of the press launch, the Neo brand itself was being relaunched, and what better way to do it than to introduce a line that, well, has a razor-sharp edge?
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