“This is the era of science, the era of the IT sector,” Dahal said at the inauguration ceremony at the City Hall. Dahal said how a person, organization or a nation utilized technology, especially IT, shows the level of progress they have made in today´s world. “IT itself is nothing, but it is something that can push society to progress. Until and unless the economic sector progresses our vision of a new Nepal will not materialize. Economic progress relies on this IT sector.”
Dahal also sought a partnership between the government and the IT sector through CAN for integration of technology so that it could properly contribute to the nation’s progress.
Highlights
- J-Pro laptop at Rs 12,000
- Pendrives: 1GB@275, 2GB@450, 4GB@650, 8GB@1,280
Samsung Digital Photo FrameDipesh Shrestha/MyRepublica.com
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42,826 visit CAN InfoTech on day two
Meanwhile, CAN President Suresh K Karna asked for more role and authority for IT governing body like the High-level Commission for Information Technology (HLCIT).
Karna also took a dig at the government’s inability to provide the country with adequate power. “Electricity is a lifeline for software developers. I urge all households to shut down their refrigerators from 10 am to 4 pm so that there is enough power to use computers,” he said.
Karna also asked the government agencies and offices to adopt the Nepali Unicode which he said would not only bring uniformity but also cut costs. He asked the government to bring out policies tap the huge business outsourcing market. “Not much of this phenomenon has been seen in Nepal. We need a policy to attract investors. A policy which can also attract non-resident Nepalis to act as partners and find our market,” he said.
The fair, which will be held at Exhibition Hall in Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu until January 19, has 15 pavilions and 223 stalls and is being participated by 120 exhibitors.
MP9 Pocket Video RecorderDipesh Shrestha/MyRepublica.com
Exhibitors mainly include sellers and resellers of computers and peripherals plus technical colleges and institutions, sellers of generators, inverters and UPSs, software, cell phone handsets, security devices and telecom service providers.
The biggest range of products this year are laptops. Brands offered are HP, Acer, Toshiba, Sony Vio, Lenovo, Asus, MSI and Fujitsu to name a few.
The biggest thing when the show opened to the public Wednesday noon was Digistrust Enterprises and its Rs 12,000 ‘Mini Laptop´. Manufactured by JoinTech, the 225mmx165mmx36mm J-Pro JL7100 has a 7-inch TFT LCD screen and runs on a 400 MHz processor. It runs on a Windows CE 5.0 operating system and has a 64MB on-board RAM. The 0.80 kg computer has a battery life of four hours, runs various multi media and comes with MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint and other software. Another offer at the stall is the MP9, a ‘pocket video recorder’. The Pen-shaped device has a 1.3 megapixel camera and comes in two capacities – a 2GB device at Rs 2,200 and a 4GB device at Rs 3,200. Both products are covered by a 3-month warranty.
Visitors inquiring about J-Pro LaptopDipesh Shrestha/MyRepublica.com
Big draws at previous CAN Info-Techs were ultra cheap pen drives. This year, however, there are only a few such offers with 1GB drives starting at Rs 275, 2GB at Rs 450, 4GB at Rs 650 and 8GB at Rs 1,280.
A product that is sure to interest visitors is the Samsung Digital Photo Frame. The SPF 105V is the top end of the product offered, going at Rs 21,500. The 10-inch screen can even play movies saved in a portable drive or memory card and also through WiFi. The frame also has a slot for CF and SD/MMC cards. Other Samsung Digital Photo Frames are the E series, which has a 7-inch screen and is priced at Rs 8,800 and two of the F series. The 7-inch F-series frame is priced at Rs 13,500 and the 8-inch model at Rs 15,500. Both series can take SD and MMC cards. The F-series and the 105V have touch buttons on their front while the E-series has the button on the back.
Internet service providers (ISPs) have also come out with CAN offers. WorldLink has offered special rates plus 10 percent discount on a year’s advance payment and five percent on six month advance payment on cable internet; and discounts between five to 15 percent on WiZoom. On Dial-up, it has offered equal hours as bonus on pre-paid hours while unlimited dial-up services limited to one phone line has been offered at Rs 3,500. Other discounts are also offered on WorldCall service and other services. WorldLink is also launching three new products.
Similarly, Mercantile Communications Pvt Ltd has unveiled various new rates and extended hours in internet.
Logitech CAN Info-Tech 2009
Date: January 14-19
Time: 10:00 am to 05:00 pm
Venue: Exhibition Hall, Bhrikuti Mandap
Tickets: Rs 50 (Rs 25 for students)
Rs 100 on Friday
