Johannesburg, South Africa - Information technology company ASUS has grown from a little known entity in South Africa to currently having 12% of the local consumer market and being the number one gaming notebook brand in the country with about 50% of market share. According to Yolandi Venter, ASUS’ marketing manager for system products focusing on sub-Saharan Africa, the company entered the South African market 10 years ago focusing on its components business. Venter says the company’s move into the South African market was an obvious decision by the group as it was already doing well globally. Today the Taiwanese company’s portfolio in the South African market includes motherboards, graphics cards, networking, notebooks, laptops and cell phones. As of 2013, ASUS decided to put more of its resources into consumer electronic products and has since seen it grow from the number nine notebook vendor to currently holding the number 3 position. The company’s gaming division has seen rapid growth, whilst its 2-in-1 devices (notebooks with detachable or convertible screens) are struggling to gain a foothold in the local market, which has become very price sensitive. ASUS' commitment to South Africa is seen in the fact that it has invested more money in its local operations over the last six months compared to any previous half-year period. This includes a more than tripling of its market and product spending. The local operation has moved away from tablet (Android-based) equipment due to the aggressive white label products streaming into the market. (A white label product is produced by one company which other companies rebrand to make it look as if they have produced it.) “We can see clearly that the top one and two vendors are continuously bustling for that number one spot in the market. For us, making sure we have steady growth is key at the moment and not so much pushing to be number one.” Venter adds that mainstream products are still ASUS’ focus …
ASUS Announces VivoBook X541
Mainstream 14in and 15in laptops powered by up to 6th-gen Intel Core processors, with exclusive ASUS SonicMaster technology for immersive audio and powerful bass. Johannesburg, South Africa (11 July 2016) — ASUS has announced the VivoBook Series, mainstream 14- and 15-inch laptops designed for immersive entertainment and daily productivity. VivoBook Series laptops are powered by up to 6th-generation Intel® Core™ processors, and feature up to discrete NVIDIA® GeForce® graphics and 16GB RAM. These laptops have ASUS SonicMaster-enhanced 3W transmission-line speakers with 24cc audio chambers for truly powerful audio delivery, an ergonomic keyboard with 2.3mm key travel, and a large touchpad with palm-rejection technology. These lightweight, portable laptops are available in Silver Gradient, Chocolate Brown, Red, White, and Aqua Blue. Designed for an immersive multimedia experience ASUS VivoBook Series laptops are mainstream models designed to give users a high-end multimedia experience. The ASUS SonicMaster-enhanced 3W transmission-line speakers with 24cc audio chambers deliver rich deep bass and immersive audio, while ASUS AudioWizard provides five pre-set audio modes for different kinds of content. ASUS Tru2Life video technology optimizes the contrast and sharpness of every pixel in every video frame for incredibly realistic visuals with rich detail. ASUS Splendid features four modes (Normal, Eye Care, Vivid, and Manual) to cater to users’ requirements, and optimizes visuals for richer and deeper colours. Normal mode is ideal for daily computing tasks. Eye Care mode reduces blue light by up to 33% to protect users’ eyes. Vivid mode enhances image colour, contrast and sharpness for livelier visuals, and Manual mode lets users adjust and save their preferred colour temperature settings. Accurate, intuitive input and navigation ASUS VivoBook X Series laptops feature a seamless one-piece chiclet keyboard with 2.3mm of key travel — the same as higher-end …
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ASUS Announces Transformer Mini T102
The world’s lightest detachable 2-in-1 Windows PC, featuring premium all-metal construction and an integral kickstand with stepless Smart Hinge. Johannesburg, South Africa — ASUS has announced the Transformer Mini T102, the world’s lightest 2-in-1 Windows PC. This ultra-light 10.1-inch 2-in-1 is also the first in the series to feature the new magnetically-attached ASUS Transformer Cover Keyboard. Transformer Mini T102 is designed for extreme portability. Constructed entirely from premium magnesium-aluminium alloy, T102’s 8.2mm-thin tablet weighs a mere 530g — rising to just 790g when configured as a conventional laptop with the slim, lightweight ASUS Transformer Cover Keyboard attached. The integral full-width kickstand on the tablet features a stepless Smart Hinge that allows Transformer Mini to be positioned comfortably at viewing angles up to 170°. A high-resolution, anti-glare touchscreen display with up to 400cd/m2 brightness ensures clear and sharp visuals. ASUS Quick Launch enables users to initiate a variety of actions using on-screen gestures — for example, to launch apps, put T102 into sleep mode or wake it up — and ASUS Instant ID uses the built-in fingerprint sensor for instant login with Windows Hello. With its incredibly long 11-hour battery life, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, full-size USB 3.0 port, and complete Windows 10 functionality, Transformer Mini T102 is the ultimate lightweight mobile companion. Extreme portability, premium design At the heart of ASUS Transformer Mini is a tablet constructed entirely from extremely light yet strong magnesium-aluminium alloy, finely sandblasted to give it a smooth, luxurious matte finish that is also tough and durable. This superior material has sufficient rigidity to allow the tablet to be amazingly compact, while remaining incredibly light — it weighs only 530g and is just 8.2mm thin. The tablet is available in one of two chic colours: sophisticated Quartz Gray and classic Pearl White. Smart …
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Stylish and compact all-metal detachable 2-in-1 laptop features a reversible hinge for added versatility.
ASUS Announces Transformer Book T101 Johannesburg, South Africa - ASUS has announced Transformer Book T101, the latest addition to its successful series of 2-in-1 detachable laptops. The 10.1-inch Transformer Book T101 has a premium metallic design and is light and compact, weighing only 580g as a tablet or just 1.08kg with the keyboard attached. It features a reversible magnetic hinge that allows its display to be flipped over, giving the convenience of four versatile modes: a conventional lightweight laptop, a handy tablet, tent mode for easy screen-sharing, and stand mode as a personal movie theater. With its incredibly long up to 11-hour battery life, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, full-size USB port, and complete Windows 10 functionality, Transformer Book T101 is the ideal mobile companion. Durable and stylish: ASUS Transformer Book T101 is stylish and elegant, with a premium all-aluminium tablet and a keyboard surround that features a chic honeycomb-inspired textured pattern. The aluminium construction not only looks great, but it makes Transformer Book T101 more durable and resistant to everyday knocks and bumps than rival products with a cheaper plastic construction. Lightweight aluminium also allows Transformer Book T101’s tablet to be very slim and light at only 580g, making it ideal as a mobile lifestyle companion. The device is available in three vibrant colours: Rose Gold, Mint Green and Glacier Gray. Versatile reversible hinge: ASUS Transformer Book T101 features a reversible magnetic hinge connecting the tablet and keyboard. This solidly-engineered hinge allows the tablet to be detached, flipped over and reattached, giving two convenient extra modes in addition to the standard laptop and tablet configurations. Tent mode is great for sharing the screen contents with a group of people, while stand mode turns Transformer Book T101 into a compact personal movie theatre. Powerful, precisely positioned magnets ensure that the tablet can be attached …
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ASUS is empowering women one game at a time.
This month is all about women empowerment and the ASUS GL752VW does exactly that with a bit of help from Lara Croft, of course. This dignified member of the ASUS GL series perfectly captured every inch of Lara Croft’s hardship whilst playing Rise of the Tomb Raider at High settings with V-Sync turned on. With its large 17’3 inch IPS screen, I found myself breathless and in awe of the game’s scenic semi open-world. As a girl (a very tiny one, if I might add) I found that for a gaming notebook weighing in at around 3kg, it was quite a comfortable travel companion and I could easily take it anywhere with me (and it didn’t complain about my driving once). Though I’m sure wincing at Lara’s expressiveness while fighting off immortal guardians in the lost city of Kitezh isn’t exactly something my hairdresser will find impressive, but it is something to keep in mind when you’re taking on your busy, everyday-woman schedule, because let’s be honest, we live in a world where girls actually do have day jobs. Not to mention, a world where female characters have become the rescuers instead of the damsels in distress. The Tomb Raider franchise has come a long way: From angular silhouettes to blatant female objectification and finally, successfully rebooting the series into one of gaming’s biggest symbols of female self-empowerment. The GL752VW helped me witness the detailed humanization of a character that was once objectified beyond repair. Not only was the game a great endeavour for the female gaming community, but the ASUS GL752VW so ideally complimented it and exploited which was, ultimately, a great adventure with Ms. Croft. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …
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ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces Third Leg of ROG Community Challenge
Johannesburg, South Africa — ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has announced the third leg of the ROG Join the Republic Community Challenge at Taipei Challenge, which will be held at Syntrend Creative Park, Taipei from 27th-28th August, 2016. The challenge features eight Counter-Strike: Global Offensive teams, each helmed by some of the biggest names in gaming and eSports. The Taiwan Join the Republic Community Challenge qualifying rounds began in July, with events held in Taichung, Kaohsiung and Taipei. The four winning teams (Eat You Alive, TaiwanZ, MAIyang, and RAEG) will compete for a place in the ROG Join the Republic Grand Final, as well as a place in the ROG Masters Grand Final in November. Taiwanese pro-gamer Yi “Luke” Chun Tseng has been chosen to captain the Taiwan ROG Join the Republic Community Challenge team for the Grand Final. Future ROG Join the Republic Community Challenges will be held at PAX West, Paris Games Week and PAX Aus. The Grand Final will be held at the end of the year. Event dates and locations: 27th to 28th August 2016: Taipei Challenge in Taipei, Taiwan 2nd to 5th September 2016: PAX West in Seattle, USA 27th to 31st October 2016: Paris Games Week in Paris, France 4th to 6th November 2016: PAX Aus in Melbourne, Australia Grand Final: Details to be announced at a later date For additional information, please visit http://www.therepublicawaits.com CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …
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The global market share for ASUS gaming laptops for the first half of 2016 exceeds that of its three top competitors combined, GfK Group research reveals.
Johannesburg, South Africa — ASUS has announced that it has solidified its position as the number one gaming laptop brand worldwide, according to sales data compiled by GfK Group, an independent market research company. For the second consecutive year, ASUS gaming laptops with NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX Series graphics cards have the largest global market share based on unit sales. In separate research, gaming research firm Newzoo found that ASUS is the top PC gaming brand in the US market. ASUS gaming laptops dominate the NVIDIA GeForce GTX Series segment For the second year in a row, ASUS gaming laptops with NVIDIA GeForce GTX Series graphics cards topped the global sales market, according to established market research firm GfK Group. GfK Group’s data for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX-powered laptop segment shows that the global market share for ASUS gaming laptops was 40% based on sales from January-June 2016, which equals the 40% share the company recorded in the same time period last year. This figure is more than the combined share (36%) of its three major competitors, with the closest competitor only registering a 13% market share. ASUS gained considerable growth in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa (META) and Asia-Pacific (APAC) markets, with a 43% and 36% market share respectively. Market share figures for both these markets have increased by five percentage points compared to the same period last year. ASUS is the preferred PC gaming brand for US gamers The latest data from Newzoo, a prestigious third-party data agency specialising in the gaming industry, places ASUS as the top PC gaming brand in the US, with most American PC gamers preferring ASUS desktops and laptops. Newzoo's findings are based on the use of Overwolf — a platform for competitive gamers that has a user base of 12 million PC gamers — as part of its new PC Gaming Hardware Tracker, which includes more than 40 countries. ASUS announces the world’s most powerful gaming laptop: …
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ASUS to thrill guests at ESWC South African Qualifiers
Johannesburg, South Africa – This year Cape Town will host the second EGE (Electronic and Gaming Expo) at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 29 to 31 July. “With the growth of the Gaming and Tech community in the Western Cape we expect EGE to be the biggest gaming expo Cape Town has seen this year. To add to the already booming hype around E-Sports in South Africa, ASUS, EGE and Orena will be hosting the qualifying round of the E-Sports World Convention 2016 CS:GO Tournament” said Reuben Naude, Marketing Specialist and OPBG for Sub-Saharan Africa at ASUS. ASUS has also sponsored 10 robustly impressive machines as well as 10, 144hz 24” monitors that will be used by players during the final stages of the CS:GO Tournament at EGE which will take place on Sunday from 10:00. “As ASUS, we plan on offering visitors an epic ROG (Republic of Gamers) experience with an ASUS stand featuring all our greatest and latest products from motherboards, monitors to gaming routers. We will also display pure works of art as Enigma Mods (Martin Le Roux) has crafted four masterpiece PC Mods that house the newest and most powerful components on the market for visitors to experience”, Naude added. “Attending EGE this year will be the perfect opportunity for you to experience the World’s first water-cooled gaming notebook. The GX700 is designed to deliver superior overclocking performance to go toe-to-toe with extreme gaming desktops. On its own, it packs quite a punch, and easily outperforms other gaming laptops on the market. It even fits snugly in your backpack, so you can dominate LAN parties too.” Said Yolandi Venter, Marketing Manager for System products focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa at ASUS. As if that is not enough, ASUS has collaborated with NVidia and the HTC Vive to bring visitors the thrilling experience of Virtual Reality which is powered by two of their beastly STRIX GTX 1080 Graphics Cards. Rebeltech will also be running some exclusive and …
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South Africa continues to face an IT talent crisis at every level
ASUS pushes for improved IT skills development. Information and communications technology (ICT) skills in South Africa continue to be scarce both in the retail and distribution arena as well as at the corporate level, which faces what research organisation Gartner calls a global “talent crisis” of immense proportions. “In retail and distribution, with a specific focus on consumers, there are simply not enough skilled people with the technical savvy to understand the differences in the latest technology that companies like ASUS provides,” says Werner Joubert, Product Country Head (ACZA). “The challenge is that while the average consumer doesn’t have the knowledge to understand these technologies, unfortunately most sales staff aren’t necessarily sufficiently educated either. We obviously don’t want consumers to purchase products they don’t need, or the wrong product for the wrong job.” But it is at corporate level where there is a real skills crisis at almost every ICT level, which has a dire effect on South African businesses. “According to the 2016 JCSE ICT Skills Survey -- released in July -- back in 2010, 45 percent of respondents reported the skills shortage was negatively impacting their businesses,” said Joubert. “In the following four years, the figure remained steady at around 60 to 66 percent. But in 2016, the gap jumped again with 71 percent of businesses stating at least a major effect, while as much as 29 percent say it is a threat to their viability.” SA as a destination of choice Joubert added that in 2015, industry insiders were reporting that South Africa needed between 30 000 and 70 000 skilled IT workers. “This year, the ICT Skills Survey found this shortage so considerable that the percentage of corporates recruiting overseas has more than doubled, from only 12 percent in 2014 to 26 percent this year.” Interestingly, the survey found that of the few respondents who did specify their sources preferred African countries, while …
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Powerful, Portable and Connected
Why Laptops are the Perfect Study Companions Laptops are an essential item for students today who use them as an integral part of their studies, in lectures and for collaboration. According to research done by the Pew Internet Project in America, close on 90% of students in universities and colleges have laptops and 100% use the Internet. The University of Michigan’s Centre for Research on Learning and Teaching concludes from research done that laptops have a positive learning effect when teachers use them in an intentional manner, such as for Internet research, presentations and shared resources. Nursing student, Rachelle Macaulay, says that she takes her laptop to class to follow her lecturers’ slides and course-related Internet videos. Most universities have Intranets for the students and lecturers to share information. Kendra Hudson, a Sport Science student at the University of Stellenbosch, said that students have laptops because they need to get information from their departmental Intranet pages which their lecturers post online for them. The university has computer rooms, but not many people use them, preferring to use their laptops at home or in their residence rooms. Considering the important role laptops play in a student’s life, what are the core criteria to look at when buying one? Portability The first check-list item is laptops need to be light and portable if they are to be taken to class. Recently, there has been a move towards ultrabooks - laptops which are small and light yet are strong and powerful. Jimmy Gumede, from the Wits University Computer and Networks Service Desk, said that the major benefit students get from an ultrabook is portability. Screen Size and Resolution A 13,3 inch screen is a good size to take to lectures: not too small, but big enough to view spreadsheets and documents, and it should have a resolution of at least 1920 x 1080 to give you an ultra-crisp display. Robustness Durability …