The hottest gadgets in the biting cold

EVERY year there are quite a few computer shows in our country, with one of the biggest being BCS Computer Show organised by Bangladesh Computer Samity. BCS Computer Show takes place almost every year and attracts a considerable number of people since many companies take this chance to announce their newest products and technologies.

This year the long awaiting seven-day long BCS Computer Show 2003 started with the catchword - 'Where technology meets people' at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre (BCFCC) at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in a cold winter morning on January 12. Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan inaugurated the show as chief guest while Post and Telecommunications Minister Aminul Haque and Science and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Secretary Karar Mahmudul Hassan were present as special guests on the occasion.

At a glimpse

At the show, 112 companies are exposing their products in 222 stalls. Among the companies there are 30 software developer companies having 35 stalls, 55 computer hardware companies with 150 stalls, 8 Internet Service Providers (ISP) companies with 12 stalls, 11 ICT based magazines and other companies with 14 stalls.

The hardware Elysium

In spite of the biting cold, the cool hardware gadgets at the 12th BCS Computer Show 2003 attracted a huge crowd everyday. According to the fair authority almost ten thousand visitors including three hundred students from different schools of the city visited the fair. The fair, being held beside the Dhaka International Trade Fair 2003 is also attracting crowds. Many companies have brought new products on the occasion of the exposition. The one and only Intel 3.06 GHz Pentium 4 processor has been offered by Business Link.

DVD and CD writers are among the top picks at the show. Excel technologies has introduced Liteon CD and DVD players and writers. DVD players are priced at Tk. 2700 and 52X CD writers at Tk. 5100. Spectrum, Dolphin, Khan Jahan Ali Computers have introduced clone Notebook computers at a very reasonable price, ranged from Tk. 51,000 to 85,000. Almost every company at the show are offering special discounts and gifts. Apart from these there are digital cameras, combo CD, DVD, MP3 players, surround speaker system, wireless network products and many more cool hardware gadgets. Simply it is a hardware paradise for any tech person.

The software showcase

This year BCS Computer Show has attracted more software houses then ever before. Houses like CSL Software Resources Ltd has introduced their products like Kandaree, an ERP software for garment industry and other packages like ISP Billing, Dena Paona, Dheeraj, Nidhee, Shaktee, Kormee and Shomostee. Enterprise Accounting by Promiti Computers and Network (Pvt.) Limited is a very attractive package. Software companies such as ConnectBD Software, Daffodil Software and many more are also offering some good software and multimedia packages. The most interesting part of the fair is that there are no pirated software sold at the fair.

The gaming zone

If you all recall the gaming revolution of the country Dhaka Racing, the first 3D game developed in Bangladesh, is being marketed at the BCS Computer Show 2003. This full version of the game is being offered by eSophers and is priced at Tk. 200. The company has also taken some initiatives to protect their copyright. Another demo of a 3D game developed by CSL Software Resources Ltd can be experienced at the show. The demo is mind-blowing and everyone who sees it will await its release.

Tech education

Almost all the IT training institutes taking part at the BCS Computer Show are offering discounted prices on tech training. Companies like Base Limited, IT dot One Limited, Dot Com Systems, Daffodil Institute of IT are offering special discounts at the fair. Other companies are also offering attractive offers at the show.

ISP paradise

This year's BCS Show seems to be leaded by the ISPs (Internet Service Provides). The latest trends in Internet connectivity and solutions are offered by these companies. Companies such as DNS Network Systems Limited, Link 3 Technologies Limited, Agni Systems are focusing on high speed internet solutions such as Cable, radiolink, DSL etc. Other companies such as BOL, Aftab IT are offering prepaid cards. Global Online Services Limited, a Texas Group company launched 'serveU' to ensure 24 hours customers' connectivity with smoother and uninterrupted services.

Seminars and programming contest

Everyday seminar and a programming contest made the BCS Computer Show more colourful and a learning centre for the tech lovers. The seminars also attracted many people towards the fair.

Overall the people of the country have never experienced such a BCS Computer Show in the past. The fair is improving every year and attracting more companies as well as customers. Lets hope every year it will bring more to the tech lovers of the country.

The fair will come to an end on January 18.