A non-tech geek guide to Gitex Shopper

Saturday, Sep 29, 2012

I recently found out that an ice-cream sandwich is not just an item on the dessert menu, it’s codename for an Android mobile operating system. The techies smirking at this scoop may well forgive my ignorance—after all I am a self-confessed technophobe.

We don’t go to AA-type meetings and sit in a circle to talk about our problems (‘Hi, I’m Deena and I’m a technophobic’) but buying an expensive hi-tech gadget can be unnerving for some of us.

The first day of Gitex Shopper kicked off yesterday with 30,000 products in a retail space of 35,000 square meters—an overwhelming experience for the average gadgets enthusiast.

So if you’re not a tech geek and Bluetooth sounds like an alarming case that needs a dental check-up, but you’re determined to get onto the latest gadget bandwagon, the show can get overwhelming.

Which model should you opt for? Are you paying more for fancy buttons that you’ll never use? Should you get an ultrabook because it looks shiny and sleek?

So many choices and the product specification labels look like an exam you didn’t study for.

If you’re investing a lot of money in technology that changes all the time, it’s perfectly understandable to take your time looking around first.

It took me four months to finally commit to a new smartphone (iPhone or Samsung? Maybe Blackberry? What’s the difference?). After endless discussions with friends and my deputy Business editor and long-time tech consultant Scott Shuey, hours browsing the stores and asking dumb questions (or so they seemed to the sales staff) I am now the proud new owner of a smartphone (it has a strange woman that asks me politely ‘what can I help you with?’ but I ask you, why does this virtual assistant have to be a woman?).

In short, committing to a machine is tough.

To help you navigate your way around Gitex Shopper this year, we asked electronics store managers and company heads for their top tips.

-- Know what you want: do you want a laptop for business purposes? Or a tablet for entertainment? According to one store manager, sales staff at Gitex will spend an average of 3 minutes with a customer before moving to the next to maximize their chances of sealing a deal.

-- Do research. Browse online, ask tech-savvy friends, or check out the product leaflets distributed by retailers for comparison.

--Don’t just purchase a device because it is the latest, find something that fits your needs to avoid splurging on features you won’t use.

--Ask the sales staff to skip the jargon.

--Understand how to use the device and its capabilities.

--Don’t get too carried away by the bundle offers. Do you want the main product? Are the freebies worthwhile?

--Go to a credible retailer and begin with entry-level products

By Deena Kamel Yousef Staff Reporter