Bennett Ring23 June 2008, 7:50 AM
Taking out a couple of prestigious Computex awards hasn't gone to MSI's head
If Computex is the hardware world’s equivalent of the Academy Awards, then winning one of its “Best of” awards is like taking home a little golden statues. This year MSI was the No Country for Old Men of the show, taking home a couple of the most prestigious awards.
The new P45 Diamond motherboard and GX620 notebook both won the “Best Choice of Computex Taipei 2008” awards, effectively validating both products as best in class. The high end P45 stood out as an industry leader thanks to its DrMOS chip, Circu-Pipe liquid water cooling system and extensive overclocking options. The GX620’s main claim to fame are its multimedia capabilities, with Dolby accredited surround sound, as well as its unique chassis, with demonstration models at the show having a wood-grain finish. If the Brady Bunch were still around, we’re sure this laptop would take pride of place alongside their wood-panelled station wagon.
We contacted MSI’s Australian Channel Sales and Marketing Manager, Harlem Chiang, after receiving an email announcing the win, who modestly stated “We won something during Computex … beating Asus and Gigabyte …. and everyone else.” When quizzed on whether the win was a surprise to MSI, Mr Chiang replied that given the company’s prior success at Computex, it wasn’t unforeseen. However, it was interesting to hear Mr Chiang’s belief that “I personally believe the quality of MSI product (Motherboard, VGA, Notebook) has been under-rated in Australia for quite a long time. “ He went on to reiterate that its range of products are “...not inferior to any of our competitors.”
Mr Chiang finished up by stating that the brand has a stronger reputation overseas than it does in Australia, saying that “while enjoying successes from overseas, we will be focus on how to get regain brand awareness/perception and customer’s confidence/satisfaction in Australia.” Considering the
above average MSI products APC has tested in the past, hearing this feedback came as something of a surprise. Hopefully the recent win at Computex will go some way to helping MSI regain confidence within the Australian market.