Urban India is seeing a rising demand for notebooks and their accessories. We were present at what can be said to be, a timely launch, of Targus’ line of laptop carry-cases, mice, presenters and other peripherals.
The notebook cases are grouped into three distinct collections, viz. Hughes, Crave and Spruce EcoSmart. The Hughes collection is crafted for corporate use. The 15.6†Hughes Laptop Roller TER013AP and 15.6†Hughes Laptop Case TET029AP come in the color black and are three layered. They are shock-absorbent, water-resistant, stain-guarded with micro-suede scratch-resistant pockets, oil tanned leather touches and a reinforced Hypalon base. The Roller has a concealed garment section, a three-tier telescopic handle and in-built skate wheels. The other model sports an adjustable shoulder and luggage strap.
Targus’ president and CEO, Mike Hoopis, remarked, “The company’s consumer-focused design has been incorporated into our new logo, brand ID, packaging, website, and most importantly, our new line of laptop cases and accessories. With laptops and notebooks becoming the primary interface for how people around the world interact, Targus sought to embrace this evolution by designing an entire line of accessories and cases that support consumers as they navigate through the blurred lines of learning, working, sharing and playing.â€
The Crave array has a 10.2†Netbook Case TSS112AP, a 16†Backpack TSB158AP and four Laptop Slipcases namely, the 15.6†TSS113AP, 13.4†TSS129AP, 12†TSS130AP and 10.2†TSS131AP. The blue colored ‘bomber-jacket’ like exterior and vivid green scratch-resistant micofiber interior are fabricated with tough, waterproof and stain-resistant nylon. The collection has double foam padding and a front zippered section for accessory storage. The Backpack model boasts of a soft, air-ventilated back panel with shoulder straps. These products are designed with students and young professionals in mind.
The last but not least important in the carry-case line is the EcoSmart Spruce Top Loaded TBT049AP, Spruce Messenger TBM015AP and Spruce Backpack TBB013AP. Each weighs around 1kg and come in dimensions of 39.7 x 10.8 x 33.7cm, 42.2 x 11.1 x 33cm and 33 x 21 x 47.6cm, respectively. For the eco-friendly user, the products are manufactured from 100% recycled nylon, fully recyclable plastic constituents and come nickel-free. All of the company’s cases are sold with a lifetime warranty.
The TER013AP and TET029AP are tagged at Rs.8,500 and Rs.5,500, respectively. The TSB158AP, TSS112AP, 13.4†and 15.6†Slipcases, 10.2†and 12†Slipcases come at Rs.2,500, Rs.1,500, Rs.1,250 and Rs.1,150, respectively. The EcoSmart Top Load costs Rs.3,000, while the Messenger and Backpack cost Rs.3,500, each.
“In recognition of the fact that notebooks have shifted from being corporate tools to being an integral part of everyday life, Targus has made a big investment in consumer research and a world-class product design capability. This has given us a deeper understanding of many key user profiles and their needs. Our main design centre is in Anaheim, CA, but we today have a design centre in Hong Kong that focuses on developing products for the Asian region,†stated Steve Norman, Managing Director, Targus APAC.
The company has sought to penetrate the accessory market by introducing a line of mice, presenters, USB hubs, keypad, and netbook cooling solutions. The ergonomically crafted mice have clever side grips, embedded scroll wheels and simple button layouts. The Wireless Optical Mouse AMW50AP has a 1,000 DPI optical sensor, power indicator, 12-month battery life and features RF 2.4GHz technology. The Comfort Laser Mouse AMW51AP boasts of a 1,200 DPI sensor, 15-month battery life, power indicator and micro USB receiver. The Cord-Storing Optical Mouse AMU76AP retracts or extends the cord length up to 2.5 feet, according to user requirement and features 1,000 DPI technology.
The mice are Mac, PC as well as laptop compatible and come at Rs.1.500, Rs.2,000 and Rs.1,000, respectively.
Answering the need for USB hubs, the ACH111AP 4-port USB hub offers users just that. Devices like iPods, MP3 players and smartphones can be charged by attaching them to the ports. The black colored, AKP10AP Numeric Keypad has 19mm buttons which proves handy when typing numbers onto spreadsheets and comes with a 3 foot USB cable. The Lap Chill Mat AWE55AP helps disperse heat with dual USB powered fans and has four rubber stops on its face to reduce the risk of the laptop slipping off it. It is made from soft neoprene material. The Compact Laptop Desk AWE56AP can be folded to fit easily into a traveling case. This magazine-thin mobile worktable has surface ventilation and two ambidextrous mousing areas. It is built to work as an elevated and tilted laptop stand too.
The USB hub is priced at Rs.750 and the keypad at Rs.1,000. The Chill Mat costs Rs.1,750, while the Laptop Desk comes at Rs.1,250.
