Computex is one of the oldest technology trade shows going around, having started life as the Taipei Computer Show in the early 80s. In 2019, the event still promises the latest and greatest in computing news. Computex is, after all, the biggest computing event on the tech calendar.
Yes, there’s not quite the mobile focus at Computex that we see at other shows – MWC, IFA and even CES have somewhat pivoted to mobile – but there’s a huge number of people for whom the latest computing news is a big deal.
This year at Computex, there’s a number of big names exhibitors including Acer, Asus, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, MSI, Nvidia, and more, and with names like that, we’re expecting some big announcements in business laptops and also the gaming sector.
The kinds of announcements we’re expecting from Computex this year are new gaming laptops and systems, new chipset improvements from chipmakers AMD and Intel, and the usual assortment of accessories, VR, AI and more.
Here’s a quick rundown of what we’re expecting at this year’s show.
Acer
Earlier this year, Acer has already made a number of announcements in its ConceptD product line, a portfolio designed for creators. The product lineup includes desktops, notebooks, monitors and even a AR/VR headset. These are some powerful systems, featuring Intel Core i9 processors all the way up to server-grade Intel Xeon Gold systems with up to 40 cores. If you’re into powerful computing – or some seriously kick-ass gaming – these are systems designed to wow you.
Probably the most exciting thing that catches my eye is the ConceptD OJO Windows Mixed Reality Headset. Offering head-mounted 4K displays, the OJO headset is designed to blur the lines between reality and “mixed” realities, with patented technology to deliver sharper, clearer images for the most convincing mixed reality experience available.
AMD
AMD is rumoured to announce both new chipsets and also new graphics capabilities. Back at CES 2019, AMD announced new 7nm chipsets in the Zen 2 range, and while it didn’t make any specific product announcements back in January, we understand that AMD may show off some octa-core 16-thread processors at Computex.
Also keep an eye out for AMD Navi 10 graphics; this may be shown off at Computex but not likely to become available until later in the year.
ASUS
ASUS is definitely one of the bigger names in consumer computing in Australia; from gaming laptops to ultrabooks and everything in between, ASUS is a company with fingers in many pies.
While the main press event is scheduled for later this evening, it’s most certain that we’ll see something unique and innovative from ASUS on show; rumours suggest the ASUS ROG Mothership might be one of those things.
Announced earlier this year, it’s what you’d get if you crossed a Microsoft Surface Pro with a desktop-class gaming machine. Possibly one of the most powerful portable machines around, I’d love to see one.
Dell / Alienware
Dell and Alienware are definitely at Computex in force this year, with rumours of “more than a few laptops” to come at this year’s show.
Precisely what those will be we don’t know (and couldn’t tell you even if we did), but Dell’s laptop ranges are hugely popular for consumer and business markets alike, and some of their product lines are due for an update.
We also expect to see some new announcements in Dell’s gaming properties, both with its Alienware hard-core gaming property, and also its entry-point Dell Gaming brand.
Intel
It should come as little surprise that Intel makes some of the fastest processors on the planet, including the top of the line consumer Core i9-9900K processors. Others reckon these aren’t great value, though, and are anticipating Intel will announce something great at Computex this year.
Last year, Intel made a song and dance around a 28-core monster 5GHz processor, however it turned out to be a Xeon-based processor (i.e. rather expensive) and overclocked (reducing its useful life cycle). At $2,999 USD, rather expensive just doesn’t feel like it covers it – we kind of hope Intel is announcing something a bit more consumer friendly.
Other things we may see are chipsets already announced – Intel’s 10nn process Sunny Cove and Ice Lake processors – which, you could argue, need to be Intel’s focus at the moment.
Microsoft
A company that has been a juggernaut in this industry for a long time, it’s unsurprising that Microsoft should be at Computex. Over the last decade, it’s made a huge push into its own-branded hardware line with Surface and accessories, and Windows has almost become sexy in its more recent incarnations, with Windows 10 receiving regular feature updates adding significantly more value to the OS at no charge (taking the lead from Apple, perhaps).
While new Surface devices are probably less likely at this point, we could see Microsoft showing off the new Windows 10 May 2019 feature update, and undoubtedly they’ll be talking up their achievements in cloud computing.
Not especially interesting for the consumer, but huge for business.
Put simply, if you’re big into computing, Computex is your show to watch, and while it seems lots of announcements these days occur at brands’ own events, or at other shows like CES or even MWC, Computex is where it all started, and because of this, it continues to be relevant.
Stay tuned, Duncan and I will be bringing you a curated stream of news from this year’s show as it happens.
