ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces Oculus Ready ROG G752VS/VM

KEY POINTS

• Oculus has certified ROG G752VS and ROG G752VM as Oculus Ready .
• High-performance gaming laptops feature NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10-Series graphics, the latest Intel Core processors, and up to 64GB DDR4 memory.
• Both models join the ASUS G11CD and ROG G20CB gaming desktops in the ASUS collection of Oculus Ready PCs.

Johannesburg, South Africa — ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has announced that the ROG G752VS and ROG G752VM gaming laptops are now certified Oculus Ready PCs. The announcement was made at the Oculus Connect 3 Developer Conference in San Jose, California.  

Both models are the world’s first gaming laptops to meet the recommended specifications required to power Oculus Rift, and feature NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 10-Series graphics, the latest Intel® Core™ processors, and up to 64GB of DDR4 memory. The VR-Ready NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10-series graphics cards provide exceptional performance and energy efficiency to give gamers incredible virtual-reality (VR) gaming experiences. These graphics cards also feature NVIDIA G-SYNC™ technology to reduce lag and stutter, and eliminate visual tearing to ensure the smoothest and fastest gaming visuals.

“Enabling the ultimate gaming experience for gamers is at the heart of ASUS,” said Joe Hsieh, Corporate Vice President. “We are bringing an immersive VR experience to gamers by expanding our collection of Oculus Ready PCs with the ROG G752VS/VM gaming laptops.”

The partnership between ASUS and Oculus™ is aimed at offering gamers a truly immersive gaming experience. With ROG G752VS and ROG G752VM joining the ASUS G11CD and ROG G20CB gaming desktops, ASUS expands its collection of Oculus Ready PCs.

The Oculus Ready badge is earned by only a select few PCs. All Oculus Ready PCs undergo stringent testing to ensure that ports, firmware, operating systems and other features are up to Oculus standards.  System hardware is put through 17 rigorous performance and reliability tests to ensure the system is fully Oculus Ready. This includes a 72-hour stress test, along with the repeated swapping of hardware ports to ensure connectivity and reliability. After a battery of over 100 tests, each Oculus Ready PC is graded out of 10 possible points to ensure full compatibility with the Oculus Rift headset.

Oculus Ready PCs: ROG G752VS and ROG G752VM

ROG G752VS features the latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card, an unlocked 6th-generation Intel Core i7 (‘Skylake’) processor and up to 64GB of DDR4 memory. The unlocked processor has an overclocking toolkit, allowing users to overclock the system to speeds of up to 4.0GHz. ROG G752VS has a display with a super-fast 120Hz refresh rate, and wide 178° viewing angles for superb image quality and contrast even when viewed from extreme angles.

The ROG G752VM variant features the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card, designed around the new NVIDIA Pascal™ architecture and delivers considerable performance gains over previous-generation graphics cards. ROG G752VM is also powered by a 6th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and up to 64GB DDR4 RAM, and has a backlit anti-ghosting keyboard with 30-key rollover for precise control and input during intense gaming sessions.

These laptops join the ASUS G11CD and ROG G20CB gaming desktops in the ASUS collection of Oculus Ready PCs, and fully meet the recommended specification for Oculus Rift. ASUS G11CD and ROG G20CB are powered by 6th-generation Intel Core processors and latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 or 1080 graphics for the very best gaming experiences imaginable.

AVAILABILITY & PRICING
ASUS ROG G752VS and ROG G752VM will be available from October 2016 in South Africa from DionWired, Incredible Connection and Evetech online stores. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.

ABOUT ASUS
ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world’s best-selling, most award-winning motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,368 awards in 2015 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™. ASUS has more than 17,000 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of over 5,500 engineers. Company revenue for 2015 was approximately US$14 billion.

NOTES TO EDITORS

• ASUS Global Press Room: http://press.asus.com
• ASUS South Africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASUSza
• ASUS South Africa Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASUS_za
• ASUS Oculus Ready PCs: https://www.asus.com/event/oculus-ready-pc/   
• ASUS South Africa ROG Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASUSROGZA/
• ASUS ROG Twitter: www.twitter.com/asus_rog

ASUS Announces ZenBook UX330UA 

KEY POINTS  

• Thinnest-ever 13.3-inch ZenBook is only 13.5mm thin and weighs just 1.2kg
• Has one of the highest resolution 13.3-inch screens available, with over 40% more pixels than Apple’s 13-inch Retina display
• Offers an incredible 12-hour battery life for all-day, on-the-go productivity 

Johannesburg, South Africa — ASUS has announced the elegant and powerful ZenBook UX330UA, the thinnest-ever 13.3-inch ZenBook model. Precision-crafted from solid aluminium and powered by a high-performance up to Intel Core i7 processor, the 13.5mm-thin ZenBook UX330UA is 15 percent thinner than its predecessor — the highly-acclaimed ZenBook UX305 — and is also one of the world’s slimmest 13.3-inch laptops to feature this processor. 

With a crisp and vibrant up to QHD+ (3200 by 1800) display — the highest resolution available at this size — and a weight of just 1.2kg, the sophisticated ZenBook UX330UA is the ultimate ultraportable for discerning users. 

ZenBook UX330UA has an incredible battery life of up to 12 hours, for non-stop productivity throughout the working day and beyond. 

Continuing the ZenBook tradition

With a chassis measuring only 13.5mm thin and weighing just 1.2kg, ASUS ZenBook UX330UA is one of the world’s slimmest and lightest 13.3-inch laptops. It is precision-crafted from a solid block of aluminium, giving it incredible strength without the compromise of added weight or bulk. Proudly carrying the ZenBook DNA, ZenBook UX330UA features all the iconic design elements of the series including the distinctive wedge-shaped profile, and the signature spun-metal finish on the lid with its Zen-inspired pattern of concentric circles. ZenBook UX330UA is available in two subtly elegant colours: Rose Gold and Quartz Grey. 

Stunningly-detailed QHD+ display

ASUS ZenBook UX330UA features a stunningly-detailed 13.3-inch up to QHD+ (3200 by 1800) wide-viewing-angle display that has one of the highest resolutions available for a display of this size, with 40% more pixels than the 13-inch Retina® display used by Apple® [1]. This ultra-high resolution makes ZenBook UX330UA equally suited to work or play. 

Exclusive ASUS technologies enhance UX330UA’s display even further. ASUS Tru2Life Video enhances each pixel in every video frame to give sharper, clearer and more realistic-looking videos, and ASUS Splendid ensures vivid, accurate colours for any kind of visual content. 

Incredible touch, incredible sound

For comfortable typing in any situation, ASUS ZenBook UX330UA features a supremely comfortable keyboard with widely separated keys that have a generous 1.5mm key travel. The keyboard is also backlit for easy typing in dim environments. Reliability is assured by a rigorous 10-million-stroke testing procedure. The glass-coated touchpad is larger than average, and is extremely smooth to the touch for more accurate control. It supports Windows 10’s multi-touch and multi-gesture input with up to 3-finger gestures, making it easy to switch applications or screens. 

Incredible sound has always been a feature of the ZenBook family, and UX330UA is no exception. ASUS SonicMaster audio, developed in cooperation with audio experts Harman Kardon, produces sound with deep, rich bass and crystal-clear vocals. The easy-to-use AudioWizard software has five presets optimized for different sound sources, so users can always enjoy the ultimate listening experience. 

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

ASUS ZenBook UX330UA will be available from January 2017 in South Africa from DionWired and other leading retailers. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.

SPECIFICATIONS [2]  

ASUS ZenBook UX330UA    

• OS Windows 10 Pro/Home
• CPU 6th-gen Intel® Core™ i7/i5
• Graphics Intel® HD Graphics
• Memory LPDDR3 1866MHz up to 8GB
• Display 13.3in 16:9 wide-viewing-angle QHD+ (3200x1800) 13.3in 16:9 wide-viewing-angle FHD (1920 x 1080)
• Storage SSD: 256GB / 512GB
• Connectivity 802.11ac Wi-Fi / Bluetooth® 4.1
• Camera HD 720p CMOS module
• Keyboard Frameless Chiclet keyboard with backlight
• I/O ports 1 x Micro HDMI 1 x USB 3.0 Gen 1 Type-C 2 x USB 3.0 1 x SD/SDXC Card reader 1 x audio jack combo
• Audio ASUS SonicMaster/Harmon Kardon audio system with Integrated microphone
• Battery 57Wh Li-polymer, up to 12 hours’ battery life (Core i5 version)
• AC adapter: Output 19V 45W / Input: 100~240V AC, 50/60Hz universal
• Weight 1.2kg
• Dimensions 221.5 x 323 x 13.5mm 

__________________________________________

[1] Compared to 13-inch 2560x1600 Retina® display 

[2] Specifications, content and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors. 

Full specifications are available at www.asus.com 

ABOUT ASUS

ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world’s best-selling, most award-winning motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,368 awards in 2015 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™. ASUS has more than 17,000 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of over 5,500 engineers. Company revenue for 2015 was approximately US$14 billion. 

NOTES TO EDITORS

ASUS Global Press Room: http://press.asus.com
ASUS South Africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASUSza
ASUS South Africa Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASUS_za

Buying a laptop is getting relatively more difficult, taking the different types available to choose from into account, there are desktop replacements, 2-in-1s, gaming, portable workstations the list is endless. Laptops are not made the same and it is critical to choose one that caters for your needs. Are you aware of the different types of laptops and what makes them the best kind and most suitable to your needs? Let’s start by defining a few and touch on which key components you should look out for when purchasing a laptop.

• Desktop Replacements

These laptops can provide the same capabilities that a desktop computer does with a similar performance level. Desktop replacements are also bulkier and larger than standard laptops. Their components are more powerful, but with a shorter battery life. They are often used as desktop alternatives with some using desktop components for improved performance. When shopping for one, look for a powerful processor like the Intel Core Processor i7. The overall performance of a laptop is affected by memory power. So, look for a high speed RAM with nothing less than 4 GB. Check out the Dell Xps 15" Touch Screen Laptop

• 2-in-1s

2-in-1s combine the features of laptops and tablets. You get those with screens that can be totally detached from the keyboard base and function as a standalone touchscreen tablet. Others have screens that can be flipped back or swiveled to be used as a tablet. The screen and keyboard never detach but you can use it like a tablet because it has a touchscreen. 2-in-1’s have two built-in batteries for the tablet and docked keyboard base which give both portions better battery life. The detachable screen functions as a proper tablet even without the keyboard base. You don’t need to carry both a laptop and tablet on work trips. Check out the HP Spectre 13 x360 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 260

• Gaming

The primary aspects of a gaming laptop are the operating system (OS), graphics card, processor and screen-size. The OS is important because not all games can play on every OS. The large screen makes it easier for gamers to see every aspect of the game they are playing. Games can be extremely processor-intensive and a minimum processor type or speed might be required to play a game. This makes the processor a vital feature of any gaming laptop. Games are mainly graphics and visual effects and this is why a graphics card is a must have for gaming laptops. One needs to also take into consideration all the hardware aspects and accessories needed like RAM, RAM speed, battery life, headsets and speaker systems. Check out the Lenovo Y50 Touch

At the end of the day, what you will primarily use a laptop for determines which of the above type/s will best suit your needs. Shop around for a wider selection of home and office laptops.

Do you remember when you got your first personal laptop? You probably opted for a stylish one because of its look and feel or what was popular among your peers at the time. Most of the time, all we went for in a first buy is the ability to play videos, games and music. Other people only needed a personal laptop for Microsoft software applications such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Wasn’t that one of the advantages of having a personal laptop in tertiary anyway? To ensure computing-life didn’t end when the Internet Centre on campus closed.  

Choosing a small business laptop is a different ball game. One needs to consider their small business needs, employee size and budget too. The kind of features a laptop has then comes into play. Memory, the level of security the laptop offers, battery life, you a name it. The good old days of hardly using a laptop unless you are close to a charging station automatically vanished. If the need to work arises, regardless of where you are, one should be able to get right to it. Making good battery life for a business laptop a necessity in this case.   

The “OS” Operating System:  

What platform are you familiar with and comfortable using? Is it Windows, Mac OS X or Chrome OS? Most laptops come with one of the three operating systems. You can install any of these operating systems on normal laptops. However, the Mac OS X tends to be problematic because of its motherboard configuration. The last thing you need in order to run a productive business is to purchase a laptop with an operating system you or your employees can’t use.  

A variety of laptop makes and models come with Windows thus it’s the most flexible OS of the three. You would want to go for Windows because of its touchscreen feature which Mac OS X does not provide in any of its models. Or find its vast array of its desktop productivity, graphic, video and development software programs as a bonus. Windows 10 also makes it possible to switch between tablet and desktop modes. Best brands to choose from in 2016: Dell, Asus and HP.    

Maybe you are an iPhone or iPad user and would appreciate iOS-like features on a MacBook like Launch Pad for your apps, taking calls and texts from your iPhone. You will love the security feature of the Mac OS X Unix core. It simply makes installing a destructive Trojan or virus impossible unless via typing an admin password. Apple remains the top brand to choose in 2016.  

If you are looking for a laptop that’s inexpensive and will largely be use for surfing the Web, emailing and online chatting then Google’s Chromebooks would be best. It has a similar interface to Windows but Chrome Browser is the main app. It has very few offline apps though and the majority of the ones you can use, don’t always work well. Best brands to choose from in 2016 include: Lenovo, Toshiba and Acer.  

So the options are there.  The applications are there.  Make your requirements list, tick the boxes and choose the laptop to match your needs.

HP launches its new premium design store in Eastgate Shopping Center on Friday, 1st July 2016. This new look store will enable easy customer hands on access to the latest technologies from HP. 

HP Store Eastgate is running an awesome three day opening deal to celebrate its launch starting from Friday, 1st July 2016 until Sunday, 3 July 2016 or while stock lasts, Terms and Conditions Apply. HP Store reserves the right to change or cancel any promotion or offer without notice. E&OE

The first 10 customers will receive a HP Store Gift Pack worth R1 000. Only one deal per customer.

Visit Eastgate Shopping Centre, Shop U4, 43 Bradford Road, Bedfordview, South Africa between 9am and 9pm on Friday or 9am and 5pm on Saturday and Sunday to take advantage of the opening offers which include:

• 30 Eastgate shopping vouchers for a PC purchase:
• R5 000 shopping voucher if you purchase the HP Envy or Spectre PC
• R2 000 shopping voucher if you purchase the HP Pavilion PC
• R1 000 shopping voucher if you purchase an Entry Level PC
• R1000 Eastgate shopping vouchers for first 30 HP OfficeJet and HP LaserJet Printer purchases
• FREE HP Ink Cartridge for 1 Year (valid until 30 June 2017) for the first 5 HP OfficeJet Printer purchases
• Two for the Price of One - on all HP Ink and Toner Cartridges for the first 50 customers
• 50% Off Bags, HP Mice and HP Audio for the first 50 customers
• HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 2135 plus HP Store Ink Loyalty Card for R499 incl. Vat - SAVE R500
• HP 250 Notebook HP’s latest new generation entry level notebook for R3 999 incl. Vat - SAVE R1 000
• Microsoft Office 365 Personal Subscription for R499 incl. Vat - SAVE R500
• HP ProBook 450 G3 Notebook. Fastest 6th generation performance for R9 999 incl. Vat - SAVE R2000
• HP Colour LaserJet Pro M277dw for R4 999 incl. Vat - SAVE R1 000

HP Store offers the widest retail range of HP computing products in South Africa including many exclusive laptop and all-in-one computers, ranging from entry level detachable x2 computers to HP’s premium Spectre 13 (which is the thinnest computer in the world). 

The latest HP InkJet, PageWide and LaserJet printers are available in store as well as a complete range of funky accessories which includes laptop bags, storage devices, networking equipment, HP calculators, cables and adapters. 

HP Store also stock the widest range of ink and toner cartridges in South Africa with a range of over 180 different products in stock.

The store offers premium service and trusted advice on all HP products, while their experienced team will assist you with all your computing requirements. 

Contact HP Store Eastgate from this July and get all the premium HP Store service and HP Premium products you need on (011) 615 1244 or (011) 615 2448. Visit the Store from Monday to Thursday: 9am-6pm and on Public Holidays: 9am-5pm. You can also follow HP Store on Facebook: @HPshopZA or Twitter: @hpshop.   

ASUS Announces ZenBook UX310 and UX510

KEY POINTS

• High performance: Featuring the latest 6th-generation Intel Core processors, combined with NVIDIA graphics for incredible all-round performance
• Signature design: Multi-award-winning, ultra-thin and light design, finished in sophisticated Quartz Grey, with a Rose Gold option for UX310.
• ZenBook UX310 has a 13.3-inch, QHD+ (3200 x 1800) display with up to NVIDIA GeForce 940MX discrete graphics
• ZenBook UX510 has a 15.6-inch, 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) display with up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX960M discrete graphics

Johannesburg, South Africa (15 June, 2016) — ASUS today announced ZenBook UX310 and ZenBook UX510, the latest models in its multi-ward-winning ZenBook range. The 13.3-inch ZenBook UX310 and 15.6-inch ZenBook UX510 are both powered by the latest sixth-generation Intel® Core™ processors, matched to incredibly fast NVIDIA® discrete graphics. They also offer an incredible array of high-end features, including the highest resolution displays available for their respective screen sizes.

Signature design: slim and elegant
First launched in 2011, the ASUS ZenBook Series has won many awards for its beautiful and slim design, coupled with excellent performance. ZenBook UX310 and UX510 both bear the unmistakable industrial design of the ZenBook series – an elegantly slim, all-metal chassis with tapering edges, finely sandblasted metal keyboard surround and palm-rest areas, and lid covers featuring our iconic spun-metal finish with its Zen-inspired pattern of concentric circles. ZenBook UX310 and UX510 are both available in in a sophisticated Quartz Grey finish that further enhances their elegance, and ZenBook UX310 is also available in chic and stylish Rose Gold.

Stunning displays, incredible performance
In keeping with the ZenBook tradition of only using the very best components, ZenBook UX310 and UX510 are equipped with the highest resolution displays available for their respective screen sizes, which are driven by powerful discrete graphics processors.

The 13.3-inch wide-viewing-angle display on ZenBook UX310 has a QHD+ (3200 x 1800) resolution, with an ultra-wide colour gamut of 72% NTSC,100% sRGB, and 74% Adobe RGB, combined with an incredible pixel density of 276 pixels per inch (ppi). This beautiful display is driven by up to a discrete NVIDIA® GeForce® 940MX graphics processor.

ZenBook UX510 has a 15.6-inch wide-viewing-angle display with a stunningly detailed 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution, featuring an ultra-wide colour gamut of 72% NTSC ,100% sRGB, and 74% Adobe RGB. The amazing pixel density of 282 pixels per inch ensures the smooth, clear display of even the finest details. Up to gaming-grade discrete NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX960M graphics provide a suitably powerful engine for this incredible display.

These new ZenBook models are among the slimmest laptops to feature such powerful discrete graphics processors. Their high-resolution displays and powerful graphics capabilities makes them ideal for graphics-intensive applications such as video editing or 4K UHD movie playback.

High-end features for ultimate performance and mobility
Completing the comprehensive range of capabilities offered by the new ZenBook UX310 and ZenBook UX510 are the following noteworthy features:

• Up to a 1TB hard disk drive combined with up to a 512GB high-speed SSD for fast booting andextreme disk performance.
• A generous set of I/O ports including a next–gen USB Type-C port to connect to both existing and future mobile USB devices.
• ASUS Splendid display technology ensures vivid, lifelike colours, with factory-calibrated colour temperature for accurate colour rendering. Easily-selectable pre-set modes include Eye Care mode, which reduces levels of blue light in order to minimize eye fatigue and other eye problems caused by prolonged viewing.
• ASUS Tru2Life video processing technology analyses every video frame to enhance video contrast and clarity.
• ASUS SonicMaster audio incorporating Harman Kardon technology, developed by a dedicated team of sound experts to deliver sound that is clear and powerful with deep, rich bass. This is a significant achievement considering that the very slim chassis of the new ZenBook models offers very little space for speakers.
• An iF Design Award-winning keyboard that with a comfortable 1.6mm of key travel and are backlit to allow for easy typing in dark environments.
• A smooth and sensitive glass touchpad with optional fingerprint scanner at the top right corner for greater security and convenient, rapid unlocking.

AVAILABILITY & PRICING
ASUS ZenBook UX310 and UX510 will be available during Q4 in South Africa. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.

ABOUT ASUS
ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world’s best-selling, most award-winning motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,368 awards in 2015 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™. ASUS has more than 17,000 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of over 5,500 engineers. Company revenue for 2015 was approximately US$14 billion.

SPECIFICATIONS
ASUS ZenBook UX310 ASUS ZenBook UX510CPU 6th-generation Intel® Core™ i7/i5/i3 6th-generation Intel® Core™ i7/i5Display 13.3in up to QHD+ (3200x1800) display with wide viewing angles 15.6in up to UHD (3840x2160) display with wide viewing anglesOperating system Microsoft Windows 10 Pro / Windows 10 HomeGraphics Up to NVIDIA® GeForce® 940MX Up to NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX960MMain memory Up to 16GB DDR4 2133MHzStorage Up to 1TB HDD combined with 512GB SSDConnectivity 802.11ac Wi-Fi / Bluetooth® 4.1Camera HD cameraInterface 1 x Type C USB 3.1 Gen 11 x USB 3.02 x USB 2.01 x HDMI1 x Combo audio jack1 x SD Card readerAudio 2 x 1.6W high-quality stereo speakers Harman Kardon audio system; ASUS SonicMasterBattery 48W Lithium-polymer batteryAC adapter Output: 65W/45WInput: 100V-240V AC, 50Hz/60Hz Output:65W/ 90W/120WInput: 100V-240V AC, 50Hz/60HzDimensions 323 x 223 x 18.35mm 382 x 255 x 19.9mmWeight 1.45kg 2kg Specifications, content and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors. Full specifications are available at http://www.asus.com

NOTES TO EDITORS
ASUS Global Press Room: http://press.asus.com
ASUS South Africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASUSza
ASUS South Africa Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASUS_za

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” said Nelson Mandela. Our society lives by this quote, not purely because it is from the father of the nation and a world renowned leader of his time. Chiefly because from a tender age, the average South African child is taught to aspire towards prestigious educational achievements in order to change his or her life.  

As a child growing up in this society you become accustomed to phrases such as “education will open many doors for you” and with a childlike faith, you grow up and set out to make this happen. This can be misleading and give people the false impression that every educated individual will be successful upon completing school. Many parents overlook the need to prepare their children adequately for the harsh and disappointing reality of unemployment after graduating from college, university or any other institution of higher learning.  

When a fresh graduate is faced with such a predicament, it is best to opt for the entrepreneur route.  What’s better than waiting tirelessly to find employment, whilst frying your brains in your mother’s house, than starting a business of your own? Bearing in mind every prospective entrepreneur starts a business with the hope that it will flourish and be able to address the societal need of providing employment while making profit.  

Congratulations to both our nation’s graduates who were fortunate enough to find employment and a big shout-out to those who started their own businesses straight out of varsity. If you are looking to kick-start something along your interests or qualifications this year or just looking for inspiration while weighing your options, let’s delve into some must-have essentials to position your business to prosper in just under a year:  

• An authentic product or service in demand and can satisfy a need or want in your community. Your business offering needs to be first and foremost attractive to people. If you are already thinking major profits, perhaps you would like to move that down your priority list for later.
• Educate yourself and your fellow business partners. Attend free seminars, small business events and research government funding opportunities. There is a wealth of information in inspirational and educational books from successful businessmen and women you must read to prepare you for challenges you will face in the near future as a business owner.
• Take your business online. Think big, think e-commerce, think digital. You can take advantage of Google Adwords for online advertising and search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. Make sure you have a mobile friendly website and tap into the world of mobile commerce for your business. Your customers are connecting to the internet (google and social media) through mobile devices - meet them there.

You are a young business that is keeping up with the times and your ever-evolving target market. Although Desktop PCs are great for conducting business, I do not see you travelling in-between meetings with one in your back seat. Check out the HP 250 range of entry-level laptops and notebooks for professionals on the move. You need devices ideal for everyday computing on the go. Your business will rarely be in one place.  

“Changing the world is the first step, believing you can is the next step and then aligning this with your passion is the last step. If you do those three things, the money will come.” Some startups might not give the necessary attention to Intrapreneur Tim Denning’s belief and might make up the 90% of businesses that fail within the first five years. Choose not to be part of that statistic.