Filipino PC brand NEO turns 10; intros Omnipad R72 and M71-3G tablets

Local PC maker Neo celebrated its 10th anniversary, highlighting the event with its foray in the affordable tablet segment with the official introduction of Omnipad R72 and M71-3G tablets.
Both tablets feature 7 inch capacitive touch displays, a tablet size, which is becoming popular among consumers.
And similar to other affordable tablets out there, the new Neo tablets have a TV function and retractable antennae for TV signal reception.

With an SRP of P3,999, the NEO Omnipad R72 brings to consumers an RK2926 Cortex A9 processor, Android Jellybean 4.1 Operating System, a 512 MB memory, along with a 4 GB flash storage (expandable to 32 GB micro SD capacity), a 7-inch multi-touch LCD screen, Wi-Fi connectivity, back and front cameras, and a 3000 mAh battery.
While the NEO Omnipad M71-3G, priced at P6,999, offers a dual-SIM mobile phone capability, 7-inch capacitive screen, a 1.2GHz dual core processor, Android Jellybean 4.1 OS, 1 GB RAM, 8 GB internal storage (expandable to 32 GB micro SD capacity), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity as well as back and front cameras, an analog TV and a 3600 mAh battery.
During the event, NEO founder Jason Cheng had the audience on a memory trip back in 2003, detailing how a Filipino company ventured into making a branded PC.

He said it all started with PLDT looking for partners who will provide affordable desktops that will go with its DSL package offerings.
Cheng said NEO took the opportunity and provided the most affordable desktop at that time to go with the PLDT DSL bundle. The NEO desktop was priced below P20,000.
As to the brand name, Cheng shared an interesting trivia. During a meeting with staff, someone suggested the name of the character of Keanu Reeves in the Matrix movie. Eventually the NEO name was picked to represent a pioneer Filipino PC brand.
Today, the company has grown into a top local notebook brand in the Philippines, backed by globally trusted technology from Intel Corporation and Microsoft. It also develops notebook and tablet solutions that cater to various market segments.
Earlier this year, Neo also launched its Élan notebook gaming series to provide mobility, functionality and hardware quality to the country’s avid gamers.
Cheng said, “We are committed to building the Neo brand in the Philippines and better serve our customers by demonstrating continuous product enhancements and developments and improved after-sales service. We’ve also enhanced our channel partner program through marketing support. To date, we are celebrating a decade of partnership with six trusted retailers in the country, and the list of partners continues to grow.”
Cheng attributes their brand’s staying power to keeping attuned to current market needs and trends, while staying open-minded and ready to respond to new consumer demands. “IT consumers get bombarded almost every day with new technology products, gadgets and upgrades. So our best response, really, is to keep up and keep supplying what the market wants. That keeps us grounded in our business ideas, because we plan to stay around for many more years to come.”
During the 10th anniversary occasion, NEO also recognized its partnership with retail partners, which include Octagon, PC Express, PC Corner, Silicon Valley, Techead and Compex.
NEO’s newest retail partner Villman was also announced.
Other Neo products may be viewed at their showrooms in Facilities Centre Bldg., Mandaluyong City; SM North Edsa Annex Cyberzone, Quezon City; and Cyberzone at SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

Key highlights of NEO’s 10 year existence:
• In 2003, NEO’s first complete PC desktop was priced at P19,999, the most affordable branded PC at that time.
• NEO came out with the Endura desktop running on Intel Celeron; The NEO Q note was its first notebook. It weighed 3 kg and was powered by an Intel 1.2 GHz processor.
• In 2005, NEO came out with a laptop priced below P50,000, which at that time was the most affordable branded laptop.
• In 2006, the company came out with a laptop priced below P20,000.
• In 2007, in response for “fashionable” looking laptops, NEO introduced the colourful Vivid series.
• In 2008, NEO established the NEO Care, which is phone, chat and email support, including more service centers.
• In 2009, it introduced Xplore, an Atom powered ruggedized laptop for kids
• In 2010, Elan series of performance laptops was introduced
• In 2011, NEO came out with the basic netbook priced at P9,999.