This has to be said, as a computer enthusiast I am upset with the current state of the technology market in Saudi Arabia. What’s going on in Riyadh’s “Olaya Computer Market” (Gowalla and Wikimapia locations) is just frustrating.
The Olaya Computer Market is a collection of computer stores, it’s very popualar.
Pirated software is being sold there as well.
Even crap is being sold on small stands provided by the owner of the building (according to some). These stands sell junk and have nothing to do with computers, unless they are pirated software.
Back in late 2008 or early 2009 Riyadh Municipally had the “sidewalk fever”: bad attempts at sidewalks everywhere. So they started digging. This next photo was taken by me on February 17, 2009:
These constructions took forever, they were uncoordinated and until today have not finished! I will post more photos bellow. These photos were taken by me unless I say otherwise.
The Western Digital TV HD Media Player is now available in Saudi Arabia. You can can buy it at Jarir “Bookstore” and it cost 449 SR. I have seen the media player in other stores in Riyadh’s Olaya computer market.
Maximum PC reviewed the TV HD media player and gave it 8/10.
The device delivers much higher video resolution than most media players, all the way from 480i using the composite video port to 1080p using HDMI (576p, 720i, 720p, and 1080i are also supported via HDMI). The WD TV supports a host of video formats, codecs, and containers, including AVI, H.264, QuickTime, VOB, and Matroska.
Update: I should have known that Jarir Bookstore links expire so fast.
Update: Softland listed as a OCZ distributor in Saudi Arabia (different url).
Softland is one of the older computer hardware stores in Saudi Arabia. I remember visiting them back in 1995 and trying Doom! Their original store in Riyadh was on Tahliah street in Riyadh then they opened a second branch in Olaya computer market (haraj). The old branch was renamed to “Binaries” and was moved to the Olaya computer market as well. They also have a third store named Technology Roof also in the same Olaya computer market. Since they have multiple names we will refer to them with their original name, “Softland”.
Softland is one of the few computer hardware stores that specialize in importing computer components directly from the United States and they don’t usually rely on the Saudi Arabia dealers and distributors. That means that you can easily find the latest high end video cards and CPUs. The only disadvantage of course will be the high price that you will pay but it’s acceptable considering the limited alternatives.
The exception is when Softland actually have a distribution deal with the hardware maker. Softland is the only distributor in Saudi Arabia for OCZ and Thermaltake. The prices for these products are more decent than other hardware that they directly import.
Softland also have the best warranty on all the products that they sell. If they can’t fix the hardware then they are willing to replace it with either the same or a better model (you pay the difference).
Contact info: email: softland@sol.net.sa Tel: 966-1-462-8922 Tel: 966-1-466-5039 Fax: 966-1-462-1387.