In this series of posts I will profile different global technology brands and provide info on how to acquire them in Saudi Arabia. We start with Logitech, one of the best computer peripheral companies in the world.
Currently, Logitech’s only distributor in Saudi Arabia is supposed to be “Mishaal Alsudairy Office for Commercial Services”. Again with Saudi Arabia technology sites: bad design, redirects to another URL mso.dinpl.com and outdated information (Gitex Riyadh 2007).
You can buy Logitech devices from Jarir Book Store (a book store not selling books? no comment from me there!) but they are overpriced ( a $54/205SR mouse is sold at Jarir for $80/300SR). The other method is to just buy from Amazon and ship using a service such as Aramex or myus.
Looking around the Internet I found that Logitech was looking for a new distributor in Saudi Arabia according to ITP: Logitech set to appoint new Saudi distribution. But that was as old as May 28, 2007 and no new updates.
“We are currently looking at the possibilities of expanding our distribution channel to get closer to the market there as the retail sector is developing so much” said Robert Van Der Vegte, director Benelux and MEA at Logitech. “Saudi Arabia is the second biggest market in the region so it is time now for us to seriously and professionally go after that market” he said.
It’s been over a year, Mr. Robert. Have you found a new Logitech distributor in Saudi Arabia already?
Do you use Logitech devices? Feel free to share your experience on their hardware. Originally posted on khaled.us.
Dell has launched their ultra thin notebook, the Adamo in Saudi Arabia this week. The notebook is similar in many ways to the Apple MacBook Air. Prices in Saudi Arabia start at 9,500SR ($2,500). The Dell Adamo was launched last week in UAE in a press event while the Saudi Arabia “launch event” was in Jarir Bookstore. Dell Saudi Arabia also decided to copy the UAE event by hiring, uh, “models”?
Please Dell, why don’t you fix your keyboards first? Instead of having two guys in a very weird dress. Is that supposed to be a thobe? It’s NOT! This is how a thobe supposed to look like! Not having a stupid line on it like that just to have the Dell name on it! Look at the models used in the UAE launch event, but don’t look too much 
. Their outfit doesn’t have the word “Dell” on it.
Finally, Dell should have a real press event in Saudi Arabia. You have a Saudi headquarter, don’t you?
Anyway those Dell Adamo machines are found in Jarir “Bookstores”. Just don’t mind the crappy keyboard print found on all Dell notebooks in the Middle East.
Update: Mohammad has bought the Flip Ultra HD, here is his initial reaction.
A few months ago Cisco has acquired a company named Pure Digital Technologies. They are known for making the Flip video cameras one of the better digital camcorders in it’s class.
Here are some reviews of their latest camera, the Flip Ultra HD:
- Electronista.
- Cnet.
- Gizmodo.
- Engadget video review.
- GearDiary.
- Boingboing.
I am looking forward to try this camera and also hoping that Cisco Middle East and more specifically Cisco Saudi Arabia will import the Flip Ultra HD digital camcorders as soon as possible. Cisco Saudi Arabia by the way are on twitter now: just add @ciscosaudi.
It appears there is a Saudi mad scientist living in Jeddah. From The Local, a German site:
A Saudi inventor filed a patent for a “killer chip” which, once implanted, would monitor “undesirables” using a GPS. Oh, and it also comes with an extra feature: a remote-controlled cyanide dispenser, for murder.
The tiny electronic device, dubbed the “Killer Chip” by Swiss daily Tagesanzeiger, would be suited for tracking fugitives from justice, terrorists, illegal immigrants, criminals, political opponents, defectors, domestic help, and Saudi Arabians who don’t return home from pilgrimages.
Do we seriously need to invent something this stupid? And how can he put pilgrims and terrorists in the same sentence? This is stupid and disturbing.
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.