MAKATI CITY, Philippines -- Despite being late in market for “netbooks,” Filipino computer assembler Neo Manufacturing and Services Inc. has recently joined the netbook bandwagon.

Mutya Syling, Neo Vice President for Planning and Operations, said the company is focused on giving the local market a wider array of choices that can meet local market needs.

The company started offering basic models and later more powerful laptop models. Recently, it unveiled niche devices, such as its “Vivid” line of laptops.

"Our ultimate goal is to be on the same caliber as the larger brands. We have products that have parts from the same manufacturers as the other brands, which makes us equally reliable but at the same time, more cost-effective," the executive said.

Introducing its latest line of small-form factor laptops, Neo unveiled a new Intel Atom-based model and two other models that run on either Intel Pentium Dual-Core or Core 2 Duo processors.

The company aims to compete with foreign brands carrying Intel Atom-based netbooks. Neo’s strategy involves offering lower price points for similar laptop categories offered by established computer brands.

Neo said its Intel Atom-based model will cost around P22,999. This model comes with a 10-inch Vivid V1190 screen, 1-gigabyte memory, 160-gigabyte hard disk drive and Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition. This model has an integrated webcam and Wifi wireless Internet receiver.

Neo also unveiled a 12-inch Vivid V3150 that runs on a Pentium Dual Core processor, 1 Gb memory and 320 Gb hard disk space. It is equipped with DVD-RW drive and runs Windows Vista Home Basic. Cost is about P36,999.

Another 12-inch model, the Vivid V3161, comes with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, a 2 Gb memory, and 160 GB hard disk drive. This unit will costs about P41,999.