Malaysia isn't noted for the availability of the latest cutting edge hardware or even bargain prices. For either or both, you have to walk across the Causeway to Singapore. Everyone knows that. It's only the fact that both the Malaysian and Singaporean Customs aren't making it easy for people to visit Singapore that prevents more Malaysians from making regular shopping trips to Sim Lim Square.

I have made many Sim Lim Square runs myself. The hassle of crossing the infamous Causeway was well compensated by the lower prices and the wider choice of hardware there. When one has a thin wallet and/or when one desires something that will not reach Malaysian shores for another 6 months, crossing the Causeway no longer seems so troublesome... :)

However, most Malaysians live way too far to make a trip down to Singapore just to get a new hard disk or graphics card worth the expense and trouble. For these unfortunate souls, the only relief comes in the form of the two computer fairs - MicroFest and PC Fair.

They are independent, rival computer fairs so, rather than coordinating their events, organizers of both events try to upstage each other. In fact, this year, PC Fair actually trailed Microfest (now merged with AV Fest to form e-World, if I'm not mistaken) by just one week! Can you believe that? Two computer fairs in two consecutive weekends.

If you thought that by being launched a week earlier, MicroFest would take the wind out of PC Fair, you might be surprised to learn that many hardware enthusiasts have nothing good to say about MicroFest. In fact, they have shunned MicroFest in support of PC Fair because apparently MicroFest focused more on systems for the pakciks and makciks (translation : uncles and aunties) than hardware components for the enthusiasts. Who would want to go to such a computer fair? Not me. :)

As such, that leaves us PC Fair. Just a week behind MicroFest, it's no wonder people preferred to just wait a few more days to check out the bargains at PC Fair. I had the same idea myself and so, I headed up north to check out PC Fair 2001. You never know what bargains can be found there...