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Developers Enjoy Upbeat Market

Burhan Abe
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Developers Enjoy Upbeat Market

Optimistic is an appropriate term to describe Indonesia’s property market in 2008, with economic indicators showing positive signs and an absence of political and social turmoil. GDP in 2007 reached 6.3 percent, which is another excellent sign for the market.

This was the country’s best growth since the 1997 financial crisis. However, inflation was 6.56 percent, slightly lower than in 2006, which was 6.6 percent. Interest rates also keep going down along with the interest reduction for Bank Indonesia promissory notes to 8 percent, from 13.37 in December. This is expected to prompt more people to invest in property rather that bank instruments.

The relatively secure political and social condition has boosted the investment world in the country. In December 2007, approved foreign direct investment reached US$37.595 million, a sharp increase of 141 percent from the previous year. Meanwhile, domestic investment also saw an increase of 12.2 percent amounting to Rp 182.561 billion.

How about the property world? Generally speaking, demand is still high, especially for office and retail space. Last year’s demand for office space was indeed the highest since the financial crisis. It seems that this sector will keep enjoying brisk business due to the country’s strong economic foundations.

The healthy economic conditions will also boost the construction of office buildings, retail space, condominiums and apartments as can be seen from the numerous construction sites in Jakarta. However, the mushrooming of apartment buildings were unfortunately not matched by demand in 2007. The following is an analysis.

Presales increased slightly in the fourth quarter of 2007. However, they dropped during the Lebaran holidays in October and at Christmas and New Year. Buyers were presumably away over these holidays. Low-cost condominiums enjoyed better sales as buyers and investors were attracted by the prices due to government subsidies (Rusunami).

In 2008, the demand for low-cost condos will remain high. There was an increase of 1.91 percent in presales, totaling 68.4 percent, in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared to the previous quarter. Cumulatively the year 2007 recorded a high sales figure of 94.4 percent, leaving only 3,260 apartments unsold.

The occupancy rate of apartments in 2007 was not high at 65.5 percent. However, low-cost apartments enjoyed a higher occupancy rate. This indicates that the buyers bought their properties to live in. From the supply side in the fourth quarter of 2007, the following apartments were completed: Capital Residence and Pacific Place in the Sudirman Central Business District, The 18th Rasuna in Kuningan and Mediterania Marina Tower C in Ancol. Total strata title apartments in the same period was 58,553.

In the same period five condo projects were launched: Condo House and The Premiere as part of Thamrin Residences, Permata Hijau Residences (Tower B), Royal Mediterania Garden Lavender Tower in Tanjung Duren and Kebagusan City in Kebagusan. The five projects will add 28,614 apartments to available supply.

In the past few years prices in prime residential locations have increased more than in the Central Business District, where the price increase was only 0.63 percent, that is Rp 12.9 million per square meter, while prime residential area prices went up 4.8 percent to Rp 12 million per square meter.

Truffle

Burhan Abe
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Truffle

Para pecinta makanan Italia pasti tidak asing dengan Rosso. Restoran (dan lounge) mewah itu terletak di Hotel Shangri-La Jakarta. Rosso, dalam bahasa Italia, berarti merah, “the colour of passion, heat, and everything exciting in life, and Rosso prides itself with presenting authentic northern Italian cuisine with a fiery Italian vibe.”

Tapi bukan hanya keotentikan kuliner Italia versi “utara” yang pastanya lebih banyak menggunakan butter, cream, polenta, mascarpone dan parmigiano cheese itu. Yang menarik perhatian saya adalah menu dengan menggunakan truffle.

Truffle adalah bahan sejenis jamur yang tumbuh 5 cm-40 cm di bawah tanah dan hanya ada di tempat-tempat tertentu. Truffle putih (Tuber magnatum) yang baunya lebih tajam dibandingkan dengan truffle hitam (Tuber melanosporum), adalah makanan yang sejak beratus tahun telah dikenal sebagai makanan lezat di Italia dan kemudian keterkenalannya menyebar ke berbagai tempat di dunia.

Selain tidak bisa dibudidayakan, truffle tumbuh liar dan bersimbiosis saling menguntungkan dengan pohon oak, juga masa panennya pendek. Truffle dipanen antara pertengahan Oktober sampai pertengahan Desember.

Di luar waktu itu tidak ada truffle putih. Asal tahu saja, karena langka harga truffle putih disebut sebagai emasnya masakan bisa mencapai 3.500 dollar AS atau sekitar Rp 31,5 juta per kilogram. Rosso hanya dapat menyediakan menu truffle (putih) pada November dan Desember saja.

Untuk indra pengecap, truffle terasa agak menggigit. Aromanya yang amat tajam terus menemani setiap suapan. Dan inilah yang luar biasa, meskipun belum terbukti secara ilmiah, ada yang memercayai truffle memiliki khasiat afrodisiak alias membangkitkan gairah seks. “Efeknya mungkin seperti viagra,” tukas Chef Rosso, Alessandro Santi, sambil tertawa. Wow!

Bagaimana mungkin makanan disamakan dengan viagra? Tapi yang jelas, cerita tentang makanan-makanan tertentu yang bisa membangkitkan gairah asmara bukan omong kosong belaka. Kepercayaan bahwa afrodiasiak ampuh membangkitkan libido juga bukan isapan jempol. Konon, otak kita merupakan organ seks terbesar yang kita milki. Makanan, wewangian, dan minuman merupakan ‘benda’ menyenangkan yang dikenali otak.

Ada beberapa, yaitu bumbu, seperti cabe, kare, dan makanan yang berbau merangsang memicu keluarnya keringat diyakini sebagai afrodisiak yang ampuh. Lalu ada tiram. Makanan laut yang satu ini sudah lama dipercaya mampu membantu aktivitas seksual untuk berbagai golongan usia. Masih banyak deretan makanan yang diyakini sebagai afrodisiak; kaviar, wasabi (horseradish), jahe, bawang putih, ketumbar, pare, kucai, seledri, ginseng, ginko biloba, vanila, cokelat, pisang, madu, dan lain-lain.

Boleh percaya, boleh tidak, tapi jawaban yang lebih masuk akal saya peroleh dari Sezai Zorlu, Head Chef Anatolia Restaurant Group. Makanan Turki, katanya, banyak memiliki syarat sebagai makanan sehat, bahkan lebih dari itu makanan afrodisiak.

Negeri dari selat Bosphorus itu menawarkan petualangan kuliner dengan cita rasa khas: dari menu sehat ala vegetarian sampai yang berbahan daging pilihan dengan kandungan protein tinggi. Selain kaya sayur-sayuran segar, masakan Turki juga boros dengan minyak zaitun yang menyehatkan dan konon mengandung antioksidan tinggi.

Location Means Everything

Burhan Abe
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Location Means Everything

Memilih kantor ternyata bukan perkara mudah. Di gedung mana perusahaan berkantor, termasuk lokasi yang dipilih, misalnya, sekaligus menegaskan positioning perusahaan tersebut – tidak hanya jenis usahanya, tapi di kelas mana ia berada. Seorang pengusaha post production mengungkapkan, klien yang datang ke perusahaannya ketika ia berkantor di Tebet dan sekarang di kawasan Kebun Jeruk Jakara, sangat berbeda. “Karena sekarang saya berkantor di kawasan yang lebih elite, meski dengan peralatan yang sama saya bisa menawarkan harga yang lebih tinggi,” katanya.

Memang, beberapa perusahaan post production yang tergolong kelas atas, umumnya mempunyai workshop di kawasan Kebun Jeruk. Lokasi tersebut sekaligus menjadi benchmark perusahaan-perusahaan baru yang bergerak di bidang yang sama. Mereka tidak mau mengambil risiko dengan berkantor di seputar Cawang, misalnya, yang pasarnya belum terbentuk.

Inilah yang disebut pengelompokan. Perusahaan-perusahaan dengan bidang jasa yang sama cenderung berkumpul di suatu lokasi tertentu, karena pasarnya memang sudah terbentuk. Penjual elektronik, misalnya, lebih suka memilih tempat usahanya di bilangan Glodok, Kota, karena sudah dikenal sebagai sentra penjualan elektronik terbesar di Jakarta atau bahkan di Indonesia.

Pengusaha furniture lebih sreg membuka show room-nya di sepanjang Jl Panglima Polim – Jl RS Fatmawati mebel lebih Pedagang kain, untuk menyebut contoh yang lain, lebih suka berdagang di Pasar Baru atau Pasar Tanah Abang. Sementara penjual bunga hias memilih Barito, Kebayoran Baru.

Daftar contoh pengelompokan di atas, penjual jasa yang serupa “berkantor” di kawasan yang sama, masih bisa panjang. Ini bisa terjadi secara alami atau pun memang diciptaan oleh, sebutlah pemerintah atau pengembang besar, misalnya. Kawasan Kemang adalah contoh kawasan yang berkembang secara alami sebagai sebagai kawasan kafe dan usaha-usaha yang berkaitan dengan kebutuhan kaum ekspatriat – seperti galeri.

Sementara kawasan Kemayoran, misalnya, ada developer yang ingin menyulapnya sebagai sentra otomotif, termasuk perbengkelan. Kita juga tidak heran kalau pengembang Jababeka berambisi menjadikan sebuah kawasan di Cikarang sebagai industrial estate berskala global, sementara pengembang Lippo Cikarang lebih spesifik berusaha mengumpulkan perusahaan-perusahaan IT di kawasan yang disebut sebagai “Delta Silikon” – mengingatkan kita pada kawasan serupa di AS.

Di kota-kota besar beberapa negara pengelompokan usaha-usaha tertentu dalam satu kawasan bahkan mempunyai sejarah yang lebih panjang. Di New York, misalnya, institusi-institusi yang bergerak dalam bidang finansial khususnya saham berkumpul di Wall Street. Kawasan industri perfileman terbesar di dunia, di mana lagi kalau tidak di Hollywood. Bagaimana dengan Jakarta?

Kecenderungan seperti itu memang ada, tapi menurut Irma Kurnia, Marketing Manager GandaRia 8, perusahaan pengelola gedung perkantoran baru yang berlokasi di Gandaria Jakarta, tidak seekstrem yang terjadi di kota-kota besar dunia lainnya. Apalagi, perkembangan perkantoran modern di Jakarta belum mempunyai sejarah yang panjang seperti di negara maju.

Memang, secara ”tradisional”, sudah berada di sentra-sentra untuk komiditi tertentu – sebutlah sentra elektronik Harco, sentra grosir Mangga Dua, sentra ponsel Roxy, meski bukan monopoli lagi. Tapi jenis-jenis usaha yang tergolong “modern”, sebutlah perbankan, konsultan manajemen, law firm, publishing company, PR, dan lain-lain, pengelompokannya tidak terlalu tajam.

Tapi yang jelas, pasar perkantoran di Jakarta menunjukkan peningkatan aktivitas yang signifikan. Tak sebatas hanya di central business district (CBD), pasar perkantoran di luar CBD juga menunjukkan gairah tersendiri. Pembangunan gedung perkantoran baru di Jakarta dipicu tingginya permintaan dari tenant akan ruang kantor berkualitas baik, mengingat stabilnya perekonomian sehingga banyak perusahaan lokal meminta penambahan luas ruang kantor.

Having (Low-Cost) Office at Prestigious Location

Burhan Abe
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Having (Low-Cost) Office at Prestigious Location

It is understandable if Mee Kim, president of CEO Suite, which provides instant office services, has a broad smile on her face. Early in December, CEO Suite, the company under her leadership, opened its 10th branch at One Pacific Place in the Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD). This new building is a business and commercial center united with serviced apartments, a hotel and hi-end shopping center.

According to Mee King, many multinational companies make use of the instant office services her company provides. It is common for them to choose professionally managed ready-to-occupy offices, which is why she was prompted to open a new branch in Jakarta, after providing the same services on the 39th floor of the GKBI building and on 17th floor of the Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) building, with an occupancy rate of 85 to 95 percent.

Aside from these three office locations in Jakarta, which have been in operation since 1977, CEO Suite also has office locations in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Bangkok, Beijing, Shanghai Puxy and Shanghai Pudong.

The improving economy, marked by the entry of foreign direct investment, Mee Kim said, has made Indonesia increasingly more attractive in the eyes of foreign investors, which is why there is a bigger demand for serviced offices. “We focus on serving the premium market requiring hi-end services, ranging from office space, human resources, sophisticated technology and any other services that tenants may need,” she said.

Serviced offices are the type of offices that business players in major cities in the world, Jakarta included, need. Take Yogswara, for example. This accountant requires an office in Jakarta’s Golden Triangle. Although he has a spacious house in an upmarket area in the eastern part of Jakarta, which he could use as an office, he feels the need to have a more strategic business address.

That’s why he needs the services of a company that rents office space in the Central Business District (CBD). And it is not just any office space that he needs, but office space that comes with modern office facilities such as a fax machine, a telephone, an Internet connection and, most importantly, secretarial services.

According to Yogas, the facilities provided in this office space are more than sufficient for his business. “I feel as though I have hired my own dedicated secretary,” he said.

For an accountant like Yogas, an instant office is a wise choice. To rent office space is common, but not the type of office that he is renting. Although his office is not as vast as an office on the fringes of town would be, it is more than adequate for his needs. Plus having all the facilities available helped keep his initial financial layout low. This type of small office is indeed made available by the office building management for those desiring a virtual office, which may be used just as a mailing office or just for an identity.

There is indeed nothing new about having a (low-cost) office in a prestigious building. Providers of office space services, for example, operate like a business center. It is not just the space but the space plus office facilities, such as chairs, desks, telephone lines, a fax machine, filing cabinets, electricity and air-conditioning. A meeting room is also available, as are secretarial services to deal with appointment schedules, sending facsimiles and photocopying files.

These business center rooms can be rented monthly at competitive rates. A person wanting to rent a room is merely required to submit copies of their resident identity card and business license (SIUPP) and then pay the rent. A room measuring 16 to 20 square meters rents for Rp 3 million to Rp 4 million a month.

For Mobile Workers, Office Location not Important

Burhan Abe
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For Mobile Workers, Office Location not Important

Doing office work does not necessarily translate to working in an office, which in the conservative sense is a building or a room where business activities are conducted. Professionals of this day and age can do their assignments anywhere, such as at a cafe or a mall. For mobile workers, meeting a client, negotiating or even getting in touch with clients all over the world can be done from a coffee shop.

For Irfan Setiaputra, an employee of Cisco, an IT company, working does not necessarily mean being stationed at a particular location. Relying on the Internet, he can establish communication with fellow employees, customers, suppliers and business partners.

He can use the Instant Message facility to communication with many people on an online basis and get a quick response. Email is his main tool of communication in his work. Even when his computer is not within reach, he can send and receive emails through his cell phone or PDA.

In addition, at Cisco Systems there is a Unified Communications facility. In cooperation with Hewlett-Packard (HP), all professionals at Cisco can make use of this technology. They can make a phone call through the softphone in their computer and video pictures can appear on the IP Phone, a handset that can be used as an IP phone through Wi-Fi and at the same time as GSM, to receive voice mail, etc.

In advanced countries, UC is a popular technology that was introduced in Indonesia four years ago. UC is a technology that make use of the superior elements of an IP-based phone system as well the convergence of data and audio networks. This system can present not only voice communications but also unified messaging, a feature allowing mobile connectivity. This means integrating communications from the various media that people use.

Separately, Cisco Systems Indonesia has announced an increase in the wireless capacity in its ISR (Integrated Services Router) with 3G connectivity addition. This solution is part of the architecture of the Internet Protocol of Next Generation Network (IP-NGN), which makes it possible for service providers to offer 3G connectivity to their corporate customers.

This technology enables companies with a lot of branch offices to hold teleconferences. Branch offices generally require access to the business applications available at the head office through a Wide Area Network (WAN). However, the main constraint for the application of this technology in Indonesia is that the equitable scope of 3rd-generation wireless technology is yet to be achieved.

In fact, today’s work demands do not entail where we work but, rather, what activities we carry out. This is true not only of Cisco. Working does not depend on office space as with the progress of technology we can do it just about anywhere. Although his office is located in Kebon Sirih, Jakarta, Bayu Guntaryo, for example, can work from anywhere there is a Wi-Fi hotspot, such as a cafe.

Bayu is a layout designer offering his services through the Internet under a bidding system. His clients come from anywhere in the world. What exists here is a relationship between a service user and a service provider. That’s why he has a number of devices that support his work.

The devices that a professional working under the virtual office concept needs include:

1) Notebook. Besides being mobile and dynamic, today’s professional must be able to response instantly to satisfy customers. To this end, a notebook must have complete facilities for communications and networks. While in the past it was enough for a notebook to have an internal modem & IrDa (Infra Red), today, a notebook usually has LAN-Card (ethernet), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Even a Flybook has a built-in GSM (via GPRS) module.

Resolusi

Burhan Abe
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Resolusi

Kalender lama telah kita tanggalkan, dan kita menggantung kalender yang baru. Tanpa kita sadar, tahun tahu-tahu berganti. Selalu begitu setiap tahunnya. Masih ingat apa yang terjadi menjelang Tahun Baru 2007 kemarin? Mungkin ada yang merayakannya di hotel-hotel atau tempat-tempat keramaian? Atau mungkin menyepi dengan mendaki gunung dengan klub pecinta alam?

Anyway, apa pun yang kita lakukan waktu itu, boleh jadi kita menaruh harapan dan berdoa. Beberapa bangsa di berbagai negara ada yang mempunyai tradisi make a wish menjelang saat-saat istimewa seperti Tahun Baru. Mengajukan permohonan dan berharap apa yang diinginkan bisa tercapai. Orang-orang menyebutnya sebagai resolusi, membuat daftar pertanyaan apa yang akan kita lakukan, kemudian menjawab dengan membuat komitmen standar atau sekadar basa-basi.

Begitulah, setiap awal tahun kita sering membuat komitmen personal, tapi kemudian tidak bisa bertanggung jawab atasnya. Sudah berjanji akan bekerja lebih keras, tapi penyakit malas lebih kuat menyerangnya. Berencana liburan ke Bali besama keluarga, eh waktu dan keuangan ternyata tidak mencukupi. Seperti lirik lagu dangdut, ”Kau yang berjanji, kau yang mengingkari.”

”Kalau kita tidak bisa menepati, untuk apa kita membuat resolusi?” ujar seorang teman.

Memang ada benarnya pendapat tersebut. Apalagi, dalam kondisi yang serba ruwet dan unpredictable seperti sekarang ini tidak mudah melihat ”masa depan”. Jangankan orang awam, ahli ekonomi saja tidak muda memprediksi pertumbuhan ekonomi dan iklim usaha tahun ini. Atau yang sederhana, kita sudah berencana naik transportasi TransJakarta saja melihat kemacetan Ibu Kota yang semakin menjadi-jadi, tapi nyatanya busway bukan hanya belum siap, tapi tidak senyaman yang kita bayangkan.

Tapi seorang teman yang lain mengingatkan, menyalahkan kondisi di luar diri adalah sikap yang kurang bijaksana. Begitu orang berjanji akan melakukan ini itu sesuai dengan resolusi pribadinya, maka aura positif tidak hanya mengalir ke dirinya, tapi bisa menyebar ke lingkungan sekitarnya. Ditambah dengan sikap ”Apa pun yang terjadi, saya akan….” bisa dipastikan keberhasilan akan berpihak kepadanya. ”Positif thinking!” tandas pelawak Tukul Arwana.

Resolusi itu memang banyak macamnya, ada resolusi politik, resolusi hukum, resolusi budaya, resolusi kesenian dan lain-lain, asal jangan resolusi optik atau resolusi gambar saja. Tapi yang dimaksud di sini adalah resolusi pribadi.

Tekad JF Kennedy untuk menjadikan Amerika Serikat sebagai negara pertama yang berhasil mendarat di bulan adalah resolusi personal. Namun, kendati resolusi personal, melalui aura positifnya, keinginan JFK tersebut menjadi resolusi institusi, resolusi pemerintah AS, yang berhasil mereka wujudkan.

Tentu, tidak semua keinginan bisa terpenuhi dengan mulus. Keberhasilan adalah sekumpulan dari berbagai pencapaian. ”Kristalisasi keringat,” uja Tukul lagi, host paling ngetop tahun 2007. Saat membuat resolusi, tentu juga harus memperhitungkan kendala atau hambatan yang bakal kita temui. Ada poin-poin yang menjadi penghambat. Tapi setidaknya kita sudah memikirkan solusi untuk mengatasinya.

Jadi, sudahkan Anda membuat resolusi? Apa pun, kita berharap bahwa tahun 2008 yang telah kita mulai ini akan berlangsung lebih baik dibandingkan dengan tahun 2007. Selamat Tahun Baru! (Burhan Abe)

Mix Medical, Leisure in Malaysia

Burhan Abe
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Mix Medical, Leisure in Malaysia

Blessed with idyllic islands, golden beaches, verdant rain forests and friendly people, Malaysia is a fascinating holiday destination. However, Malaysian tourism does not stop there as it promotes its attractions, ranging from eco-tourism, themed tourism and health-related tourism.  

Yes, health-related tourism is packaged under the theme of “health and leisure” and includes wide-ranging activities from how to enjoy treatments and therapies at a spa to medical services. In the past few years, Malaysia has indeed grown as a health care hub. With sophisticated health facilities and qualified personnel, Malaysia has positioned itself as a place where tourists from all over the world can get medical treatment while sightseeing in the country.  

In general, Malaysia has three destination areas, namely Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak in Borneo. The capital, Kuala Lumpur, is one of Asia’s most dynamic cities. With a population of some 25 million, consisting of Malays, Chinese, Indians and others, Malaysia is a melting pot of various cultures.  

International hospitals are found in various cities and districts in Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Slangor, Johor, Kedah, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, Sabah and Sarawak. According to the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM), there are no fewer than 40 hospitals.  

As there is a wide choice of hospitals, tourists not only can choose a hospital that suits their needs but can also enjoy a tour during their recovery period. Or may opt for a checkup or minor surgery while vacationing in this country.  

With health care costs in Malaysia being one of the most inexpensive in the region, patients can undergo treatment, recuperate and enjoy a holiday in Malaysia for much less than it would cost them for treatment alone in another country. For example, standard bypass surgery in Malaysia costs between US$6,500 and $9,000, including a two to three-day stay in the intensive care unit, up to seven days on a ward and consultation, cardiologist and anesthetic fees. “Why pay double the price at home for surgery when you can have this level of service in a beautiful country?” said Leanne, 43, from Australia, who had a facelift.  

Malaysia offers a wide choice of state-of-the-art private medical centers boasting an impressive array of sophisticated diagnostic, therapeutic and in-patient facilities. These establishments are well-equipped and staffed to ensure the highest level of professionalism, safety and care. Patients can be assured of quality services in promoting health, preventing disease and full treatment and rehabilitation for all patients and their families through the use of advanced medical technology.  

Indeed, lower costs does not mean low quality or services. Hospitals in Malaysia serve their patients with qualified staff, in terms of both medical and administrative personnel. Their specialized doctors are graduates of noted medical schools in the UK, Australia and the U.S. The medical personnel are not only highly educated but are also experienced in medical practices. Most importantly, the medical staff strive to provide a caring and friendly environment, which is vital to a patient’s recovery and well-being.  

Meanwhile, hospitals in Malaysia have acknowledgment and official licenses from the health ministry. Internationally, they are generally accredited by bona fide institutions, such as MS ISO 9002 certification and Malaysia Standard Quality of health (MSQH), the standard level of which is the same as that of the Australian Healthcare Standard. This accreditation guarantees that hospitals in Malaysia have professional medical services and reliability.  

Malaysia has become a top choice for medical treatment and vacations, especially because it offers highly varied services, ranging from medical checkups to treatment of acute illnesses.  

One Child, One Laptop Program

Burhan Abe
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One Child, One Laptop Program

With more low priced laptops on the market, the digital divide in the country is set to become narrower. About five years ago Michael Dell, the owner of Dell Computers, did not believe in a proposition put forward by Nicholas Negroponte from Media Lab Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on low cost laptops for developing countries, or the One Child-One Laptop program.

However, today, Negroponte’s 20-year-old dream is being realized. After lots of research, traveling to a number of countries to source low-cost LCD technology, affordable processors and cooperating with online encyclopedia Wikipedia, Taiwanese manufacturer Quanta is producing a laptop at an extremely low price, US$150 each.

In September, the laptop, marketed as Easy to Learn, Easy to Play, Easy to Work (Eee PC), was officially launched by Asustek Computer. Each laptop, which weighs less than one kilogram, carries a price tag of $250 (Rp 2.4 million).

Just compare the price with that of other laptops available on the market. “Within two weeks after the launch in the United States, more than 10,000 Eee PCs were sold,” said Sunny Han, director of Asus Global Brand Center.

Walter Bender, group president of software and content at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said the laptop uses Linux operation mode and is equipped with a digital camera as well as a wireless system. It also has an electronic notebook and a program for composing music.

For its initial launch, Asus introduced just one type of Eee PC, the Asus 4G or Asus 701 in solid white. At seven inches, the laptop’s screen is about the length of an adult’s hand. Although it is of minimalist design it has maximum features. It can operate like most other laptops, including for office work and Internet access. It will be on the Indonesian market in January.

Indeed Eee PC will create a new segment in the laptop market. One analyst has predicted that within three years it will control 20 percent of the international market.

However, many market analysts doubt that it will cut into the market shares of established brands. In Indonesia, for example, the low priced Intel Celeron, which has a processor, does not enjoy robust sales compared to the Intel Centrino, which also has a processor, or the Centrino Duo, both of which are more expensive.

Still, the Eee PC has a different marketing approach, which is not entirely commercial but aimed at assisting developing countries in the One Laptop-Per Child (OLPC) program. A number of developing countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, Libya and Thailand, have committed to purchasing Eee PCs. At present the factory is in full speed to produce 44,000 Eee PCs per week. “So far we have received orders for 300,000 units,” said Negroponte.

During the first days of its launch one unit was sold every six seconds. The success story of Eee PC has spurred other manufacturers, for example Intel, to plan production of low-cost laptops, which they say are more for charity. One such laptop, the Classmate, will be released for $150. Just as its name suggests, it is designed for students. Local sales will made through the government, which will receive 100 units before the end of this year.

Mummm Champagne Lounge

Burhan Abe
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Mummm Champagne Lounge

Sebuah lounge di mana para eksekutif muda dapat menikmati minuman Mumm Champage bagu saja dibuka. Lounge yang berlokasi di Hotel Rtiz Carlton di sekitar Kuningan Jakarta ini diadakan sebagai jawaban dari banyaknya permintaan agar ada sebuah tempat di mana dapat berkumpul sembil menikmati Mumm Champage dan menikmati musik.

Tren membuat lounge dengan lebih fokus pada sekelompok eksekutif muda yang butuh penyegaran setelah disibukkan dengan urusan bisnis memang snagat meningkat. Kabarnya tahun depan, akan ada lima lounge baru di sekitar Jl Rasuna Said Jakarta Selatan, setidaknya sebagai pelengkap sejumlah lounge yang sudah ada sebelumnya.

“Mumm Champagne Lounge”, tempat hang out mereka yang gemar champagne (sampanye) di Mistere, Hotel Ritz Carlton, Kuningan, Jakarta Selatan, Rabu (28 November 2007) malam, resmi diluncurkan. Ini merupakan champagne lounge pertama yang ada di Indonesia, bahkan di Asia Tenggara.

Sampanye Mumm termasuk yang terkenal di dunia. Ini merupakan sampanye yang biasa digunakan dalam F1 Racing. Di Indonesia, penggemar sampanye ini ada, tapi segmennya kelas atas, sebagian besar kaum perempuan. Aroma buahnya sangat kental, terutama aprikot dan lemon. Ritz Carlton terpilih karena citranya sebagai hotel bintang lima yang berkualitas. Berikutnya akan ada lounge serupa di Pacific Place di SCBD, yang dikelola Ritz Carlton juga.

Mumm Champagne merupakan salah satu champagne ternama dari Prancis. Minuman jenis ini pertama kali dibuat oleh salah seorang pemilik kebun anggur di wilayah Champagne, Goerges H Mumm pada tahun 1827.

Uniknya, jenis minuman ini sangat mudah dikenali, pasalnya dekorasi mereknya menggunakan pita warna merah. Tak heran apabila, champagne merek ini termasuk yang terkenal di dunia ini dan memiliki segmen pasarnya kalangan terbatas.

Interior Mumm Champage Lounge di Jakarta ditata sangat apik. Sofa-sofa dengan warna merah dan kream terang sangat sepadan dengan beberapa gambar Mumm Champage yang melekat pada dinding. Botol-totol Mumm Champage yang besar juga dipajang sebagai tambahan pemanis Lounge.

Launching Mumm Champage Lounge malam itu boleh dibilang cukup semarak, sejumlah eksekutif muda pria dan wanita datang dengan busana resmi dan dari penampilannya mereka baru saja meninggalkan tempat kerja. Sesampainya di dalam Mumm Champagne Lounge mereka disambut dengan Female Presenter yang cantik-cantik dan langsung dapat menikmati Mumm Champage.

Kemeriahan malam itu juga bertambah dengan penampilan apik para pragawati cantik dari Look Model yang malam itu membawakan koleksi terbaru gaun-gaun karya dari Serafina Boutique. Teddy Harris sebagai koreografer memang mempersiapkan secara matang mulai dari pemilihan busana, pemilihan pragawati dan cara mereka tampil membawakan gaun-gaun.

Semuanya ini menurut Teddy agar citra Mumm Champage benar-benar terlihat pada penampilan pragawati dan busana yang dikenakan malam itu. (hb)

Window to the World, Window to Business?

Burhan Abe
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Window to the World, Window to Business?

“Books are a window to the world” is not an empty saying. Reading books certainly broadens our horizons and increases our knowledge. However, in Indonesia, books are not one of life’s essentials. Interest in reading among Indonesians is the lowest in Southeast Asia, lagging behind Malaysians, Thais and Singaporeans.

This low interest in reading is probably connected with the country’s low income per capita. Buying books here is not a priority for most. However, is it really correct to assume that low purchasing power affects interest in reading?

Well, the answer could be yes or no. The fact is certain books enjoy a great readership here. Indonesians also caught the Harry Potter fever, making JK Rowling’s books best sellers here. Indeed Nobel class novels, such as those written by Arundhati Roy, Jhumpa Lahiri, Jorge Luis Borges, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, etc. do not interest many, but teenager novels sell quite well.

Chicklit, short for chick literature, are novels that mostly tell about the world of women in their 20s, about the trials and tribulations of a young woman’s career and love life. It is about their struggle in coping with the quarterlife crisis. Such novels seem to offer a new insight into young urban women and have drawn the interest of many readers.

Gagas Media is one of the country’s publishers that believes in this concept. Established on July 4, 2003 it has quite a number of such popular novels with the teenage segment as the target market. Some of its successful books are: Jomblo, Cintapucino, Miss Jutek, Sihir Cinta and Kok Putusin Gue.

Gagas Media, which publishes at least four titles every month, has a vision to introduce books as something popular. Another publisher, Gramedia, which started out in the business in 1970, has also joined the chicklit bandwagon by publishing the metropop novels written by some of the country’s best sellers in this genre — Albertine Endah, Syahmedi Dean and several others.

Next to pop novels, religious literature is starting to interest a larger number of readers, so much so that according to Kompas Study and Analysis Center such books have for the past four years been leading in sales, just slightly below comics and children’s books. This trend has been strategically anticipated by Gramedia as well as other publishers, such as Mizan, LKIS and others.

The strength of Gramedia, which was established by the Kompas Gramedia Group, lies in its interesting topics as well as its distribution system. From a small 25-square-meter shop on Jl. Gajah Mada, West Jakarta, in 2002 Gramedia bookstore had 50 major stores spread throughout the country’s large cities. In the early days it sold only books, however in later years the products offered included stationery, fancy gifts, office equipment, sports items as well as high-tech products like CD-ROM and audio-video books.

The marketing of Gramedia is also supported by a large number of international and domestic publishers and suppliers, including its own internal publishing companies, such as Gramedia Pustaka Utama, Elex Media Komputindo, Gramedia Widya Sarana, Bhuana Ilmu Populer and Gramedia Magazines Publishing. For foreign books Gramedia has a links to a huge number of leading international publishers that today number more than 250.

Among the United States publishers are Simon & Schuster, Prentice Hall, McGraw Hill, Maxwell Macmillan, Addison Wesley, John Wiley, Harper Collins, Bantam, Random House and Baker & Taylor, while from Europe there are Penguin, Cambridge, Oxford, Elsevier, Grossohaus, Hachette, Longmans and MacMillan.

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