I'm a hardcore gamer. And like a lot of hardcore gamers in the Philippines there was a time when I…read moredidn't have the time to blow my cash on a great rig to play the games that I want. There are plenty of computer cafes out there that lets me play games with a high speed internet connection and a good rig. Most of them come off as generic and don't really give off a unique vibe to them, not Minesky Infinity though. The thing that makes Mineski Infinity unique is that it wasn't started by people who looked at it solely from a business oriented perspective. The people who started Minesky Infinity are a group of students who were themselves hardcore gamers. Their internet cafes are basically made by hardcore gamers, for hardcore gamers, of hardcore gamers. Everything is great. Sure you won't be using products from the likes of Razer, but their keyboard and mice are of great quality. They have headphones that do a good job of bringing a level of sound and comfort I wish I'd get more often from other internet cafes. they clean their equipment regularly and replace the ones that are broken. Given just how well some kids treat internet cafe equipment I'd say that's a massive plus for Mineski Infinity. To date, I haven't found a internet cafe franchise that handles its business as well as these guys do. Sure there are probably cafes that are as good, if not better, but none of them have the presence that Mineski has. It is the gold standard of internet cafes so far as I'm concerned.

I was going around Cyberzone in Southmall to look for a tablet which can also work as a phone, and…read moreI already have a very particular one in mind, thanks to the suggestion of a techie - the latest model of the Asus phone tablet. I asked around but all the shops I went to said they only have the older model, and many thought that that was actually the latest model. Until I went to PC Express. I've already had good experience with PC Express in Gilmore, the discount hub for personal computers. Well, PC Express is a tad pricey compared with other PC shops in Gilmore, but in the case of Southmall, the branch there seemed to be the most updated and well-stocked. And, they had all the available colors for the tablet I want. The staff was accommodating and friendly, too, even directing me to other shops where I could buy the screen protector, the casing, and the powerbank.

PV Express did a bait and switch on the price for a graphics…read morecard. Advertised price on web site is Php 23,900. Placed the order and price increased to Php 30,000. Not a good business practice.

There are a lot of Data Blitz branches out there. All of them are interesting for gamers to walk…read moreinto. I mean, I haven't walked into a Data Blitz store and left without at least being satisfied of seeing some video gaming goodies. Of all the Data Blitz stores I have to say that this one is the most special one for me. I bought a lot of my most important games here like StarCraft 2 and my Diablo 3 right here. This place is one of the few places in Alabang Town Center that did not just stand the test of time, but also grew. You see, their space used to be smaller, however, a recent visit showed that the store grew in size. In fact, it's a lot better than before. I love this particular store since it represents how things do change, but not all changes are for the worse. The change this particular Data Blitz went through was a good one as it's now bigger and a lot better than before.

Netopia is one of the more reliable internet cafes in Metro Manila. This is probably the main…read morereason why they grew so fast and can now be found in most Ayala and SM malls. When I say reliable, of course I am referring to internet speed and connectivity. If you need to do basic internet surfing they are able to connect you to apps and sites like Google for search, Skype for communication and Facebook and Twitter for social media and many more. I often go here for my printing and copy needs. They provide the basic services of black & white and colored printing. They also do photo printing and business card printing (which includes the cutting service already) for a decent price. Of course there are units for gaming as well but I love that most people who come here use the place for their business needs so its pretty quiet most of the time.

The reason why I love the PC Express in Market! Market! is the size of the store in this branch…read more It's one of the biggest PC Express stores I've seen yet. There are so many stuff, brands and stock to choose from - rows of laptops, desktops, a variety of computer mouses, IT parts, and even mobile devices and accessories. Whatever electronics device or computer accessories you want to buy or anything technology related really, you can find here. My big brother who is a huge tech junkie spends hours here looking for the perfect items he needs either for work or personal use. My family and myself have bought computers, software devices, gaming stuff, headphones, and many more here and they are always in great condition and of good quality. Staff is very helpful and knowledgeable so buying stuff there isn't difficult at all. Also look out for sales, discounts and promos if you want to save money.

Okay right off the bat I'm going to have to say that I'm a bit biased for this place because I…read morebasically spent a fortune and much of my childhood and adolescent youth in this place. This started out as a video game rental store. I nthe old days renting a console was the way people got their video game fix. Then came the age of LAN games like Counter Strike Washington Video Stop, or simply Washington, was one of the best places to play the game. Then came the days or MMORPGs like Ragnarok where the internet became a staple in playing video games. Then came the days of the MOBA with the rise of DOTA. Whatever the phase was, Washington somehow found a way to stay relevant to the locals. This place is basically an institution to the people who know it and have played here. It's ability to endure the shifting trends and market is a result of the people being good friends.

In the Neighborhood…read more We were bored, me and my brother. So we went out and played videogames in this computer shop. Well, PC games. Left4Dead actually, then Call of Duty. This particular computer shop is pretty decent compared to typical internet cafes that pop up around the neighborhood, those that get crammed to the brim with screaming kids wanting to fucking kill each other over a LoL game. Makes my blood boil how a ten year old can scream bloody murder in public over such a trifle. Anyway. The shop was pretty clean, with dimmed lights, and a good amount of properly set-up computer systems that promise peace and quiet. Until the owners started playing, too. I tell ya, it's one thing to hear a ten year old shouting obscenities, it's another to see a grown man screaming the same. Quite disturbing. Shop's okay. Owners, not so much.

I'm just so happy that there are other options to buy some cables and cords other than lining up at…read morethe horrendous queues at CD-R King. Cable Monster is a chain of mall kiosks that have all sorts of cables for your phone and other devices. It's really a pretty convenient store as they do have all sorts of cables/cords that are compatible with most devices. And, if you're particular with colors, their cables come in various colors so if you're lucky you can get one that matches your phone's color, if color-coordinating things are important to you. Their prices are a bit steeper than CD-R King, but I would really opt to purchase cables here as the quality of their cables are much better and are sturdier than of course their cheaper alternatives.

After buying a tablet which can also work as a phone, I knew that I would finally need a powerbank…read more Green Ion was recommended by the staff who assisted me when I bought the tablet from PC Express - actually, it's just the kiosk across from PC Express. Initially, I had tried looking for a powerbank in CD-R king. While their powerbanks are cheap, the ones I found were quite heavy and bulky. I needed something light, especially for travel. I called a techie friend and he recommended that I needed to go for the branded ones if I was buying a unit with a mAh of 10,000 and up. I told the Green Ion staff the specs I needed, and she showed me some options - one was light but a bit bulky, and one was not only light but also sleek. I bought the latter, and I'm happy with it. It is so thin that I can quickly fit it into a full backpack. A friend was fascinated with the compactness of the powerbank when he saw it.

*Note: This is a 4.5 Star review…read more SM Cyberzone is the place to go for ALL your techie needs! Yes, there is Greenhills but, for the legit tech support services and products on warranty, you should go here. They usually have the latest phones, laptops, digital cameras, gaming consoles, PC components and tech accessories. If not, you can always order it ahead of time and make a reservation. The reason I love SM Cyberzone is that it is located inside a mall and they are open til late. Depending on what product you plan to buy or the service that you need, the prices per store is relatively the same price. You can still haggle and, of course, requests for extras like accessories or freebies (like SD Cards or USBs). Unlike other techie kiosks, you can pay using credit cards here and they also offer installment packages. Very convenient! I usually go here to have my laptops fixed or to buy a cheap accessory for my gadgets. Plus, I just like going around to see the latest gadgets to touch and try them out (LOL!). Depending which store you choose, the staff are well-informed about the gadgets. So, they will be there to help you decide whether to buy or not. Lastly, it is one of the best places to shop because many stores offer deals and promotions at the end of the month and most especially during the Christmas season. So, if you're a gadget lover like me, give this place a visit one time. Less stressful than GH for sure :)

I find that I cannot go to Megamall without dropping by the Cyberzone, just because it's so much…read morefun. As the tech area of one of the biggest malls in the metro, most of the big tech brands have a home there. Just about every bit of consumer tech is present there: mobiles, personal computing and photography are ready and waiting to be explored. Own brand laptops and desktops from Acer, Lenovo, Asus, and Apple all have wares for the computer savvy. Canon PH and Camerahaus provide eye candy for shutterbugs. Smart, Globe and Sun all have their own stores, as well as Samsung and Sony Mobile should you want to buy something without a postpaid plan. For a bit of local flavor, MyPhone and Cherry Mobile also have prominent stalls. Music lovers also have the JBL Concept Store, and a Sennheiser stall in the middle. This doesn't even account for the other stores selling accessories, peripherals, and a plethora of other items. And naturally, it has a CDR King. Because everyone needs to visit CDR King once in a while.

I have two Beyond the Box branch favourite but I chose to write here at the Greenhills branch page…read morebecause I bought more items (gadgets) here and at the other one (Robinson's Galleria) I've only bought accessories. I think everyone who goes to Beyond the Box GH has fallen in love with its design, the place simply looks awesome! and the displays would definitely make you want to buy. They have almost everything there so you won't have go out and buy else where. One thing I've learned from buying at Beyond the Box is that they have this magical thing called cash discount which you can really appreciate when buying gadgets because you'll feel the big discount. That and they have a 1 week replacement and 1 year service warranty. Price-wise, it's sometimes cheaper to buy there if you can believe it and the sense of security that warranty brings me since I'm one of those people who's really unlucky when it comes to buying gadgets.

It's difficult to turn around and stop yourself from giving this store a second look once it…read morecatches your eye as they've done a phenomenal job at engaging the sights and senses of their customers, both potential and current. As opposed to their computer iStudio that's chosen to go with a monotonous color scheme, it's all about color here. There's plenty to explore within the premises: if you're in search of new earphones or headphones, they've got it. There are phone cases, iPad cases, iPod touch cases, laptop cases, etc. And then there are speakers. If you're a techie or a gadget person, come through. This is in your element.