[kictanet] the used computers debate

[Solomon Mburu Kamau]

On 9 March 2010 10:39, <ikua at lpakenya.org> wrote:

> So we are back to this debate about used computers. seems like the Ministry
> will not relent on this.
>
> The story in the business daily has a lot of misinformation and half truths
> coming from the Ministry. To say that the price of new computers has come
> down to affordable levels is to be economical with the truth. How much is a
> new Dell or HP computer? About 45k. The lower priced models like Mecer or
> Acer will go for about 35k and above for standard specs.
> How about a new clone? About 25k. And the lifespan of a new clone? About 3
> years, 4 if you are lucky. The warranty on new clones is only 3 months.
> Used/refurbished computers can give the user upwards of 5 years in good use.
> Between a new clone made with cheap parts from China and a used computer of
> a major brand, I would go for the used computer.
> With 10k, you have a good low spec used computer. So as a student or a home
> user, you get easy access to technology. With 15k, you have a powerful used
> computer with specs like P4 3.0/512mb RAM/80gb HDD. So as a small business
> which needs to buy 10 computers, or a school or college that needs to buy 40
> computers, what would you go for with a limited budget?
>
> Why cant the government regulate the trade in used computers instead of
> imposing a total ban? The industry will still have jobs for IT technicians,
> whether its used computers or its assembly of clones. which leads m,e to the
> question, what happened to the eMado computer? How is it doing as a business
> proposition? How many have been sold and to whom? How much is it? How many
> components are being manufactured in Kenya?
>
> We can for instance say  that we will not accept into the country a
> computer manufactured over 5 years ago, or 8 years, like motor vehicles. Or
> that we will not accept computers below a certain speed. Clones have much
> more ewaste than used computers as they die faster. Yet new branded
> computers are way beyond the reach of the common mwananchi. but again, this
> has never been about the common mwananchi, inasmuch as noone sees the need
> to find out what he thinks about such policy decisions.
>
> Regards,
> Ikua
>
>
I was also reading through this article on the Daily Nation about e-Waste
(see
http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/E%20waste%20threat%20grows%20by%20the%20day%20/-/440808/875350/-/d1yqbjz/-/index.html)
and I'm really appalled at the way the health of the children is put at
risk.

I wonder whether there are stringent mechanism in place, or being developed
for managing e-waste in Kenya.

>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> This message was sent to: solo.mburu at gmail.com
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/solo.mburu%40gmail.com
>



-- 
Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau
P.O. Box 19343 - 00202 Nairobi
Cell: (+254-0) 735 431041

Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the
same way to the side of a hill!

AND

It is better to die in dignity than in the ignomity of ambiguous generosity!


http://dawn-in-kenya.blogspot.com
http://smiley2.wordpress.com
http://mburu.sikika.co.ke
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/attachments/20100309/c8e9a1ba/attachment.htm>