[kictanet] Taifa Laptop

Fri Aug 26 07:38:17 EAT 2016

Excellent discussion.

A question:
What is 'local' about the Taifa laptop?  Which component parts, if
any, are manufactured here?  Was it designed here?  Is the design
unique? (ie. components from several sources, rather than a ready-made
kit)

Or is this really a CKD kit, assembled here, like the 'local' Nissans etc.

...But it's a start, and should be supported - but *not* 'forced' down
our throats!

Cheers,
Tony

On 26/08/2016, Barrack Otieno via kictanet
<kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> Interesting conversation thank you Mike. With after sitting on the
> fence and watching the arguments, i am inclined to support the
> decision made by the University. The only bit i would encourage is
> proper dialogue between the Parents and the University. Buy Kenya,
> Build Kenya.
>
> Regards
>
> On 8/26/16, Waithaka Ngigi via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> wrote:
>> Ali,
>>
>> I don't think Daktari, if I could speak for him, is saying that we start
>> with mediocre products. If anything, he says he's used the laptops and
>> bought a lot more others for students. And they work.
>>
>> If you were to rewind computer history, what did IBM say about the first
>> Apple Computer, Apple I.... a sub-standard toy that'll never amount to
>> anything‎.
>>
>> 30 yrs later, Apple  trounced IBM to be come the most valuable tech
>> company.
>>
>> Not too long ago, what did BlackBerry say about the first Android Version
>> from a little unknown company that was eventually bought by Google?
>>
>> First generation products generally rely more on vision than outright
>> sheer
>> performance. Yes, Taifa wouldn't beat Dell or apple today, but as the
>> Kenyan
>> Nation let's  buy into that vision‎. That's the least we can do for Taifa!
>>
>> Waithaka Ngigi
>>
>> Alliance Technologies
>> www.at.co.ke
>> From: Ali Hussein via kictanet
>> Sent: Friday, August 26, 2016 5:53 AM
>> To: Ngigi Waithaka
>> Reply To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>> Cc: Ali Hussein; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Taifa Laptop
>>
>> Daktari
>>
>> I'm with you. Mine is to debunk the myth that we have to start from
>> mediocrity to grow our local industries. We don't have to use the same
>> legacy thinking of yesteryears.
>>
>> Local industry is critical for development even as we move even more
>> faster
>> towards the utopia of the Information Age. Even the Americans are
>> realizing
>> that the notion of outsourcing to China may be a short time profit thing
>> but
>> not necessarily good for the country. However, there's a deliberate effort
>> to encourage this. Like The
>> Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2013
>>
>> https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revitalize_American_Manufacturing_and_Innovation_Act_of_2013
>>
>> Let's support local products and solutions. But let's also ensure we hold
>> ourselves to the highest standards possible.
>>
>> Ali Hussein
>> Principal
>> Hussein & Associates
>> +254 0713 601113
>>
>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>
>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>
>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>
>>
>>
>> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking
>> what
>> no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>> On 25 Aug 2016, at 10:57 PM, Bitange Ndemo <bndemo at bitangendemo.me> wrote:
>>
>>> Ali,
>>> I have actually used Taifa and I was impressed with the product.  It was
>>> a
>>> mistake that we killed Nyayo car because we ended up probing up the
>>> Proton
>>> from Malaysia that was started exactly the same time.  Some of the
>>> imported computers are hopeless.  I can show you several e-waste that we
>>> keep on importing simply because it is imported.  We have killed the
>>> textile industry by wearing other people's used clothes yet an economist
>>> will tell you that the price of a new product drops when supply
>>> increases.
>>>
>>> Ndemo.
>>>
>>> On Thu, Aug 25, 2016 at 10:28 PM, Ali Hussein via kictanet
>>> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> This notion that local equates or should be inferior harks us back to
>>>> the
>>>> Nyayo Car. We shouldn't expect mediocrity just because it's local. The
>>>> days of comparative advantage and 'National Pride' for inferior products
>>>> MUST end otherwise we will continue to lag behind as a contingent.
>>>>
>>>> Let's buy local yes. But let's continuously demand the highest
>>>> standards.
>>>> It is the only way to keep local industry alive.
>>>>
>>>> Ali Hussein
>>>> Principal
>>>> Hussein & Associates
>>>> +254 0713 601113
>>>>
>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>>
>>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>>
>>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking
>>>> what no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>
>>>> On 25 Aug 2016, at 9:39 PM, Ahmed Mohamed Maawy via kictanet
>>>> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Its not that I am disputing that fact Dr. Ndemo. But the fact that they
>>>>> can pay extra to buy a foreign product gives that extra room for choice
>>>>> - in a free market choice is a must have. Having a free market is in
>>>>> some circumstances maybe even better for the development of our own
>>>>> products. Competition breeds efficiency in the long-run.
>>>>>
>>>>> I totally agree that we need to support Taifa as a product and make it
>>>>> scale. But again the consumer has the right to have a choice. Some kids
>>>>> go to University barely on loans that they can raise from family, if
>>>>> they could. Some just can not - and in my personal capacity having been
>>>>> one of those on that demographic I can feel what some of these kids can
>>>>> feel.
>>>>>
>>>>> It just means that we need to become better business people to market
>>>>> that product better.
>>>>>
>>>>> I believe Kenyans can be patriotic. All they need is a reason to be so.
>>>>> All they need is leadership.
>>>>>
>>>>> On Thu, Aug 25, 2016 at 9:33 PM, Bitange Ndemo <bndemo at bitangendemo.me>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Ahmed,
>>>>>> They did not but in Korea everybody had to use the local products.  To
>>>>>> buy foreign, you had to pay extra.  In fact even today only 1 in 10
>>>>>> cars on the road that is not Korean.  The point I am making is that
>>>>>> our
>>>>>> problems emanate from the appetite of foreign goods.  That is how we
>>>>>> are not creating jobs.  Freedom even in the most free states is
>>>>>> relative.  Our security now and in the future depends on what we do
>>>>>> with unemployment.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Ndemo.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Thu, Aug 25, 2016 at 9:23 PM, Ahmed Mohamed Maawy
>>>>>> <ultimateprogramer at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Agreed with you bwana Ndemo 100%
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> But the point of all this is that the Koreans didn't come to force us
>>>>>>> to buy their units.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Thu, Aug 25, 2016 at 9:19 PM, Bitange Ndemo via kictanet
>>>>>>> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Michael,
>>>>>>>> I have bought six of Taifa Laptops for students who come to me for
>>>>>>>> help.  They are happy with the product.  I don't buy Taifa because
>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>> is cheap.  I buy to support the growth of light electronic
>>>>>>>> manufacturing industry in Kenya.  We have bought garbage in form of
>>>>>>>> tablets for many years from Asia.  We effectively supported Asians
>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> go through the learning curve.  Today they dominate the sector.
>>>>>>>> India is making the industry a priority and estimates show it will
>>>>>>>> top more than $ 900 billion by 2020.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Before we criticism these noble efforts we must look back and
>>>>>>>> correct
>>>>>>>> our attitude.  We supported Koreans perfect the Hyundai, Indians
>>>>>>>> perfect the Mahindra, Japanese perfect the Toyota Mark II and
>>>>>>>> Chinese
>>>>>>>> perfect their electronic manufacturing capability.  Kenya will not
>>>>>>>> wake up one day and produce a perfect product without going through
>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>> learning curve.  JKUAt has had to go through the learning curve
>>>>>>>> since
>>>>>>>> they produced their first computer, Madaraka with the support of the
>>>>>>>> Ministry of Information and Communications.  We have a collective
>>>>>>>> responsibility to be part of the solution to our perennial problems
>>>>>>>> of unemployment.  Without the local market we cannot scale.
>>>>>>>> Patriotism means we make certain sacrifices while giving
>>>>>>>> constructive
>>>>>>>> criticisms.  Africa will never get out of poverty by being consumers
>>>>>>>> of other people's products.  Go buy Taifa and give some advise on
>>>>>>>> what they need to improve.  It has warranty and personally I have no
>>>>>>>> problem with the lap top.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Ndemo.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Thu, Aug 25, 2016 at 12:10 PM, Musya Michael via kictanet
>>>>>>>> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Anyone using this laptop? Experiences so far?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/08/22/parents-protest-jkuats-imposition-of-taifa-laptops-on-students_c1407693
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Michael Musya.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
>>>>>>>>> Philippians 4:13
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> kictanet mailing list
>>>>>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>>>>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>>>>>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bndemo%40bitangendemo.me
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>>>>>>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT
>>>>>>>>> policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for
>>>>>>>>> reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT
>>>>>>>>> enabled growth and development.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable
>>>>>>>>> behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's
>>>>>>>>> times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or
>>>>>>>>> personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares
>>>>>>>>> or qualifications.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> kictanet mailing list
>>>>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>>>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>>>>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ultimateprogramer%40gmail.com
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>>>>>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT
>>>>>>>> policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for
>>>>>>>> reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT
>>>>>>>> enabled growth and development.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable
>>>>>>>> behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's
>>>>>>>> times
>>>>>>>> and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize,
>>>>>>>> respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or
>>>>>>>> qualifications.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Ahmed Maawy
>>>>>>> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
>>>>>>> Curator - Global Shapers Mombasa Hub
>>>>>>> Ambassador - Open Knowledge
>>>>>>> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
>>>>>>> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
>>>>>>> (KE) +254 714 960 627
>>>>>>> Skype: ultimateprogramer
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> swahilibox.co.ke
>>>>>>> globalshapers.org
>>>>>>> www.okfn.org
>>>>>>> startupgrind.com
>>>>>>> ajplus.net
>>>>>>> www.everylayer.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Ahmed Maawy
>>>>> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
>>>>> Curator - Global Shapers Mombasa Hub
>>>>> Ambassador - Open Knowledge
>>>>> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
>>>>> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
>>>>> (KE) +254 714 960 627
>>>>> Skype: ultimateprogramer
>>>>>
>>>>> swahilibox.co.ke
>>>>> globalshapers.org
>>>>> www.okfn.org
>>>>> startupgrind.com
>>>>> ajplus.net
>>>>> www.everylayer.com
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> kictanet mailing list
>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>>>
>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com
>>>>>
>>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>>>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>>>>> development.
>>>>>
>>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>>>>> bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize,
>>>>> respect
>>>>> privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> kictanet mailing list
>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>>
>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bndemo%40bitangendemo.me
>>>>
>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>>>> development.
>>>>
>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>>>> bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect
>>>> privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Barrack O. Otieno
> +254721325277
> +254733206359
> Skype: barrack.otieno
> PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/tony.mzungu%40gmail.com
>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for
> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.

-- 
Tony White