If your (Belgian) parents or grand-parents want to buy a cheap PC to get started on the Web, tell them to hold back for a couple more days. The Federal Government - through FEDICT - has set up a program to sponsor a complete package of PC + software + broadband + training for a sharp price. The title of the project: IVI or “Internet voor Iedereen” - the launch is planned for next week, April 18th.
THE PACKAGE
- Desktop minimum config
- 140 Sysmark 2004 SE (in practice higher than Sempron 2800+ or Celeron D335) or PowerPC G5
- 256 MB RAM, 80GB hard disk
- CD-RW, DVD, 100Mbps Ethernet, 4 x USB2.0
- 15″ display, BE keyboard, IVI mousemat
- 2 years waranty
- Laptop minimum config
- 115 Sysmark 2004 SE or PowerPC G4
- 256 MB RAM, 40GB hard disk
- CD-RW, DVD, 100Mbps Ethernet, 4 x USB2.0/IEEE 1394
- 15″ display, BE keyboard, IVI mousemat
- 2 years waranty
- Smartcard reader
- Both models should include a chipcard reader that is eID ready.
- Software installed
- Operation system + browser
- Some office suite (wordprocessor, spreadsheet, presentation, database)
- Antivirus, anti-spam, anti-spyware, personal firewall
- Broadband connection
- min 512 Kbps downstream, 128 Kbps upstream, 400MB transfer/month
- training
- 4 hours (using the office suite, browsing, emailing, …)
The price this should go for? 850 euro for the desktop config and 990 euro for the laptop, with all software/services for 1 year included. The government sponsors by paying back the VAT (21%).
LITTLE OPEN-SOURCE
The government’s call for proposal allowed for commercial operating systems (Windows/MacOS) as well as open-source (Linux/Ubuntu). Unfortunately none of the certified partners will offer a non-Windows solution. Microsoft obviously did a strong job selling it’s OS. Partners in the consortia are the obvious broadband duopoly Belgacom/Telenet, with only Mobistar as a challenger, and for the hardware Fujitsu-Siemens and Packard-Bell (no Dell?). There are also 2 smaller players: DIDI Trade (Aartselaar) and SHS Computer (Neuville-enCondroz).
BROADBAND IN BELGIUM
We’re currently number #10 worldwide in broadband penetration: 18,3 subscribers per 100 inhabitants. This promotion should allow us to maybe jump over Sweden and Canada. Iceland, here we come!
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed or receive updates via email. Thanks for visiting!
Hi Peter,
We’ve seen the cost now (between 800 and 900€) and I think this is a smack in the face of people who need to get around with less than that/month just to pay their room and food for the kids… I am certain that a PC can be built, based on freeware, OpenOffice etc… for less. Some reporter stated that this program would only favor those who already have a PC and are now planning to get a “cheap” second one… I agree. This does nothing to close the famous gap.