Desktops anyone?

Posted on | September 6, 2005 |

“Will PCs become obsolete with the emergence of hi-tech mobile devices?” asks George Paul, executive vice-president of India’s leading PC vendor HCL Infosystems. He then goes on to claim that first-time buyers will prefer desktops over mobile devices.

My belief is that the first computing device for most Indians and consumers in emerging markets will be the mobile phone. Affordability is not the only reason for lower penetration of PCs in India. Indians are highly value-conscious, paisa vasool types, so there has to be a compelling reason also i.e. desirability. Mobiles offer a straight forward no-brainer reason - you can stay in touch. There are other less visible factors like mobiles being battery operated, which eliminates the need of uninteruppted power supply. Also support issues are easier to handle since the telco call centre rep is one call away. And if the handset breaks down there are plenty of small time mobile servicing centers, which are becoming as common as neighbourhood “radio repair shacks”.

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