Dell replaces HP in Thai 'People's PC' project

PC giant Dell has replaced rival Hewlett-Packard in the deal to make cheap Linux and Windows-based computers for the Thai government's 'people's PC' project.

In May, Thailand's Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) ministry launched a budget PC programme to spur computer ownership in the country. The ICT ministry initially said a slew of government-subsidised models from HP and local computer makers installed with Linux will be made available.

However, HP's senior vice president Alex Gruzen has since said that the deal fell through, and the company will not be shipping the Linux notebooks after all.

In its place, Dell will now offer two notebook models to users who had booked the HP machines, the Bangkok Post has reported. Under the government scheme, computers will bear only the ICT logo, regardless of which maker it comes from.

The Dell Latitude D500 notebook, which is installed with Microsoft Windows, will be sold for 36,500 baht ($870). The same model sells for over $1,400 in other countries.

The Dell Inspiron notebook, which comes in both Windows and Linux flavours, will retail for 22,900 baht ($546) and 19,500 baht ($465) respectively, the report said. Dell's Singapore office could not provide more details of these notebooks at press time.

Besides Dell, two models from Taiwan-based computer maker Jade Quantum will be offered to these users at prices similar to that of the Dell Inspiron, the report added.