Message-ID: <199605101430.TAA19268@sdnpk.undp.org> Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 15:15:31 -0400 From: mailto:RIAZKHAN@NLDP.SDNPK.UNDP.ORG> Subject: COMPUTERS IN AFRICA/PAKISTAN To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Dear List members, I have been following this discussion for some time and thought that I should share some experience of Pakistan.In Pakistan we have many institutions which are without Computers and many still with XT computers. I myself was using an XT with 40 MB harddisk for a long time. Then I upgraded to a 286, a 386SX a 486 DX2 66MHZ and now plan to upgrade to a 586. My friend had a commodore 128. We all learnt our basics on these computer. I spent almost 200 hrs in one month on my XT learning DBASE III. I borrowed it from a friend. I must admit that at that time XTs were still considered new at the time. However others can still learn about dbase and wordperfect on XTs. That has not changed. My thinking is that " AN OLD COMPUTER IS BETTER THAN NO COMPUTER". There is a learning curve to computer literacy and old computers can help in reducing the time for adopting to the new technology. In our training courses we have to teach the basics of keyboard as most of the participants have never seen a computer in thier life. Had the participants access to an XT I am sure they would have picked up atleast keyboard operation and basic wordprocessing thus making our job a bit easier. It all depends on the person himself and not on the type of equipment. Of course one cannot run windows on XTs. I have seen the latest 586 lying unused in Government Offices or are being used for word processing only. Actually those who have had access to or have used new computers would hesitate or crib when using XTs. However if they were the only ones available then I am sure they would use the XT instead of a manual typewriter.
regards
Riaz Khan e-mail: mailto:riazkhan%nldp@sdnpk.undp.org