Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!oliveb!ames!killer!igloo!learn
From: learn@igloo.Scum.COM (william vajk)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Computers in the Eastern Bloc
Message-ID: <1568@igloo.Scum.COM>
Date: 14 Jun 89 04:17:14 GMT
References: <2717@ndsuvax.UUCP> <3583@viscous.sco.COM> <32926@bu-cs.BU.EDU>
Organization: igloo, Northbrook, IL
Lines: 64

In article <32926@bu-cs.BU.EDU> Yevgeny Y. Itkis writes:

> In article <3583@viscous.sco.COM> James M. Moore writes:

> >In article <2717@ndsuvax.UUCP> Bruce Bartholomew writes:

> >>I'm really curious as to the state of the art in personal computers in
> >>the Eastern bloc (I've read about them in Russia) and how prevelant
> >>they are in the "average" home.  Anybody that can answer this one for
> >>me?

> >You might want to check out a copy of "V mire personal'nikh komp'juterov," 
 
> I am surprised no one with the fresh direct sources didn't publish a responce
> to this. 

Two years ago, in Yugoslavia, I saw one computer for sale in a Belgrade shop
window a block from the Capital Building. As I recall, the price was in the
range of $ 600 US at the official exchange rate. It was a homegrown 64K
machine of some sort, no disk available, only an adapted audio tape unit.

Two years ago, the most popular machine in Hungary was the Commodore 64
which was typically purchased in Vienna as there were no official imports.
There is an entire street in Vienna, Tabor Strasse, which caters to visiting
Hungarians with prevalent signs in most stores proclaiming that the
proprietors speak Hungarian.

Interestingly, the tariff on computer equipment for personal use is lower
than if taken into the country for resale. There was, early on, an official
Commodore Repair Center in Budapest. By last fall, several stores were
selling IBM clones, XT and '286. A simple XT with 640 K @ 8 MHz and a single
floppy with a monochrome monitor sold for approximately $ 1500 at the
official exchange rate, with a two week delivery after order and payment.

Considering that at the time, the average wage in Hungary was approximately
$ 100 per month, this represents a sizable outlay. Considering the shortage
of consumer goods, the historical saving mentality, and the general lack of
the availability of interest bearing investments in Hungary since 1947, there 
is a large amount of curency available. Unfortunately, the currency is soft
and considering the state of the trade balances, imports are generally
restricted to low levels. In all likelihood, this situation will not change
in the near future.

With the imposition of a new income tax structure this year, entreprenaurial
income will be sharply reduced as a source of disposable income. Imports of
consumer goods will doubtless decline. The effect of becoming an arms length
trading partner of the new Europe is unknown as the political climate depends 
more on Soviet influence than any other single factor.

Prevalence ? Ya gotta be kidding. We're talking about a nation where the
normal residential electrical service is 10 amperes at 220 Volts, where
mama has been waiting for 20 or more years to afford a vacuum cleaner,
where scrubboards are still being manufactured, where you get into the
telephone lottery after a ten year waiting list (if you live in Budapest)
and most country villages have one emergency direct connected telephone on
the front of the Post Office.

Need we discuss Romania where ordinary typewriters are required to be
registered with the police ?


Bill Vajk              Always behave like a duck
		       keep calm & unruffled on the surface,
		       but paddle like hell underneath