Computer shopping list

I refer to the article in the centre pages of The Times (February 16) regarding the so-called unprecedented prices of computers being offered for "special" sale through the recently announced unilateral and highly dubious sponsored initiative.

May I respectfully inform readers and The Times reporters who wrote the above article, and who have evidently been misled, that these so termed "unprecedented prices" being bandied about have indeed been available for quite some time and well ahead of this over-hyped initiative? May I also suggest to readers to leaf through The Times of the very same date to see how far superior specifications are being offered at practically the same, if not better, prices?

Furthermore readers may be well advised to look closely, very closely, at the specifications offered as these are literally the bottom end in terms of computer technology that is available today.

What readers must be made aware of is that eventual "upgrades", if indeed this is possible on the machines being offered, may be a sooner rather than later affair and may turn out to be a "very costly" affair.

A quick glance at the website of one of the two protagonists in this affair reveals for example that a 512Mb RAM 400Mhz memory upgrade, which would cost in the region of Lm35/Lm44 in any "normal" retail outlet, is being offered at Lm75! Adding a DVD/CDRW combo - normal cost about Lm28/Lm31 - is offered at the unbelievable price of Lm48!

Indeed "unprecedented prices" until, as the Maltese saying goes, one sees beyond the tip of one's own nose!