Chinese farmers up in arms about HP computer deals

31 Jan 2008 | 12:23 GMT

By Egan Orion

CHINESE USERS are complaining that HP sold them dodgy computers that are hard to connect to the Internet. And charged too much for low-spec kit, too.

HP and China Telecom have been offering a "Computer plus Broadband" deal in outlying areas since December 2006. Initially unsophisticated, Chinese farmers who signed up for the deal have set chatrooms on fire lately complaining that the HP desktop systems cost too much for what they got and often crash.

The "Computer plus Broadband" offering supplied a free HP Compaq DX2308 computer if users signed up with China Telecom for 27 months of broadband service at RMB198 per month. The deal includes 150 hours of access monthly.

However, based upon China Telecom's monthly ADSL fee of RMB60 for 150 hours of Internet service, users who took the "Computer plus Broadband" deal in effect end up paying RMB3926 - about $546 - for their HP computer alone.

Cui Wu, a lawyer at the Jiangsu Shengdian law firm, told local media that HP took advantage of the Chinese farmers' lack of computer knowledge and sold them low-spec kit with 3.2GHz Intel Celeron D processors, 512M of storage, 80G hard disks and 17-inch CRT monitors. He said that they should seek to cancel their agreements and, if necessary, sue HP.

Since Walmart is selling comparable low-end desktops for only $200 in the US, they might have a case. µ

L'INQ
China Tech News

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