Belgium, home to the EU and otherwise famous for beer, diamonds and chocolate, is planning a scheme to get the deserving a PC for €850 and this is being announced as a wonderful thing for all concerned:
Belgium's government will next week decide whether to adopt a plan backed by secretary of state for IT, Peter Vanvelthoven, to offer subsidised broadband-enabled PCs to disadvantaged groups in the country.
The government is considering reimbursing VAT on PCs in the scheme. The PCs will be at least 41 per cent cheaper than regular PCs, retailing for about €850, according to reports in the Belgian press. The PC industry itself will also offer a discount of at least 29 per cent.
The Belgian government wants to target groups in society that do not have money to buy a fully fledged PC and do not pay income tax, such as housewives, seniors and students. Those who obtain a PC under the scheme will also receive training.
Of course there is the ID card reader built in, but otherwise this seems like a good waste go government dosh given that Dell's Belgian site (apologies for the language for non flemish readers) is offering a Dimension 3000 for €517. It seems like a reasonable spec machine, includes so far as I can tell a monitor and useful apps -
DimensionTM 3000 Intel® Celeron® Processor 330 (2.66GHz, 256KB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB) Legitieme Windows® XP Home Edition 6 USB 2,0, 3 PCI, 10/100 Netwerkkaart Dell™ 17" (43cm) CRT beeldscherm 80GB (7,200) IDE Harde Schijf Bespaar €30! bij bestelling online Geldig t/m 13/09/2005 GRATIS van 256MB naar 512MB geheugen Geldig t/m 20/09/2005 GRATIS Dell 720 kleuren printer bij bestelling online Geldig t/m 13/09/2005 € 517 Incl. BTW / Transport / Recupel.Bespaar 30,-. Geldig t/m 13/09/2005
Unless the ID reader is more than €300 this looks like Dell would be able to provide exactly what is required for rather less even ignoring that VAT discount. Its great to see that the government is so efficient in its procurement!