Local PCs make big leap<\/p>\n
I. Christianto, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Locally assembled personal computers (PCs) have now started to
\ndominate the local PC market.<\/p>\n
More and more local buyers, particularly individuals, have
\nturned to locally made PCs, not only due to their lower prices,
\nbut also their relatively better quality.<\/p>\n
Market share of the locally made PCs has continued to increase
\nsince early 2000, in line with the launch of better-quality PCs
\nby local producers.<\/p>\n
In the past, locally made PCs, called jangkrik (crickets)
\nbecause they often produced a noise when operated, had little
\nrespect from users. Now, they have become the first choice,
\nparticularly for the majority of individual buyers.<\/p>\n
\"The jangkrik has become a real computer and has a similar
\ncapability to foreign brands,\" said chairman of the Indonesian
\nComputer Dealers Association (Apkomindo) Hidayat Tjokrodjojo.<\/p>\n
He said that sales of the locally made PCs rose by 20 percent
\nto 600,000 units last year, or about 60 percent of the country's
\ntotal PC sales.<\/p>\n
\"This year, we expect to book the same growth rate,\" he said,
\nadding that he hoped the government's computerization plans would
\nalso help further increase sales in locally made PCs.<\/p>\n
\"We are awaiting support from the government, both central and
\nlocal. We hope they will use local products to support their
\ncomputerization programs, particularly for the general election
\nnext year,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Chief executive officer of PT Zyrexindo Mandiri Buana Timothy
\nSiddik agreed with Hidayat. He said that the government had many
\nprojects that could involve local PC producers, such as the
\napplication of Internet programs in government offices.<\/p>\n
Zyrexindo, which holds the exclusive rights to produce PCs
\nunder the American name Cyrex in Indonesia and other countries,
\nsaid it was ready to supply if it were involved in the
\ngovernment's projects.<\/p>\n
Timothy said that wih a a strong research & development team,
\nhis company could offer the latest technology in PC production.
\nThe company, which had already obtained the ISO 9001 certificate
\nand hired highly trained workers, was ready to compete, even with
\nforeign producers.<\/p>\n
\"I think the local products are very competitive. The locally
\nassembled PCs are good in all aspects, including quality,
\nspecification, technology, and so on. I'd say the local products
\nare as good as the imports, possibly even better,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Zyrexindo produces several brands, including Tactical (for
\nbusinesses), Ellipse and Familia (for households). The company
\nalso makes laptops.<\/p>\n
Several local PC makers exist in Indonesia, and they have been
\nable to produce products to international standards. They include
\nPT Berca Cakra Teknologi, which produces the Relion computer, PT
\nMulti Persada International, with its Mugen, popular for its
\nGold, top-grade memory, and the highest quality of its type, with
\nan unlimited lifetime warranty.<\/p>\n
Other local brands include Garuda, Wearnes or Fox. All are
\nrivals for popular names such as Dell, Apple, Toshiba, Texas
\nInstruments, and so on.<\/p>\n
Hidayat said that local products were generally much better in
\nextending after-sales service, as his company, for instance, ran
\nmany service points for customers.<\/p>\n
\"Most PCs now offer the same quality in term of specification.
\nThe local brands are also equipped with the same components, such
\nas the Pentium processor and Intel motherboard. What we should be
\nconcerned about is customer support and after-sales service,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He added that with good after-sales support and service,
\nlocally assembled PCs would be able to establish a larger market.<\/p>\n
\"The market is increasing. We, the local players, expect to
\nsee more sales,\" he said, adding his company had a capacity to
\nproduce about 60,000 units per year.<\/p>\n
He said sales and value had increased respectively by 70
\npercent and 50 percent last year, but declined to elaborate.<\/p>\n
Hidayat said that the total sales of PCs in the local market
\nwere estimated to increase only by about 10 percent this year, as
\ncorporate demand would likely remain flat.<\/p>\n
Hidayat, who also runs IT solution company PT Realta
\nChakradarma, said Apkomindo members would soon launch a one-stop
\ntrading center for PCs in Glodok Plaza, West Jakarta, to further
\nboost the sales of local PCs.<\/p>\n
\"It will be launched later this month; some 300 shops are
\nready to serve PC suppliers. This is not one-stop shopping, but
\ntrading, meaning we offer everything computer-related to large
\nbuyers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, he said, the introduction of the newly approved law
\non intellectual property rights could become a threat to local PC
\nproducers.<\/p>\n
\"The bill, which will be enforced later this year, should be
\nimplemented very carefully, or so many people will be heading for
\njail,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives passed the new law last year, and
\nit will be implemented on July 29.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is one of the nations that has a high incidence of
\npirated PC software use. Hidayat said it occurred because most
\nlocal buyers could not afford original software.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/local-pcs-make-big-leap-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}