Yes, we have no computers

**Tomluter** · 22 Mar 09,, 13:21

Yes, we have no computers
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I got a very interesting email from a regular reader of this blog. He lives in Zhengzhou in Henan Province, and recently had an unusual experience trying to buy a computer.

I can't vouch that his experience is the same across China, but it wouldn't surprise me if it were.

The following is his email. I only have removed a few sentences giving his identity:

I have a maddening and interesting story to relate to you. Might be an interesting story for you.

I am a filmmaker. I came to China in 2002 twice making documentaries and a year later came back to stay. I've been teaching and doing my photography for the last five years but not a lot of video. Oh, I've been shooting a lot of video but without a good computer to edit my stuff, I haven't really been doing a lot. A few months ago, I decided to buy a powerful media computer and start producing TV again. I've been looking, deciding the perfect computer for my needs. I've been to the Chinese Lenovo, Sony and Dell websites. I finally decided on a Lenovo workhorse of a computer. Found it on the Chinese Lenovo website. Powerful processor, 1TB hard drive, tons of ram, HD video board and Blue Ray DVD burner. Nice, nice machine...nice price too, 10,000 yuan.

Last month I was back in Dali and chatting with a couple of western filmmakers who also work and live here in China. I told them of my plan to buy a good "power" computer and start doing my thing again. They both laughed and said good luck buying my computer in China. I said I found it on Lenovo's website and I was sure I would have no problem. They went on to tell me it was next to impossible for the average Joe Blow to walk in off the street to the dealer and actually BUY one of those big computers you see online. They told me their experience here was that the government DOES NOT want the public to have these powerful computers. They said I would find I'd have to go home to buy a good Lenovo. Well, I just couldn't believe that.

Well...yesterday I went to Zhengzhou's computer center with 10,000 yuan in my pocket...and found what I had been told in Dali was 100% correct. I spent three hours...went to a dozen stores...Lenovo, HP, Dell, Sony...and found the same thing. I can buy a moderate computer...good for the internet and small chores...but they couldn't even order the big ones that were currently listed on their Chinese websites. If I'm a university or a Communist government office maybe but not me, average Joe Blow.

I went online at the stores and showed the managers (always deal with the managers!) their own company websites and SHOWED them the computer I wanted and the reply was always the same...not available! When I walked in the first Lenovo store (where my school bought all their computers), I showed the salesman my computer printout of the computer I wanted FROM THEIR OWN WEBSITE and he said he could order it for me and have it in a week. I said order it...he walked to the counter and made a phone call. About five minutes later the manager came to me and asked me why I needed such a powerful computer. I told him to do video. He proceded to give me a bunch of excuses why he couldn't get it. Lenovo has several models that will suit my needs...but when we went to Lenovo's website, the manager said ALL those models were "unavailable". Basically the same story at all the stores I went to.

I've been fuming ever since. What really pisses me off is not the computer per se...no, what angers me is for the past five years I have been pretty naive about just how much control this Communist government actually has over the people. I've told my friends and family of the freedom the Chinese people actually have...or what I have PERCEIVED to be freedom. But yesterday was just a small example of one of the many, many little things, little freedoms that the people here are denied. Little things that as an American I just take for granted. All those little freedoms...it's not the big stuff...it's all the little things. I told my Chinese wife that in the states I can walk in the store and walk out in 30 minutes with the actual computer I want. It's just a small thing but rather profound to me. What an eye opener to me to say the least.

Does the government believe I'll use that computer to overthrow Tibet or something???

Anyway...the more I thought about it, thought it might make for a good story.

Thanks.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcb_china/20...ocomputershtml

ps: I don't care whether or not the writer had bought this "powerful computer" that cost 10000 Yuan in China at last. mayby,it is too powerful... I wander where my friend's graphics workstation bought. ... The concoctive ability of this western people is so powerful. Or his story and his "contraband viewpoint" in his article, just to someone's taste.

**snowhole** · 22 Mar 09,, 15:07

Well a 10,000 yuan computer should be powerful but not necessarily so extraordinary that the CCP would like to keep it away from the public... Maybe he should believe all those excuses the salesman gave...

**Merlin** · 22 Mar 09,, 15:39

This blogger didn't clarify how 'powerful' is the computer he wanted.

I agree with Snowhole at the price of 10,000 Yuan, it can't be all that powerful for him to have so much difficulty buying one in China.

I don't have the figures. China by now may have more Internet users than the US, and perhaps the number of computers as well.

**kualaws** · 22 Mar 09,, 15:46

it's not forbidden to buy such a computer in china, at least now. my friend bought a computer about 20,000rmb last year, also for video processing. but he is in beijing, the capital of china. i cann't imagine why the author didn't get certain computer, maybe because of the place he lived in?

**Tomluter** · 22 Mar 09,, 16:03

Zhengzhou city in China, It is not a small place, I sure certainly he can buy a computer that he talk about even more expensive one ,if he wants to. But you know, most store will not prepare the spot goods that is a bit expensive computer to a common Chinese consumer. Most Chinese consumers are more intresting in cheaper computers, such as computers that cost 4000~7000 yuan. Yes, we are not rich, but there is nothing more.

**Superdog** · 22 Mar 09,, 23:32

This just sounded bizarre, although I haven't brought one myself in china, I personally know quite a few people in mainland china using ~$10000 computers, high end quad cores, 4gb plus rams, high end display cards, raid HDD etc. It's not like they are government officials or scholars, they're just ordinary (or maybe hardcore) gamers.

Even if you want a pro workstation level computer, I believe it's not that hard to get provided that you have the money.

Maybe he should just try more places, or maybe the whole thing is fictional......

**kuku** · 23 Mar 09,, 13:38

Sounds like the biggest BS ever.

**eagel** · 23 Mar 09,, 17:18

I am in shenzhen guangdong province now,buy a computer costing 10000 yuan five year ago for common works and playing games,not perceived that buying a powerful computer was difficult.perhaps bloger needed a professional computer that a common store for few needs was unavailable ,but a exclusive agency have .I think bloger couldn't buy it no for a foreigner.