I find this article interesting and probably relevant to most people on these lists.<div><br></div><div>What I find most interesting are the links in the very last line under "Also in the News", and the fact that I hadn't heard news of them over grassroots or support-gang yet.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Hurrah!<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Vital Wave Consulting</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:info@vitalwaveconsulting.com">info@vitalwaveconsulting.com</a>></span><br>
Date: Wed, Apr 29, 2009 at 6:33 PM<br>Subject: The Nugget: An Emerging Markets Newsletter<br>To: <a href="mailto:ceomybiz@gmail.com">ceomybiz@gmail.com</a><br><br><br>
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="620">
<tbody><tr>
<td>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="618">
<tbody><tr>
<td colspan="4"><a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-dF.DPpPYDHAeE%404201528-WhYyRNvo16Xpk" target="_blank"><img alt="The Nugget" border="0" height="95" src="http://www.vitalwaveconsulting.com/newsletter/images/newsletter-header2.jpg" width="618"></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#003366" height="30" width="180">
<br>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#003366" height="30" width="20"> </td>
<td align="right" bgcolor="#003366" height="30" valign="middle" width="408">
<div align="right"><strong> <font color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> April 29, 2009 </font></strong></div>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#003366" height="30" width="10"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="180">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="180">
<tbody><tr>
<td bgcolor="#C0CAA4" width="15">
</td>
<td bgcolor="#C0CAA4"> </td>
<td bgcolor="#C0CAA4">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#C0CAA4" width="15">
</td>
<td bgcolor="#C0CAA4" width="170"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><b>The Nugget</b> is a weekly comment on business growth opportunities in developing-country markets. </font><p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">Each week, <a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-XmFyS7cUjs83.%404201528-OD3ozNifmsb6o" target="_blank">Vital Wave Consulting </a>mines the news on technology in emerging markets and sends one choice nugget to you.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">For deeper research and analysis, review our <a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-hD.0WKIyFHapQ%404201529-FHgvYnqytPj8Q" target="_blank">Inside Emerging Markets</a> reports, or <a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-JhzSW6/pAiUP.%404201530-d0O17mFg6Oe72" target="_blank">contact us</a> to learn how Vital Wave Consulting can help your company realize near-term business growth in developing countries.</font></p>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#C0CAA4" width="10">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#C0CAA4" height="5" width="15">
</td>
<td bgcolor="#C0CAA4" height="5">
</td>
<td bgcolor="#C0CAA4" height="5">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3"><a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-bJ7tBth0Th/xg%404201528-aWXm57qrrnI86" target="_blank"><img alt="Vital Wave Consulting" border="0" height="70" src="http://www.vitalwaveconsulting.com/newsletter/images/vwc_logo.jpg" width="180"></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="10">
</td>
<td height="10"><img height="5" src="http://www.vitalwaveconsulting.com/images/nav/images/spacer.gif" width="1"></td>
<td height="10">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="15">
</td>
<td width="170">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><b>Contact Information</b><br> Phone: +1 (650) 964-1316<br> Fax: +1 (650) 644-0110 <a href="mailto:info@vitalwaveconsulting.com" target="_blank">info@vitalwaveconsulting.com</a> <a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-ztQzoBp5u9rrE%404201528-LPf17K3XO8Vn%2e" target="_blank">www.vitalwaveconsulting.com</a></font></p>
</td>
<td>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
<td rowspan="4" valign="bottom" width="20"><img height="1" src="http://www.vitalwaveconsulting.com/images/nav/images/spacer.gif" width="20"></td>
<td valign="top" width="408"> </td>
<td rowspan="4" valign="bottom" width="10"><img height="1" src="http://www.vitalwaveconsulting.com/images/nav/images/spacer.gif" width="10"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="408">
<p align="center"><strong> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3">Who Wants the African PC Market?</font></strong></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Computer Aid International (a non-profit supplier of computers to developing countries), ZDnet UK, and a trio of African universities just released the results of a comparative study of low-cost, low-power computers for the African market. Few media outlets reported on the study, and those that did provided a <a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-irAMZtmKEzoYk%404201531-6tyt9zwtKzUZ2" target="_blank">
somewhat inaccurate conclusion</a>: Asus Eee is more suitable than OLPC’s XO machine for Africa. Other devices reviewed included Inveneo Computing Station, Intel’s Classmate PC and NComputing’s X300.</font></p>
<table align="right" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="240">
<tbody><tr>
<td>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="238">
<tbody><tr>
<td align="center" bgcolor="#7F2D46" height="25" valign="middle" width="8">
<br>
</td>
<td align="center" bgcolor="#7F2D46" height="25" valign="middle" width="227">
<div align="center"><strong><font color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">VITAL WAVE CONSULTING FREE REPORT</font></strong></div>
</td>
<td align="center" bgcolor="#7F2D46" height="25" valign="middle" width="3"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="8">
</td>
<td height="8"><img height="8" src="http://www.vitalwaveconsulting.com/images/nav/images/spacer.gif" width="1"></td>
<td height="8">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="8"> </td>
<td align="left" width="227">
<p><font face="Verdana"> <font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:700"><b> <font face="Arial" style="font-size:9.5pt">Landscape Analysis of <br> Low-cost Computing Devices</font></b></font> </font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8pt"><i> This report (with accompanying datasheet) details and analyzes 93 low-cost computing devices launched or announced between 2004 and 2008. Analysis includes processor dominance in various segments and form factors, Windows versus Linux, device designs, target markets, and leading players</i></span><span style="font-size:8pt"><i>.</i></span></font></p>
<p><a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-uha859Aj2GJdk%404201532-hNfYS/T/RlL9I" target="_blank"> Download</a></p>
</td>
<td width="3"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="8">
</td>
<td height="8"><img height="8" src="http://www.vitalwaveconsulting.com/images/nav/images/spacer.gif" width="1"></td>
<td height="8">
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">In fact, the <a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-jkExaXMW2q/sw%404201533-Zr.xDpKFEhDXI" target="_blank"> full report</a> is more nuanced in specifying which solutions are more suitable for individual users (Asus Eee) and which are better for school computer labs (NComputing X300). Computer Aid International (CAI) and its partners deserve credit for raising some important issues about the African PC
market, including infrastructure challenges that can impact the suitability of computing solutions, particularly for rural areas. The report’s emphasis on power consumption and the changes they made to methodology (e.g., playback of downloaded rather than streaming video) is necessary for an honest evaluation of computing solutions for many developing countries. However, some critical issues were buried or not addressed in the study. For example, the Asus Eee tested by three of the four
evaluation teams was the 701 model running a Linux operating system, a product that has been essentially abandoned by Asus in favor of models with Windows XP and a larger keyboard and screen. Similarly, the report promises to shed light on the total cost of ownership (TCO) for each of the evaluated devices, but estimates of critical cost factors such as maintenance, training, and replacement from theft or damage are not included in the analysis (see Vital Wave Consulting’s report, <a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-4CtUnNeC6njoQ%404201534-.ge.xDI0h200Q" target="_blank"> Affordable Computing for Developing-country Schools</a>, for a thorough consideration of TCO for school computing solutions).</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Though the CAI study is certainly welcome, it is perhaps most remarkable for what is not said – the competitive field vying for the African market is pretty thin. Their champion, Asus, has turned its attention to mature-market consumers, and neither OLPC nor Inveneo have the needed financial backing to rapidly scale in a market as diffuse and challenging as Africa. Intel’s Classmate PC (and other machines based on its
reference design) is still around, but Intel’s focus on the low-end processor market <a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-i5i/t2X3JEdik%404201535-0zvihVGUEhtPk" target="_blank">may be waning</a>. Of the 5 companies represented in the CAI testing, only NComputing (not yet one of the giants) seems committed to aggressively pursuing the education segment in emerging markets. These efforts may not be able to meet the steady growth in PC usage and private ownership in Africa. The completion of several large undersea cable
projects could cause a spike in demand for all kinds of computing devices from Cape Town to Cairo over the next few years as a result of the imminent increase in low-cost bandwidth coming to the continent this year. CAI’s study suggests there’s ample opportunity for companies to step up and meet that demand. </font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" width="180">
<table align="left" bgcolor="#F5F4EB" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="180">
<tbody><tr>
<td colspan="3"><img height="20" src="http://www.vitalwaveconsulting.com/newsletter/images/sidebar.jpg" width="180"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="20"> </td>
<td align="left" width="20"><a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-0VwS/.CANz7IM%404201536-FKCOvwgf1HCfo" target="_blank"><img alt="Blog" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.vitalwaveconsulting.com/newsletter/images/blog.gif" width="16"></a></td>
<td width="140"><a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-A3cZyi53UjNKE%404201536-iluN9LaAdeLd6" target="_blank"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">Post a comment</font></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="20"> </td>
<td align="left" width="20"><a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-Lohb0v2ofBG5.%404201537-RnPPSjaBMYqVQ" target="_blank"><img alt="Nugget sign up" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.vitalwaveconsulting.com/newsletter/images/add.gif" width="16"></a></td>
<td width="140"><a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-EvQgjDnfEPWuE%404201537-gb/sA44f.Nlfs" target="_blank"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">Nugget sign up</font></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="20"> </td>
<td align="left" width="20"><a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-yzzdaz5kYUktY%404201538-Zo5rd7f8FRy.k" target="_blank"><img alt="Previous issues" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.vitalwaveconsulting.com/newsletter/images/arrow_left.gif" width="16"></a></td>
<td width="140"><a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-Kt4pXdADlXGQ6%404201538-PYaSAkJa.Oxkc" target="_blank"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">Previous issues</font></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="20"> </td>
<td align="left" width="20"><a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-y/Rq5U0mHQrWs%404201539-q7t277V5RVTeU" target="_blank"><img alt="Delicious" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.vitalwaveconsulting.com/newsletter/images/delicious-icon.gif" width="16"></a></td>
<td width="140"><a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-tdtLRNgl3cHho%404201539-AjK9gdhynqJFs" target="_blank"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">Emerging-market news</font></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="5"><font size="1"> </font></td>
<td align="left" height="5"><font size="1"> </font></td>
<td height="5"><font size="1"> </font></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="bottom" width="408">
<p> </p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><em>Also in the news: </em></font></p>
<ul>
<li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> <a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-POYVZQTzGnZaE%404201540-8th9VCtP4PrpQ" target="_blank"> Knock-off mobile phone</a> business in China strong</font></li>
<li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Nokia buys <a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-q2R8s5z1tYzPA%404201541-omSlF.vmnyMwM" target="_blank"> stake in HCL</a></font></li>
<li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> <a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-l8oCRQvdQgxRE%404201542-ak.J88UbNeqgs" target="_blank"> OLPC switches</a> to VIA; wins two <a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-GrVzbeZc0OEVA%404201543-gVHn.obonIpHk" target="_blank"> new deals</a></font></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-GOp8UI.4BLbe.%404201544-CiuGcS5qiRrxI" target="_blank"></a><img align="right" alt="send to a friend" border="0" height="18" src="http://www.vitalwaveconsulting.com/images/nav/footer2_02.gif" width="105">
<a href="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-xtyL2JVwaUBus%404201544-hRkx9ywkBR79k" target="_blank"></a>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p>To take me off the mailing list or change formats:<br><a href="http://www.mailermailer.com/x?u=89063623n-f13b0c06" target="_blank">My Profile</a></p>
<img src="http://m1e.net/c?89063623-uXnu9icXDvmfQ%404201545-C/9Jrg9V4sVnQ" alt=""><hr><small>Email list management powered by <a href="http://MailerMailer.com" target="_blank">http://MailerMailer.com</a></small></div>
</div><br></div>