Against the backdrop of what is now a global crisis in the availability of desktop and laptop computers to meet the continually skyrocketing demand by the education sector, Chief Executive Officer of Starr Computers, one of the country’s leading distributors of communication equipment, has told the Stabroek Business that the company has joined forces with the California-headquartered technology company Intel Corporation to produce its “affordable” Starr essential PC System for low-income families in Guyana.
The initiative which was launched last Monday is designed to help forestall what could worsen an already precarious situation in the country’s education sector if the requisite equipment to enable the transition to a virtual teaching/learning regime continues to be in short supply, Mohan told Stabroek Business on Wednesday.
Mohan, who runs his Starr Technologies operation from the United States and owns Starr Computers which is located on Brickdam, in Georgetown, told Stabroek Business that while the current global situation regarding the availability of computers was a serious one it was not at all that surprising.
“From the start of the COVID-19 era, there was a rush by the public and private sectors worldwide to acquire computers for their employees and families to work and study from homes. In addition, many developed countries including the US and European nations began purchasing laptops in huge quantities for their home-schools and on-line educational programmes. Simultaneously, many eastern countries that had been first affected by the coronavirus and where most brands of computers are manufactured, began shutting down their production plants to protect their employees. Hence the side effect of zero production, massive demand, shortages and price increases worldwide,” Mohan explained.
In a Brief which he said was concerned with Starr Computers playing a role in helping to respond to the technology needs of the education system in Guyana in the COVID-19 era. Mohan said that a representative of Starr Computers had attended a recent meeting of local computer dealers convened by the Ministry of Education to attempt to address what he described as the “dire needs” of the local education system one of which was to find solutions to our education challenges on a limited budget.” Mohan said that in an environment in which there was a scarcity and consequential significant price rises in equipment used in the delivery of virtual tuition it was important the countries like Guyana place themselves in a position to secure value for money by ensuring that they secure the requisite quality assurances and verifiable warranties for that scarce resources do not end up going to waste.
And according to Mohan, while Starr Computers had for several years, distributed and serviced Hewlett Packard and Lenovo brands of computers, shortages of components had impacted on production of these “affordable systems.” According to Mohan once components became scarce “these same companies opted to focus their limited components on the high-value, high-priced systems.” He said that while Starr Computers had placed “forecasted orders” for “over 4,000 affordable branded computers” several months ago, only 1,250 have been received in Guyana up to this time.
It was this circumstance, Mohan said that had led Starr Computers, in its capacity as an authorised Intel technology provider to team up with that company to accelerate its desktop production. He said that the arrangement had also involved two other companies, HP and Kingston, and that working together, the companies had produced “an eco-solution bundle comprising a STARR desktop with Kingston memory storage, an HP 21.5 inch high resolution monitor along with a colour inkjet printer.
Meanwhile, Mohan told Stabroek Business that “within days we will see two upcoming versions of an advanced STARR Academic PC and STARR Office PC Solutions. Additionally, he said that customers who purchase these systems, will benefit from a “limited-time, special discount coupon for purchases of accessories, peripherals, and supplies.”
The STARR Academic PC targets students involved in research-related activities and individuals and institutions involved in video conferencing and other advanced requirements.
