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Cubans queue to buy DVD players

2 April 2008 18:58 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 8 comments

With all the buzz surrounding Blu-ray Disc and other advancements in video since DVD-Video, Cubans are only now queuing up to buy new DVD players and other electronics equipment.. or at least those who can afford it. The demand comes after President Raul Castro moved to lift many restrictions in the one-party socialist state.

Stores were authorized to sell dozens of electric goods that were previously banned in the state, including flat-panel televisions and microwaves. "This should have been done long ago. They should never have been banned," said Felipe, a 53-year-old engineer, who lined up impatiently to buy his first DVD player.

Philips and Panasonic DVD players can be found for between $118 and $162, much cheaper than the prices offered by Cuba's thriving black market. However, considering the average wages being about $17 a month in Cuba, many of the new goods on sale were out of reach for most pockets, but even those who can't afford any of the unbanned items are happy that they are now available to citizens.

"The prices are astronomical. But at least I have the choice, and I can save up to buy things I want. People will work harder to buy them," said Gelis, a self-employed tennis coach. Computers are also now unbanned after previously only being permitted to government or foreign companies.

At shops in Havana, Microsoft keyboards and mouses were on show, but Dell computers remained in packages as store owners decide what the prices should be. A saleswoman said that a computer with an Intel Celeron P4 chip, 512MB of RAM and an 80GB HDD will go for about $865. "I have been saving up for three years, since I was 15, and I think I am close to buying one," said Paula, a university student waiting for the new stock to come in.

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Discuss this article!
dssacer (Newbie) 2 April 2008 20:36
as a cuban my self i'll tell you that this is nothing good and new . 90 % of cubans cant buy none of this stuff. this is just another way from the goverment of keeping us on the dark from technology and everything else . whaT good is letting u buy this goodies if you dont have that kind of money ,only ppl receiving money from family in the good old USA can do it, plus they can take that away any time the want. they just buying time to keep oppresing the ppl.is a shame to see such a beatiful country and people get treated like little kids with new toys. sorry for my bad english guys.i hope castro and his whole army of brown noses die soon.my 2 cents. [ + quote]
tripplite (Senior Member) 2 April 2008 21:32
he he...maybe we can get rid of our HD DVD by sending it to them! [ + quote]
CrowDUDE (Junior Member) 2 April 2008 22:06
*Originally posted by tripplite:* he he...maybe we can get rid of our HD DVD by sending it to them! LOL [ + quote]
tripplite (Senior Member) 2 April 2008 22:19
*Quote:* Originally posted by tripplite: he he...maybe we can get rid of our HD DVD by sending it to them! LOL poor guys...they'd fall for it too [ + quote]
sgriesch (Newbie) 2 April 2008 22:36
*Quote:* *Quote:* Originally posted by tripplite: he he...maybe we can get rid of our HD DVD by sending it to them! LOL poor guys...they'd fall for it too Why not? They are already paying almost $200 for a DVD player. They could have another option (HD) for the same price, and we could get our money back on our un-supported players. [ + quote]
chaos_zzz (Junior Member) 3 April 2008 9:50
pooooor cuba ,someone should do something abot it a celeron p4 at almost 900$ that's literally a steal (for the cutomer) [ + quote]
georgeluv (Member) 4 April 2008 13:10
people litterly throw p4s out into the street in manhattan. im packing up all my old comps and flying to cuba! [ + quote]
NHS2008 (Senior Member) 8 April 2008 6:47
GO! GO!! USA!!!AFTER IRAQ ITS TIME FOR CUBA! THEN MAY BE CHINA!!! [ + quote]