Intel Microelectronics country manager Accharas Ouysinprasert said the project had been initiated by the company with the aim of allowing people to easily own Intel-based computers through a leasing campaign. The cooperation is aimed at bridging the digital divide between people in the city and those in remote areas, bringing an equal chance to own computers as tools to access information and explore the greater world through the Internet.

It is expected there will be 100,000 families owning PCs as a result of this year's project, which runs from now to the end of the year. About 80 per cent of them are in the provinces and this will be their first computer.

The percentage in the provinces is expected to be similar to last year's scheme, which was launched in August and ran to December, when about 35,000 families - 80 per cent of them in the provinces - had a chance to have their first PC at home to let their children learn more about technology, do homework, and acquire information.

This year the project offers four models - Big Brother, Middle Brother, Young Brother, and Youngest Brother. All are based on Intel processors.

Big Brother and Middle Brother come with dual-core Intel Pentium D processors, while Young Brother and Youngest Brother come with Intel Celeron D processors. Youngest Brother also comes with Microsoft Windows XP Starter Edition. The remaining three models have Microsoft Windows XP as an option.

Big Brother costs Bt24,900, Middle Brother Bt17,900, Young Brother Bt13,900, and Youngest Brother Bt11,900. All four have a 36-month instalment plan at 0.8 per cent interest provided by First Choice.

asina@nationgroup.com

Asina Pornwasin

The Nation