MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

PC sales in Argentina ballooned 60%

The number of computers sold in Argentina in the first half of 2005 jumped 60% over the same period a year ago, newspaper Clarin reported Saturday.

In the first six months of 2005, 508,560 computers were sold, compared to 317,545 in Jnaury/June 2004.

According to Trends Consulting, sales are expected to break the 934,385-units record set in 2000, when the peso was pegged to the dollar.

With the devaluation of Argentine currency in early 2002, computer sales dropped off rapidly, but are expected to reach 1,042,450 units by the end of 2005.

The program titled "My PC," launched by the Argentine government last March 31 with the goal of overcoming the "digital divide," boosted sales by allowing purchasers to pay for computers in 40 installments.

However the program has come under attack because it favours Microsoft's Windows operating system and Intel hardware over competitors such as AMD.

"This first phase was positive. Sales of the two (PC) models in the government's official plan climbed, and so did the rest", said Juan Manuel Aragones, sales director of Compumundo, a chain of PC stores in Buenos Aires.