"Shipment cost is a huge issue in PC pricing"

On the PC today

The PC is playing a key role in the very perception of IT in

India. The PC segment really took off when the new computer policy came in and

we were allowed to import technology and operating systems. Before that, all of

us who were in the hardware business, used to design, develop, manufacture and

do everything ourselves. If you look at the way people measure IT penetration in

any country, they measure it through PC penetration primarily. Then, they look

at number of telephones and the number of Internet connections.

On manufacturing in India

I think manufacturing has always had a place in the country.

Earlier, people used to wait for a PC for two to three months. Today you don’t

want to wait a few days for a product. It’s just that the government had an

on-off policy in promoting or not promoting manufacturing. We believe that the

government should promote manufacturing because it would not just benefit the

Indian companies but also enable the international companies to take notice. As

you can see in the last two years, international companies are here to

manufacture computers. I also believe that the cost of shipment is a huge issue

in the pricing of the PC. So, it makes a lot of sense to assemble computers in

the country. I see no reason why the government should not encourage IT-related

industry.

Impact of the PC on his life

It has made my life a whole lot better and easier in terms of

doing business. It keeps me connected to literally every  point of the

world. I have offices, internationally and the mail system is what keeps the

system going. Even at home, it is a method of being in touch with others easily.