Moving to Delhi: Computers, Telephone, InternetComputersYou can get most computer equipment that you might need here in Delhi. While prices are lower than they were a few years ago, you'll still pay a bit more than you will in the USA. Be careful importing stuff if you're not a diplomat: you will have to pay duty, and anecdotal evidence is that you'll encounter relative ignorance and a 'looks-new-is-new' policy. Also, remember that Delhi has unreliable 220v/50hz electricity (see the Power section). Modems work fine here, but you'll probably need to change your modem configuration ("AT") settings for the phone lines here (try X2 S7=200 S10=250). You can get an RJ-11 adapotor if your home here has the elecrical-plug-style phone outlet. You can get both major brand-name computer equipment (h/w and s/w), and also Indian-made (or, to be more precise, assembled, like everywhere) hardware. For example, my computer was put together in the basement of Bhikaji Kama Place, near the Hyatt, and works fine. Remember: no matter in which country you bought it, all the bits inside your computer are probably made in the "Far East". There are many good Indian computer magazines, aimed at all segments of the market from novice home-users to IT professionals. Many have websites, some are Indian-edition of the magazines:
Computer books are abundant and, as many are the South Asia editions, inexpensive. TelephoneThe local phone company in Delhi is MTNL (Mahangar Telephone Nigam Limited). Phone service is often disrupted by monsoons, but is fairly reliable otherwise. Crossed-lines and static, while common, are also worse during monsoon season. Mobile phones ('cell-phones') are very common in Delhi, and prices have come down somewhat. Most of India now has international direct dialing, and the major metropolitan areas (say, the top 20) now have Internet access, which was first made available to the Indian public in August 1995. While I have no experience personally, some people use call-back schemes, AT&T CallingCards or the like to reduce their international long distance charges. Your home in Delhi may have the old-style telephone outlets (like a two-prong plug); if so, you can buy plug-to-RJ11 adaptors to plug in your existing phone equipment.
InternetThere are now three ISPs in New Delhi: VSNL (Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited), MTNL and the private ISP Satyam. I recommend either Satyam or MTNL, having suffered through years of VSNL monopoly and because VSNl-Delhi is considered by many people to be fully penetrated by computer 'crackers'.
Currently, Internet voice telephony is prohibited by VSNL (and, I suspect, MTNL and Satyam, as, technically, they have to go through VSNL), but there are many text-based chat programs that you can use, such as ICQ ("I-seek-you"), AOL Instant Messenger and IRC (Internet Relay Chat), to name a few. These are free, and can make real-time communication with home quite inexpensive and relatively simple (if you have a computer already!). A note of caution: when you do get your account, change your password immediately (and regularly! and use good passwords). VSNL subscribers have experienced many cases of usage hours mysteriously dropping until the password was changed. (Also: expect junk e-mail, a.k.a. 'spam', in your mailbox the very first time you check your mail, with VSNL!) - Search Engines - Staff - Shopping - Travel - Transport - Communications - Copyright © 1998-1999 Peter R Bullen. Created: 15-Feb-98. Updates: 30-April-98, 20-May-98, 5-Aug-98, 29-Nov-98, 31-Mar-99. |