Tendremos Geeks en Cuba?

A contar de hoy, los cubanos podrán adquirir una serie de productos electrónicos que, hasta hace días, estaban completamente prohibidos por el gobierno.

De qué productos hablamos? Se trata de reproductores de DVD, ordenadores personales, microondas y televisores.

La medida, va en la línea de lo señalado por Raul Castro; quien al ser electo como presidente, señaló que en la isla se eliminarían gradualmente una serie de restricciones.

La pregunta del millón es: ¿Cómo los Cubanos van a poder adquirir estos equipos, si con suerte tienen para parar la olla?

Cuba lifts ban on computer and DVD player sales

HAVANA (Reuters) - Communist Cuba has authorized the unrestricted sale of computers and DVD and video players in the first sign that its new president, Raul Castro, is moving to improve Cubans' access to consumer goods.

An internal government memo seen by Reuters on Thursday said the appliances long desired by Cubans can go on sale immediately, although air conditioners will not be available until next year and toasters until 2010 due to limited power supplies.

Only foreigners and companies can buy computers in Cuba at present, while DVD players were seized at the airport until last year, when customs rules were eased.

Now Cubans will be able to buy them freely, paying for them in hard currency CUCs, or convertible pesos, worth 24 times more than the Cuban pesos state wages are paid in.

"Based on the improved availability of electricity, the government at the highest level has approved the sale of some equipment which was prohibited," the memo said.

It also listed television sets, which were already on sale, electric pressure cookers and rice cookers, electric bicycles, car alarms and microwave ovens.

Raul Castro, 76, has led Cuba since July 2006 when his older brother Fidel Castro provisionally handed over power after intestinal surgery from which he has not fully recovered.

The younger Castro was formally named president on February 24, becoming Cuba's first new leader in almost half a century, and he promised to ease some of the restrictions on daily life