Cuba ends ban on DVD player, computer sales

Man, Fidel's out and already the kids are getting crazy: the Cuban government is finally allowing general consumers to buy various electronics, including DVD players and computers, for the first time. Only companies and foreigners were previously able to buy computers, while the looming threat of terrible Hollywood movies had forced Cuban authorities to seize DVD players at the airport. The change is due to "the improved availability of electricity," and Cubans can look forward to also picking up microwaves, 24-inch televisions, and rice cookers to plug into the new juice. Of course, it's not all flip flops and high-fives: air conditioners will not be available until next year, and the deadly menace known as the toaster will be restricted until 2010. Hope you like plain bread with your communism movies.

[NHAnimator @ Mar 13th 2008 3:07PM]

Hell. If they're gonna go all out and buy DVD's, let's move them right into HD-DVD's. I'm sure we can offer them a good deal on players and movies.

(Except for Bee Movie.)

[aalexand @ Mar 13th 2008 3:11PM]

That'll prove more difficult than you think.. there's a ban on the color red.

[PS3guy @ Mar 13th 2008 3:11PM]

You mean Blu Ray.

[matthew @ Mar 13th 2008 3:18PM]

you are dense ps3 man

[ishism @ Mar 13th 2008 10:43PM]

Wow. Cuba was held undersuch Fascist Dictatoship for so long. Wonder why the U.S din't try to "liberate" them insted of Iraq. Guess they don't pose a real threat, being sooo far away and all. Maybe the cuban people are less important. Yes??
Haters welcome.

[Killer @ Mar 13th 2008 11:19PM]

What 80+ comments left on this topic and no Viva La Revolution parodies?

I mean no one this entire time wrote "Viva La DVD Players"? I was really expecting that, hmmm oh well.

[i.c. weiner @ Mar 14th 2008 5:15PM]

@ killer


Viva La DVD Players

[Rob @ Mar 13th 2008 3:11PM]

I wonder if they're going to have major filters on the internet service censoring anti-communist mentality. Also, they're more than likely going to ban anti-communist movies as well. This is no different than what's going on in China. I often laugh when I read "People's Republic" and "Democratic Republic" in the Chinese and North Korean slogans. What a crock of bull. Nothing against their people, but plenty against their governments. Only the U.N. buys into their BS.

[sully @ Mar 13th 2008 3:27PM]

The article didn't mention anything about internet access. Judging by Cuba's history, I wouldn't consider it implied. Even if it just seems like a natural conclusion.

[BigD145 @ Mar 13th 2008 4:51PM]

China IS a Republic. It has elected officials, Executive branch, Legislative branch, and Judicial branch.

There is no single country in the past 100+ years that's been Communist. A few may claim to be Communist, but they don't actually practice it. Cuba has been Stalinist.

[Rob @ Mar 13th 2008 5:05PM]

http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1329909720080313?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews&rpc=22&sp=true
The article mentions computers and as a result I jumped ahead thinking it might've include internet.

Now, regarding China having elected officials and all that means nothing, the reality is that the communist party does whatever they want. Freedom of expression and other freedoms are extremely controlled/censored. If you call that "People's Republic" then we both have a different opinion of the meaning behind those two words. The same applies to North Korea. How is North Korea a "Democratic" country? Again, maybe you and I have different opinions behind the meaning of that word too.

[alexmueller @ Mar 13th 2008 6:22PM]

the article does mention the internet last paragraph

"Many Cubans expect the state to soon allow them to buy cellular telephones. While they will now be able to buy computers, access to the Internet remains controlled by the government."

perhaps you should read the whole thing next time

[r3loaded @ Mar 13th 2008 6:31PM]

Never trust a country which has either of the words "people" or "democratic" in it's official name. North Korea fails on both points.

And actually, coastal China is possibly the most capitalistic place ever - all the trappings of modern capitalism without the system of checks and balances.

[Sauerkraut @ Mar 13th 2008 6:39PM]

Cuba is socialist. No way is it anything close to Stalinist and there's no Stalinist personality cults. Ok they revere Castro but it's nothing like the Soviet Stalinist cults. And if you were living in some of the what 4 true communist countries in the world today you wouldn't say something like that. Yea communism isn't around anymore really but there's still a speck of it

[Sauerkraut @ Mar 13th 2008 6:41PM]

lol yea, north korea, laos, east germany to name a few

[Tony Rayo @ Mar 13th 2008 7:35PM]

China's government may be described in many different ways, but when it's written in their constitution that the Communist Party of China is by law the permanent ruling party in that country, it can make it confusing to those who have not studied Asian/Chinese history. There is a surprising large variations of ideologies among the government, but I would classify them as traditional maoist (which is just another form of communism).

Wow, looks like I haven't forgotten anything from my Asian History class in HS. I know shiz about Cuba though, but this is a step in the right direction.

[Lars @ Mar 13th 2008 7:39PM]

I live in a Socialist country and I hate it. They give us the opportunity to vote, but we only get to choose between a select few officials that nobody wants in office anyways. When we do vote, if our vote doesn't "jive" with government officials, their votes will actually overrule ours. As a result, only a small percentage of people are under the impression that voting does anything and actually continue to vote. What country do I live in? The good ol' US of A.

[Steventm @ Mar 13th 2008 7:53PM]

Definition argument. China is a "republic" or "representative democracy", because the people get to elect leaders to represent them. The United States, United Kingdom, and many other countries also elect representatives. However, Rob also wants a "liberal democracy", where individual rights, such as the right to privacy and personal freedom, are given higher priority over the rights of the state. By "liberal", I am talking about the concept of individual liberty, and not about some derogatory word a conservative (as in maintain the status quo) party member throws at a less-than-conservative (as in change the status quo) party member to put him back into line with the rest of the party members.

[Matthew Lock @ Mar 13th 2008 10:08PM]

"There is no single country in the past 100+ years that's been Communist. A few may claim to be Communist, but they don't actually practice it. Cuba has been Stalinist."

Communism means that the "Means of Production" are not privately owned, but owned by the State. Read Marx.

Therefore there were lots of Communist countries in the 20th century (USSR, Whole Eastern Block, Cuba, Communist China, North Korea, North Vietnam etc).

Just because you imagine the outcome of Communism to be something other than what actually happened it doesn't mean that those countries weren't Communist. Rather it proves that Communism doesn't work/sucks.

[fischju @ Mar 13th 2008 3:11PM]

Can the Cuban power infrastructure handle all of this extra power usage?!?

[Erwos @ Mar 13th 2008 3:14PM]

Are we talking about the political power infrastructure, or the electrical power infrastructure?

Of course, the answer is the same either way: probably not. This is most likely Raul showing everyone that he is indeed the man in charge now, not just a puppet.

[Birch @ Mar 13th 2008 3:25PM]

Neither; it was a joke.

[George Kirkaldie @ Mar 13th 2008 4:26PM]

It's hard to say, the only power plants I saw there were Diesel Generators. We should ship them some CANDU's and have some labour while we're at it. I'd volunteer.

[mac @ Mar 13th 2008 3:47PM]

can someone please explain the logic behind no toasters till '10?

[RC @ Mar 13th 2008 3:50PM]

They've recently upgraded their bakeries to the new nonflammable bread.

[Balam Herrera @ Mar 13th 2008 3:25PM]

Im not sure this is fun at all. Cubans dont have modern commodities mostly due to the ban that the US has against them. They would be a lot better off if your country lifted the commercial ban that they have impossed since Cuba refused to be United State's brothel.

[Juaquin @ Mar 13th 2008 3:30PM]

Cus they need the US so bad....?
There are plenty of other countries willing to do business with them. As this article shows, it's Cuba themselves that has been keeping technology from the masses, not the US. The US doesn't even manufacture most electronics, and China has no problem trading with Cuba.

Try again.

[RC @ Mar 13th 2008 3:35PM]

The only problem with that is that the US is one country. So, so what's stopping them from getting computers and toasters from everywhere else? Oh yeah, the Cuban government.

[DorianGray @ Mar 13th 2008 3:37PM]

@ Balam Herrera

Oh I know -- because Cuba can only buy from the US, right? There are no other large nations that Cuba can buy from *cough*Mexico*cough*China*cough*any-of-frickin-South America.

*cough*dumbass

[PSM @ Mar 13th 2008 3:37PM]

We get all our electronics from Japan, China, Korea etc. anyway. If they don't have computers and DVD players it's not because they're all made in the US.

[dxh @ Apr 20th 2008 8:53PM]

The U.S., last I checked, was not the sole producer of electronic goods. The embargo isn't what threw Cuba to the stone age--though it hasn't exactly helped. Most radically socialist countries are far from sources of technological innovation.

[James @ Mar 13th 2008 3:51PM]

@DorinGray

well technically its quite hard for the Cubans to get hold of things, seeing as one on the conditions of the US embargo is that no cargo ship that visits Cuba can dock at a US port for 6months, meaning its quite bad for business to visit Cuba!

[Erick @ Mar 13th 2008 4:21PM]

(Ooh...a entry I can bash America over)

Che's my hero!!!!!!!

(dripping with sarcasm)

[Eddy Alvarez @ Mar 13th 2008 4:31PM]

You sir... are "ignant"
I'm Cuban and i'll tell you very simply: COMMUNISM MAKES CUBA SUCK. not the embargo. the fact that its ILLEGAL to own stuff. how about that?? do you like going to the store and buying Princess Barbie on DVD? WELL IN CUBA, PEOPLE CANT. Even if they did have the money... My family had ranches, factories, and other businesses which were all taken away from them... forcibly. Oh, and btw, the communist government in Cuba massacred thousands upon thousands of innocent people and continue to kill today.

[Dan @ Mar 13th 2008 5:03PM]

@ eddie

cuba has a better healthcare system than america, douchebag

[sarpulas @ Mar 13th 2008 5:18PM]

@Eddy
Typical miami-cuban attitude.

You seem to be ignoring the fact that Cuba was far worse in the pre-communist era, as proven by statistics, the time where your ancestors owned "ranches and factories". Batista government was a fascist and corrupt dictatorship - but I guess your family didn't flee then due to lack of freedom or independence, I wonder why...

Also, lol@people thinking the American Embargo is just about them not being able to buy it from the US - it disables most nations from trading with them too, and raises the prices for the ones who can trade to the level that it isn't feasible for a nation that poor (yet, still, pretty well off compared to most other carribean countries, despite the embargo - even according to the statistics provided by the CIA World Factbook). Please, have some knowledge on an issue before expressing an opinion. I know it's tempting to yell "THEY DON'T HAVE QUAD CORES LOL", but seriously...

[Tony @ Mar 13th 2008 5:59PM]

@Dan

Cuba does not have a better health-care system than the US.
What else did Michael Moore tell you?
Also, why do you feel the need to say it twice? (See below.)

[Jonathan-DBOSS @ Mar 13th 2008 7:43PM]

@DorianGray

Even if they had the possibility of trading with other foreign countries, it doesn't guarantee a fair trade by any means, and the US certainly opens the way for commerce expansion. *cough*d*ck

@Tony

Yes it is, its far better than US health care. I mean, if 25% of ppl in the states are uninsured compared to practically free medicine in Cuba, I'd say they're better. *cough*NyQuil?*

[Tony @ Mar 14th 2008 12:48AM]

@Johnathan

So their health care is better because it's free?

Hah. You forgot to add the sarcasm tags.

[John @ Mar 16th 2008 7:54PM]

"I know it's tempting to yell "THEY DON'T HAVE QUAD CORES LOL", but seriously..."

Yes, but no toasters? Really?

[Ty @ Mar 13th 2008 3:27PM]

Not saying everyone should live like us here in the states but it's time for our government to extend an olive branch to our Cuban neighbors.

[Balam Herrera @ Mar 13th 2008 3:29PM]

...or most likely to stop screwing their everyday lifes with an unfair and illegal commercial ban on the hole country

[Juaquin @ Mar 13th 2008 3:42PM]

Balam
Go away. Your points have no logical backing and are just unfocused hate at the US. The US embargo has had almost no effect on Cuba. In fact, Cuba is doing much better than other island nations that the US DOES trade with.

[CraigJ @ Mar 13th 2008 3:53PM]

"hole country" Freudian slip perhaps?

[acidscan @ Mar 13th 2008 3:55PM]

YOU ARE A FXXKING COMMUNIST !, repeating what the Cuban media wants stupids like you to think. I was physically and mentally tortured by the Cuban government, just for thinking different, I had to leave my country and leave in exile, maybe it was due to that blockade you talk about...

The CUBAN GOVERNMENT is the only blockade Cubans have.

Death to Castro !, Viva Cuba LIBRE !

[Balam Herrera @ Mar 13th 2008 3:57PM]

Just refusing any political idea that difers from what your sistem tells you and from what you see in the news... so american... and then naive white people wonder why most of the world hates or dispites them...
And as James said:
"well technically its quite hard for the Cubans to get hold of things, seeing as one on the conditions of the US embargo is that no cargo ship that visits Cuba can dock at a US port for 6months, meaning its quite bad for business to visit Cuba!"

[acidscan @ Mar 13th 2008 4:04PM]

My comment was for you Balan Herrera, stupid communist...

Balan is quite close to Balar which in spanish is the sound the sheep do. In cuba the guys who repeat and obey the government are called sheep...

[Balam Herrera @ Mar 13th 2008 4:26PM]

Acidscan, where i am from (Mexico City) we call people like you "asquerosos gusanos capitalistas vendidos al imperio".

I dont ask you to think like me, but dont offend me if you expect some respect.

[Eddy Alvarez @ Mar 13th 2008 4:45PM]

oh my gosh Herrera! please! read a book! when was the last time your country cured some horrible disease??? America does it all the time. why? because of capitalism. the ability to prosper. the option to succeed. In Cuba that does not exist. I love Cuba, it is the land of my blood; but that country is in shambles because of communism. I work hard to advance myself and my family which I can do because i live in America... in Cuba, you cannot do that. Even if you work hard, you gain nothing. That is not a society, that is a prison.

[insertAlias @ Mar 13th 2008 5:02PM]

Eddy Alvarez, acidscan, you can't really argue with people like this. You can try, but you're wasting you're time. I mean, you read what he called you. But I understand that it's harder to ignore jackasses when they are promoting ideas that have actually harmed you personally.