As technicians involved in laptop repairs and fixes, we recently had the opportunity to work on a Teacher Mate 1 (TM1) laptop which had a faulty keyboard.
Upon exploring options to fix the issue, we contacted KA Technologies, the TM1 laptop’s supplier and manufacturer, with the aim of purchasing a new keyboard from them, only to be told that the keyboard alone costs Gh¢400.00
To put things in perspective, the TM laptop was designed exclusively for teachers and is sold at a subsidized price of Gh¢500.00. This means that the cost of the keyboard alone makes up for a significant chunk of the total cost of the laptop.
The TM laptop, endorsed by the Ghana Education Service, is marketed as a world-class laptop that inspires learning and provides superior performance to teachers and students.
Hence, the revelation that a replacement keyboard is this expensive raises concerns about the durability and longevity of the laptop.
One can’t help but wonder, how can a keyboard be so expensive. Perhaps, it’s the scarcity of TM laptop parts on the market that makes them pricey. Consequently, when crucial components like the keyboard fail, it becomes uneconomical to replace them.
It could also be that KA Technologies has positioned themselves as a monopoly, taking advantage of the absence of alternative suppliers. Either way, the cost of the keyboard raises questions about the overall build quality and reliability of the TM laptop.
We strongly believe KA Technologies Should review its Pricing Policies.
This is broad day light robbery and the major issue with the TM1 is it’s keyboard and trackpad