Information technology Informasjonsteknologi

Information technology Informasjonsteknologi

Norway is a wired country. It ranks ninth in the world in computer ownership, with slightly more than half as many computers as people in the country.

When compared to a population, the number of Internet hosts, which are the computers contacted when you key in a website address, indicates activity of a country. In 2005, Norway was fourth in the world (behind USA, Denmark and Finland) with nearly one Internet host for every four residents.

All international brands of computer hardware and software are available in shops and to buy online. The market is highly competitive, so prices are lower than you might expect in a highcost country. New computers sold with operating systems and other programs installed almost always have the Norwegian versions. For instance, the Windows operating system featured in an advertised sale on PCs will be the Norwegian version, unless otherwise stated.

Unless you are familiar with and wish to use Norwegian terminology on screen, you may prefer the English versions of operating systems and application programs. If so, be sure to specify English when buying a program or a computer with a program installed. Most computer and software importers and wholesalers stock the original English as well as the translated Norwegian versions of programs, though general consumer electronics shops may stock only the Norwegian versions. So computers with English version programs are almost always available, sometimes at a surcharge or a delay in delivery. Software program house (programvarehus) shops usually sell both the original US or UK English versions as well as the Norwegian versions of programs. The English versions of new programs, particularly of upgrades, are usually available first, before Norwegian translations are made. Until 2004, only numerals 0 and letters of the English alphabet, a could be used in domain names. However, Norwegian domain names may now include the additional 23 characters of the two Norwegian and three S languages. Digital fixed telephone lines are now so common that analogue modems are no longer sold in shops, and one household in four has a broadband (Chapter 44) connection. All telecommunications companies (Chapter 44) provide Internet connections, as do many other companies listed under datakommunikasjon og nettverk in the Yellow Pages. It is the same as the English keyboard, except for the locations of punctuation marks and the addition of the last three letters of the Norwegian alphabet (Chapter 28) to the right in the middle two rows. Some suppliers of equipment sold internationally may be able to supply keyboards for other languages. It holds regular member meetings, seminars, conferences and exhibitions, and it publishes a quarterly magazine, Datamagasinet, as well as numerous brochures and reports. It now has more than 14,000 individuals and 1,200 companies as members.

Used computers (Brukt datautstyr)

Like household appliances, used computers often are sold as are other used goods, by their owners through advertisements in the classified sections of newspapers. Sometimes a shop that sells new computers also may sell tradein computers, but as a rule most do not.

Some companies specialise in buying, refurbishing and selling used computers, principally to schools and to used computer shops throughout the country. The leading company in that sector is Alternativ Data ( data founded in 1988 in Oslo. Some 40% of its sales are exported. The company does not sell directly to consumers, but can recommend reputable used computer shops. Moreover, there are websites that consist of listings of links to other websites. The two best for Norway are: