Amid frequent power outages in Chongjin, North Hamgyong province, North Koreans are increasingly seeking energy-efficient “Notetels” (portable media players) as an alternative to power-hungry LCD televisions, though market shortages make the devices difficult to obtain.
Speaking anonymously, a source in the province told The Daily NK on Tuesday that the portable Notetels used to be popular because they were cheaper than other players, easy to hide from authorities and capable of playing videos from external media, including CDs, DVDs and USB flash drives.
Notetels lost their luster after LCD televisions came on the market. Affluent families tended to prefer the larger screens of TVs that could still play media from USBs.
Recently, however, notebooks seem to be enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Since LCD televisions use more power than notetels, old-school media players are seen as more practical when power is spotty.
“A car battery and a solar panel can keep the lights on, but that’s not enough juice to run a TV. That’s why people are looking for Notetels, which are the most energy-efficient media players,” the source said.
Devices sell well despite high market prices
Because the government has blocked private smuggling since the start of the pandemic, marketplaces have little stock, making it virtually impossible to buy new products. As a result, used Notetels, sold by people looking to supplement their income, are in high demand.
For example, a Notetel with five to ten years of use is selling for 300 Chinese yuan (approximately $46) in Chongjin. Considering that new Notetels sold for 450-650 yuan (around $69 – $100) on marketplaces before the pandemic, used Notetels are selling well despite the high prices, the source said.
“Three hundred yuan is enough money to buy more than a hundred kilograms of rice. For people who are struggling financially, that’s a lot of money. In the past, people who wanted to sell a Notetel to make a living had trouble even finding a buyer. But now there are more people in the market for Notetels, and they’re flying off the shelves,” he said.
“People often say that even if food isn’t an option, it would be nice to at least have regular access to electricity and water. It’s impossible to express how much of a struggle it is to come up with your own water and electricity when you don’t even have food to eat.”
The Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.
Please send any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.
