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CPM
join:2001-08-24
Miami, FL | Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CPU I agree $100.00 can by a lot of rice and condoms. | |
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| | jebba2005
join:2005-01-13
Portland, ME | Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP how will it work in 110 degree heat? | |
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| | | dave
Premium,MVM
join:2000-05-04
not in ohio
 ·Verizon Online DSL
 ·Verizon FIOS
| Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP said by jebba2005  :how will it work in 110 degree heat? No problem there, only the US has 110 degree heat.
(The rest of the world calls it 43, but the US is kinda backwards on measuring things). | |
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| | Asmodeus
join:2004-05-26
Spring Valley, CA | Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP most 3rd worlders don't even use condoms much less know what a condom is... | |
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reub2000
Premium
join:2001-12-28
Evanston, IL
| Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP said by Asmodeus :most 3rd worlders don't even use condoms much less know what a condom is... They can now google or wiki it on their new laptop. | |
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The Next Step
@verizon.ne
| Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP But they don't have Internet connectivity. Oh, wait, that'll be the next U.N. project: provide access to the Internet to all citizens of the third world. The U.N. does a piss-poor job of fixing third world problems partly because it's dominated by the "leaders" of those countries who are largely responsible for the problems in the first place.
Until we get past the jealousy and finger-pointing about whose blame third-world poverty is and get people to start accepting responsibility for their own problems, it'll never change. In the meantime, let's keep handing out free notebook computers to people who don't have the energy to turn the crank because they don't have enough to eat. That may not really improve their situation, but it'll make some people in the western countries feel less guilty about being better off. | |
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LinuxJunkie
join:2005-01-19
Cyberspace | Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP And they know everything about us? That's what you're implying and that's also ignorant. | |
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jap
Premium
join:2003-08-10
038xx
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP said by LinuxJunkie :That's what you're implying I am?
I defy you to explain the implication you accuse me of. It's simply not there. | |
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tapeloop
1959. I try to kick the ball. I miss.
Premium
join:2004-06-27
Airstrip One
| said by Asmodeus :most 3rd worlders don't even use condoms much less know what a condom is... Funny that you can say the same thing about a lot of first world Mormons and Catholics too. 
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Copyright infringement is illegal. Murder is illegal. Therefore, file sharing is murder. | |
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| dave
Premium,MVM
join:2000-05-04
not in ohio | Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP This would be the same Intel that has convinced most people that they need (Intel) CPUs in the 2-to-3 GHz range for adequate web access, right? | |
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| | WareWolF2k
join:2000-11-14
Allentown, PA
| Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP said by dave :This would be the same Intel that has convinced most people that they need (Intel) CPUs in the 2-to-3 GHz range for adequate web access, right? Thanks to microsoft & symantec, they do! | |
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novaflare
The Dragon Was Here
Premium
join:2002-01-24
Barberton, OH
| said by dave :This would be the same Intel that has convinced most people that they need (Intel) CPUs in the 2-to-3 GHz range for adequate web access, right? Lol dave and so true. Look at the specs on compaq computers 3 ghz cpu 256 megs ram and no vid card listed. No vid listed because it uses on board vid totaling as high as 32 megs some times. Essentialy you got hugely fast and powerful cpus (arguably) but can never hope to make use of it all. Dell gateway and other big names are no better. Many are useing sub 60 gig hds still. I can legaly fill a 60 gig hd up in a few days. Computer market for off the shelf computers these days is over priced under powered (do to mis matched specs) door stops.....
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DSLR security chat at us.ausirc.net chanel #dslr_sec lets pack this channelopen source dns server for *nix and windows »powerdns.com | |
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reub2000
Premium
join:2001-12-28
Evanston, IL
| Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP said by novaflare :said by dave :This would be the same Intel that has convinced most people that they need (Intel) CPUs in the 2-to-3 GHz range for adequate web access, right? Lol dave and so true. Look at the specs on compaq computers 3 ghz cpu 256 megs ram and no vid card listed. No vid listed because it uses on board vid totaling as high as 32 megs some times. Essentialy you got hugely fast and powerful cpus (arguably) but can never hope to make use of it all. Dell gateway and other big names are no better. Many are useing sub 60 gig hds still. I can legaly fill a 60 gig hd up in a few days. Computer market for off the shelf computers these days is over priced under powered (do to mis matched specs) door stops..... It's not just gamers who need power. A high end CPU is not hindered in non-graphic intensive applications by an intergrated video card. Stuff like compiling applicatons and transcoding video are perfect examples. | |
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Speedy8
Premium
join:2002-08-22
Alliance, OH
clubs:
| Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP said by reub2000 :said by novaflare :said by dave :This would be the same Intel that has convinced most people that they need (Intel) CPUs in the 2-to-3 GHz range for adequate web access, right? Lol dave and so true. Look at the specs on compaq computers 3 ghz cpu 256 megs ram and no vid card listed. No vid listed because it uses on board vid totaling as high as 32 megs some times. Essentialy you got hugely fast and powerful cpus (arguably) but can never hope to make use of it all. Dell gateway and other big names are no better. Many are useing sub 60 gig hds still. I can legaly fill a 60 gig hd up in a few days. Computer market for off the shelf computers these days is over priced under powered (do to mis matched specs) door stops..... It's not just gamers who need power. A high end CPU is not hindered in non-graphic intensive applications by an intergrated video card. Stuff like compiling applicatons and transcoding video are perfect examples. I think the main problem is the low amount of ram. I mean seriously, an average user with an older 1.8ghz P4 with a gig of ram will probably have a lot better experience than one with a 3ghz p4 and only 256MB of ram. | |
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hamburglar_
join:2002-04-29
Columbus, OH
·WOW Internet and C..
| Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CPU ...and infrastructure, maybe?
"are intended to bring computer access to areas that lack reliable electricity"
They are putting the cart before the horse. What good is a laptop if you barely even have shelter to keep it from getting wet in the rain? | |
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| | dave
Premium,MVM
join:2000-05-04
not in ohio
·Verizon Online DSL
·Verizon FIOS
| Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP said by hamburglar_ :(..) if you barely even have shelter to keep it from getting wet in the rain? Where the hell did you get that from? | |
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cdigioia
Premium
join:2005-06-08
korea, repub
·Korea Telecom
| Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP said by dave :said by hamburglar_ :(..) if you barely even have shelter to keep it from getting wet in the rain? Where the hell did you get that from? They're just saying that 3rd world countries have much more basic/important things to take care of, long before laptops. | |
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Eat Me
join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ | Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP You've obviously never lived in a 3rd world country.
I'll forgive you. Most Americans figure anywhere outside of the USA, Europe and parts of Asia are uncivilized. | |
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cdigioia
Premium
join:2005-06-08
korea, repub
·Korea Telecom
| Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP Well using a subjective word like uncivilized, being snide, and making sweeping statements about Americans I don't think will particularly educate anyone.
I think it depends on which developing nation one is talking about. The nations mentioned as the 1st to receive this are quite well setup already, which is probably why they are the first, as they are the easiest in which to implement the idea.
But the nations that need assistance the most, (think much of Africa) often have very high HIV infection rates and very low levels of capital investment, including such basic things as paved roadways. As such, the nations that need assistance the most, are going to be the ones that can make the least use of such a laptop.
I would imagine it would be much more beneficial for many nations, African especially, to have for instance, US farm subsidies done away first, so that the farmers can better compete and better provide for a basic economy.
We're not talking about there being a problem shipping laptops to Mexico or Argentina. I think the point is that there won't be the infrastructure to support these laptops in the nations which need help the most. | |
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JesusHChrist
@proxyweb.net
| Fucking moderators. Enjoy the left side of the asile 
Dave, if for some crazy reason this appears, it has nothing to do with you. Just some liberal tightass who can't stand to hear an opposing view. | |
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kamm
join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY | Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP There are plenty of other programs for healthcare and such. | |
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G_Poobah
join:2004-01-17
Schenectady, NY
| Keep em dumb, keep em ignorant, that's the way to win. Why waste money on something that will allow them to raise their quality of life. Stuff like medical books, or agricultural books, or even cheap laptops are wasted on 'those people of disadvantaged reasons'. Spend the money on rice, you can always withhold the food if they start to act up or complain about living conditions. God forbid the 'disadvantaged regions' should access modern information, or use a product in a manner that we, the all powerful leaders, don't see fit. We need to control everything they do, and not give them the tools to think for themselves. That's how revolutions start, and that would be a bad thing for those in power. The **AA's realize this, and so do the would be baby doc duvaliers and his retire-rich cronies.
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Sure the internet has lots of porn and piracy, but I'm sure there's a downside to it. | |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| said by G_Poobah :Keep em dumb, keep em ignorant, that's the way to win. Why waste money on something that will allow them to raise their quality of life. Stuff like medical books, or agricultural books, or even cheap laptops are wasted on 'those people of disadvantaged reasons'. Spend the money on rice, you can always withhold the food if they start to act up or complain about living conditions. God forbid the 'disadvantaged regions' should access modern information, or use a product in a manner that we, the all powerful leaders, don't see fit. We need to control everything they do, and not give them the tools to think for themselves. That's how revolutions start, and that would be a bad thing for those in power. The **AA's realize this, and so do the would be baby doc duvaliers and his retire-rich cronies. Thats a fine attitude until we help make them smart and then OUR jobs go over there to people that can do them as well as us but get paid like $3.50 a day.
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth | |
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tapeloop
1959. I try to kick the ball. I miss.
Premium
join:2004-06-27
Airstrip One
| Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP said by dvd536 :Thats a fine attitude until we help make them smart and then OUR jobs go over there to people that can do them as well as us but get paid like $3.50 a day. Hate to break it you kid, but that's been happening for quite some time now. Guess we should make ourselves smart...?
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Copyright infringement is illegal. Murder is illegal. Therefore, file sharing is murder. | |
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Combat Chuck
Too Many Cannibals
Premium
join:2001-11-29
Erie, PA
3 edits | said by G_Poobah :Keep em dumb, keep em ignorant, that's the way to win. Cause, as we all know, laptops are the only way to learn anything.
I mean, when you're starving to death and about to die of Malaria, it'll really help out if you can order a Papa Johns and look up the drugs you can't get on WebMD.
PS: before you go into another raving rant about the **AA's and keeping the rest of the world ignorant let me point out 2 things:
1. 100$ goes a lot further in other countries than it does in the developed world...even further if you give it to someone who knows how to get others on board his mission.
2. 100$ worth of books are less fragile and can be easily passed from person to person potentially bringing knowledge to thousands of people. (Not to mention books don't need to find net access to be useful)
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Never tease a weasel
Not even once or twice
A weasel will not like it
And teasing isn't nice. | |
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Fatal Vector
join:2005-11-26
| Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP
Not to mention that, if the area has no electricity, where the hell are they going to get net access? That can be controlled by the government. Install a satellite station...that needs electricity, maintenance and, can be controlled by the government?
And, the thing looks...wellll creepy. All puke green and all. Looks like a childs toy. Jeez what a waste of money. But then, they are just trying to get away from the food for oil scandal. It all SOUNDS good and all, but implimenting it is where the failure will come. | |
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John Galt
Forward, March
Premium
join:2004-09-30
Happy Camp
·CenturyLink
| Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP said by Fatal Vector :Not to mention that, if the area has no electricity, where the hell are they going to get net access? That can be controlled by the government. Install a satellite station...that needs electricity, maintenance and, can be controlled by the government? It is all being done at this very instant.
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A is A | |
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kamm
join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY
 ·T-Mobile US
| said by Fatal Vector :Not to mention that, if the area has no electricity, where the hell are they going to get net access? That can be controlled by the government. Install a satellite station...that needs electricity, maintenance and, can be controlled by the government? And, the thing looks...wellll creepy. All puke green and all. Looks like a childs toy. Jeez what a waste of money. But then, they are just trying to get away from the food for oil scandal. It all SOUNDS good and all, but implimenting it is where the failure will come. You guys are really pathtetic, seriously. What's up, are you scared of another 400M+ kid willb e smarter than you maybe?  | |
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LOsErLuKiN
join:2004-01-18
Brooklyn, NY | Hand-cranked? I'm scared. | |
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MsGeek
We Jam Econo On This Ship, Sailor
join:2001-06-06
Panorama City, CA
·DSL EXTREME
| Re: I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CP said by LOsErLuKiN :Hand-cranked? I'm scared. Nothing to be afraid of. Hell, I want one of these. I want a power supply mod that will give me this capability with my existing lappies.
Imagine if you are running low on battery power and you are in a public park...with WiFi...and there's no place to plug in? Get the crank out. Apply elbow grease for 10 minutes, and you're back surfing the web.
As they say in Japan...sugoi, neh?
Negroponte is talking about selling these puppies in the First World for $200 or thereabouts to make the project self-supporting. It might not be the latest and greatest ThinkPad or aluminum Powerbook but it wouldn't be a half bad PDA replacement.
And yes! It runs Linux! w00t.
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Online since 1987, thinking different since 1995, Linux-friendly since 1997, Broadband since 1999. Where do I want to go today? Wherever I want! | |
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upidstay
@bellsouth.net | As long as the money to fund the program isnt from U.S. taxpayer dollars, let them do whatever they want in those third world countries. | |
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See 7 replies to this post |
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| GDF_Slash
join:2003-11-07
Atlanta, GA | We should send the Intel Chairman to Cambodia or some other third world country for 10 years. I'm sure that will make him rethink his statement he made. | |
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| fdaiz
join:2005-09-30 | Re: What the heck.... Agreed | |
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laptopdance
@bellsouth.net
| Will it have Windows? Considering how expensive Microsoft software is. I recall a story once about Microsoft being worried about increasing use of Linux in Latin America. Windows was so costly that schools and even governments began switching over to Linux. Think of the possibilites, disadvantaged children recompiling kernels and using Debian and Mandrake Linux, when a LOT of people in our Western society cant even navigate to the Control Panel. And on top of that many third world countries (particularly Asian ones) have much faster broadband access than we do. | |
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reub2000
Premium
join:2001-12-28
Evanston, IL | Re: Will it have Windows? 1. It's using free (as in speech) software.
2. I'm guessing their using a preinstalled binary distro
3. Richer asian countries (aka Japan) have fast broadband). I'm not so sure about Bangladesh. | |
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kamm
join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY | It gets linux installed with all the non-MS free softwares (like OpenOffice etc). | |
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See 27 replies to this post |
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nasadude
join:2001-10-05
Rockville, MD | i'll bet that laptop doesn't have windows either nuff said | |
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Andromeda451
join:2004-04-08
Queen Creek, AZ | 100$ computers??? having the UN run this will assure that the pcs never get into the hands of those most deserving. Anyone remember the "oil for food" debacle still unfolding with our buddy "Koffee Kup Anan"? | |
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SuperJoker
join:2005-11-21
Yermo, CA | Re: 100$ computers??? It's $100, Not 100$ Well If It's not on the left, It's not US currency. | |
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Ionut
join:2001-05-31
Cleveland, OH | There are countries that add the symbols after the number/s. 100$ or $100 it is still the same amount. | |
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milnoc
join:2001-03-05
H2Z
·TekSavvy Solutions..
1 edit | What other "gadgets" have presumably failed? Craig Barrett hasn't named any of the other "gadgets" that have supposedly failed, making his statements questionable at the very least. I remember another hand-cranked "gadget" that was released many years ago, a hand-cranked radio developed by English inventor Trevor Baylis, originally created for the South African market where most townships have no fully developed electrical infrastructures, and where radio broadcasts were essential to disseminate critical health information such as AIDS.
The South Africans were hoarding and exchanging batteries like crazy trying to keep their radios running. When Baylis saw this, he thought there had to be a better solution. What came of this is the development of not only his hand-cranked radio, but also hand-cranked flashlights and generators. These devices have made a considerable difference in countries where electrical power was an unattainable luxury, yet information was essential for one's survival.
The hand-cranked laptop could be an essential extension to the dissemination of information. Even more so that this little "gadget" will allow the users to actively participate in the discussions, offering their own feedback to what is discussed. It wouldn't surprise me if most users of these laptops end up being adults who need to exchange vital information between themselves. The laptops are already designed to exchange information from one device to another via a mesh network (i.e. no central network infrastructure required), a fact that Barrett appears to have neglected to mention.
Barrett's comments sound more like the ramblings of a man who wants his corporation to prosper at the expense of human lives. As for those here who believe the money may be better spent on food and health care, the concern is reasonably justified. But imagine for a moment that information on these critical items are propagated across poor nations at lightning speed. In the case of medicine, it could mean the difference between a healthy individual and an individual who dies of a drug overdose.
And imagine for a moment what could happen in nations where dictatorships have impoverished the population. Imagine if that same population is made aware of what has been done to them and how they can change their lives for the better. Brutal dictatorships could crumble. Deadly rebellions could be stopped. Infant mortality rates could decrease. There are so many possibilities.
A $100 laptop that could change the world? I can believe that. | |
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milnoc
join:2001-03-05
H2Z
·TekSavvy Solutions..
1 edit | Re: What other "gadgets" have presumably failed? For the real deal, go to »www.freeplayenergy.com .
EDIT: Just noticed that if you buy the Freeplay Lifeline model at »www.ccrane.com , they'll also donate one to the Freeplay Foundation which will then donate it to a needy child in a developing country. Could the same concept also work for the 100$ laptop? (note the position of the "$" ) | |
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TamaraB
Question The Current Paradigm
Premium
join:2000-11-08
Brooklyn NYC
·Verizon Online DSL
| From MIT»laptop.media.mit.edu/faq.html
Most of your questions are answered right there at MIT.
What is the $100 Laptop, really?
The proposed $100 machine will be a Linux-based, full-color, full-screen laptop that will use innovative power (including wind-up) and will be able to do most everything except store huge amounts of data. This rugged laptop will be WiFi-enabled and have USB ports galore. Its current specifications are: 500MHz, 1GB, 1 Megapixel.
[...]
What about connectivity? Aren't telecommunications services expensive in the developing world?
When these machines pop out of the box, they will make a mesh network of their own, peer-to-peer. This is something initially developed at MIT and the Media Lab. We are also exploring ways to connect them to the backbone of the Internet at very low cost.
[...]
How will these be marketed?
The idea is to distribute the machines through those ministries of education willing to adopt a policy of "One Laptop per Child." Initial discussions have been held with China, Brazil, Thailand, and Egypt. Additional countries will be selected for beta testing. Initial orders will be limited to a minimum of one million units (with appropriate financing).
One can understand why Intel and Microsoft would be upset. Get the third world computer savvy with Linux, on inexpensive hardware, and a huge potential market is cut from future sales. People tend to stick with the programs/OSs they first learn on.
Bob
--
Motor Vessel - Tamara B.
43' Long-Range Trawler
Cape Elizebeth ME.
See her Here. | |
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| jester121
join:2003-08-09
Lake Zurich, IL | Re: From MIT You said it, just me and my Apple IIe. | |
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aliasrlz
Premium
join:2000-09-01
the world | What the hell is the hank crank for? To start it and keep it running? WTF? | |
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TamaraB
Question The Current Paradigm
Premium
join:2000-11-08
Brooklyn NYC
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: What the hell is the hank crank for? said by aliasrlz :To start it and keep it running? WTF? It winds up a spring, which in turn runs a small generator/battery setup making it independent of a power infrastructure. Pretty spiffy concept actually.
Bob
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Motor Vessel - Tamara B.
43' Long-Range Trawler
Cape Elizebeth ME.
See her Here. | |
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aliasrlz
Premium
join:2000-09-01
the world
| Re: What the hell is the hank crank for? said by TamaraB :said by aliasrlz :To start it and keep it running? WTF? It winds up a spring, which in turn runs a small generator/battery setup making it independent of a power infrastructure. Pretty spiffy concept actually. Bob That was my guess.... but can't actually believe a company would pursue a hand-cranked laptop...... If the poor person buying it had a $100, I'm sure they are thinking of 1000 other ways they could spend that money.......IMHO.. | |
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TamaraB
Question The Current Paradigm
Premium
join:2000-11-08
Brooklyn NYC
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: What the hell is the hank crank for?Read some of the links to MIT. These will be given away FREE to the kids. The Idea is that The Education system of each country will buy them for $100.00 and GIVE them to the students. Minimum purchase is 1 million laptops, and the children to whom they go to must OWN it after it is gifted to them.
Bob
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Motor Vessel - Tamara B.
43' Long-Range Trawler
Cape Elizebeth ME.
See her Here. | |
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aliasrlz
Premium
join:2000-09-01
the world
| Re: What the hell is the hank crank for? said by TamaraB :Read some of the links to MIT. These will be given away FREE to the kids. The Idea is that The Education system of each country will buy them for $100.00 and GIVE them to the students. Minimum purchase is 1 million laptops, and the children to whom they go to must OWN it after it is gifted to them. Bob Ok, I'm all for that then | |
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Sarah
Premium,ExMod 2002-05
join:2001-01-09
Cambridge, MA
clubs:
| Just curious... Do all of you "what will they do if they can't access the internet!" types remember life before the internet, or are you too young?
There are a hell of a lot of things to do with a computer besides surf the net and IM, you know. I did all my schoolwork on a computer - didn't you? I didn't have world wide web access until I was in college... but in high school I used a computer to do all of my schoolwork, I worked on the school paper, I wrote stories in my free time, I played with photos and graphics... I didn't need internet access for any of that. Nowadays you can work with music and video, you can do all of your finances, you can make databases to keep track of just about anything, and a million other things - and you still don't need internet access for it.
Educating the populace is a big first step to getting a country out of third-world status. You'll never get ahead without education. It's the old "give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for life" thing.
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The devil makes work for idle hands, but Stanford makes work for idle CPUs! | |
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claudeo
join:2000-02-23
Redmond, WA
| There is a use I happened to visit a couple of rural high schools in India last week. They are hurting for books and lots of basics, of course, as government funds somehow tend to get "diverted" on their way down. They are doing a marvelous job in educating highly motivated kids. This includes trying to have a computer education program so that students have the basic skills to be employable in other than menial jobs, but power is very expensive or unreliable, licensed commercial software is out of the question due to cost, and of course whatever computers they have are antique DOS machines. These schools have 1400+ students each. They could put a few dozen or hundreds of those $100 computers to very good use--and put any of you ignorant naysayers to shame. As for us, our xmas presents at home this year are photos of the students saying "we spent the money for your present on school books for these kids." Maybe next year it will be on a few of those $100 computers. | |
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nekote
join:2000-12-16
Hopkinton, MA | 100$ Laptops - a good thing, not bad Sounds like it will have a lot of short comings.
Still, this is a good thing.
Not a bad thing. | |
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ColateralDMG
join:2005-06-13
Mcdonough, GA
| Laptops not so basic From what I read before all these laptops come with some linux derivative ,have loads of programing software and educational tools. They also have a mesh wireless system which ,if they learn how to, can make a nice intranet or share internet if anyone has it  | |
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verolom
join:2002-03-23
Eagleville, PA | Re: Laptops not so basic Now I want one! Should I move to Africa to get one? | |
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Buggy
join:2000-10-24
Tampa, FL
1 edit | The proposed $100 machine will be a Linux-based, full-color, full-screen laptop that will use innovative power (including wind-up) and will be able to do most everything except store huge amounts of data. This rugged laptop will be WiFi-enabled and have USB ports galore. Its current specifications are: 500MHz, 1GB, 1 Megapixel.
What the hell that means I don't know. 1 Megapixel what ? Screen? 1GB of what ? Flash storage? How much ram ? who knows, but 500 MHz what ? probably a embedded processor, maybe an ARM ? or coldfire or something? This is basically a hand cranked PDA with a slightly larger screen.
On a side note, great to see that it has 'usb ports galore' so they can plug in their expensive accessories... lol what will they plug into these things? | |
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sirozha
join:2001-11-18
Kennesaw, GA
| American Schools Should Look into This Laptop Cobb County Schools, GA, decided this year to sign a contract with Apple Computer to lease 63,000 iBooks for all Cobb County Schools students and teachers. The total price tag is over $60 million. Fortunately, this contract was voted down at the very latest stage of approval (it almost got approved). The Superintendent was accused of accepting kick-backs for this contract and had to resign. I'm not sure if the DA is going to press charges. The reason I care about this is because I live in Cobb County, GA, and I had to pay more than $2,000 in property taxes this year. Most of that tax bill went to Cobb County Schools. I do not believe that every child needs to have a laptop. Nor do I believe that children should be given iBooks. I think that what important for the education of children is not computers, but books. People were educated much better in the past when there were no computers. The only reason I see any need for computers in public schools is to do research by accessing the Web. There's no reason for every child to have a free computer at home for that purpose. They can do research at school (using computer labs and computers that are now in every classroom). They could also use public libraries, or their parents could buy them a computer. There's no reason for tax-payers to foot the bill. However, I know I will be in the minority here, so if the majority decides that giving every child a laptop computer is critical for providing education, let them get $100 laptops instead of $1500 iBooks. That will cost me, as a tax-payer, 1/15th of what I would pay otherwise.
By the way, this laptop comes with Linux, a bunch of software, and development tools. It can also be connected to the Internet. What it will not teach kids is how to use Windows and MS Office. I don't see why I should pay 15 times as much in taxes in order to get school kids hooked on Apple or Microsoft OS and software so that Steve, Michael, and Bill could keep getting richer.
So, is there a courageous Superintendent out there who would cancel his/her school system contract with Dell or Apple and would buy these $100 laptops for the students. These laptops is all a school kid of any age will ever need to graduate with honors. Even college kids don't need anything more than this laptop has to offer. | |
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Gothor
join:2005-11-21 | What about Inspector Gadget? "The problem is that gadgets have not been successful."
Yeah, like that stinkin' iPod. I mean, who wants one of those? You can't GIVE 'em away. | |
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pog
Premium
join:2004-06-03
Kihei, HI
·Hawaiian Telcom
| How will success be measured? As with everything else today, those who support an idea will point to the positive outcomes and those who don't will focus on the negative... the reality, of course, will be mixed.
Personally, if having this laptop effected a meaningful/long-lasting change to only 1-in-50 children across the entire program, I'd call it a raving success. | |
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DMNTD
join:2002-10-19
usa
·AT&T DSL Service
| wow... You know all u freaks with your tax...you realize most of that goes to welfare in THIS country and destroying land in this country to make room for that welfare?
So you think you have a place to talk down to so called 3rd world's as if you know anything...I will tell you 1 thing, there is a QUITE a big difference between American and Amerikan if you don't know what I am talking about then your lost already.
Now who knows what the real objective of these 100 laptops are.Are you and I handing them out?? DO we set them up..no we don't it COULD be a good thing or a bad thing. EASILY bad because again I don't trust what I don't see physically happen..period..that's prob why I don't like a lot of things and that's MY place unlike you blind ppl who see shit and decide everything.
If the intent is good then maybe a lot of things can happen and then a lot CANNOT happen its up to them. Cause we can't say anything or decide anything cause its not up to us...in fact think about what decisions you can make that could make a better tomorrow if you even know what that means.
quote:
Well using a subjective word like uncivilized, being snide, and making sweeping statements about Americans I don't think will particularly educate anyone.
AND FOR THE LIFE OF PPL IN AMERICA STOP REACTING AS IF WE ARE ALL THE SAME!! This is not some bs dictatorship yet, Americans can be dissed for MANY reasons so just stop. | |
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plattypus1
join:2005-04-08
Riverside, CA
·Charter Pipeline
| Textbooks. I can't understand why some of my fellow technophiles can be so dense, pardon my bluntness.
Do you have any idea how much it costs a school to purchase textbooks over the life of a child? The costs are extortionate, and developing nations couldn't even dream of providing children with enough printed textbooks to go around, at least ones with relevant information.
That's where the laptops come in. The nation can purchase a much cheaper electronic textbook, or simply rely on the wealth of information freely available on the internet. These laptops are dirt-cheap textbooks.
Also, as far as the internet thing goes, there are many villages in the developing world that are getting solar-powered television/satellite internet kiosks already. Stick a cheap wi-fi router in there (less than $20 in volume), throw in mesh networking and suddenly every child in the town has access to the internet. It may not be fast, but it's there. Hell, stick the access point at the school, where in many cases there is an electricity solution in place. Put it on a blimp over the jungle or savannah. Don't forget that the underpriveledged also live in cities. Use your imagination, and the possibilities are truly endless.
P.S. To Intel, re: "It turns out what people are looking for is something is something that has the full functionality of a PC, Reprogrammable to run all the applications of a grown up PC..." Just because it's only a 400-500Mhz processor that happens to run Linux doesn't mean it's not a "grown-up PC" and that it doesn't have "full functionality." | |
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| BassLake
join:2003-12-05
| Re: Textbooks. A computer is a tool. If a $100 tool does the job, whatever that job is, then it's a good tool. Get the tool out to the people, and let them decide what it's useful for. Don't get any pre-conceived notions about what it's uses are.
I don't envision that every child in a village would get this laptop. I see it as being available to the children and other members of the community. It could be used for AIDS education or infection tracking. Or a hundred other uses. | |
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$100 Laptop
I'll bet the $100 laptop doesn't have Intel CPU
