__/ [ Larry Qualig ] on Thursday 16 March 2006 17:17 \__
> Edwin wrote:
>> John Bailo wrote:
>> > Lobo wrote:
>> >
>> > > Gates is full of FUD. I have a hand cranked flashlight that uses
>> > > rechargeable batteries and led's. A few minutes of cranking gives me
>> > > light for over a half hour. No batteries to buy. There is also the
>> > > option of solar panels for daytime use on those computers.
>> >
>> > I have a 1G Sandisk Sansa m240 mp3 player that runs for 20 hours on a
>> > single AAA battery. It has a 1 x 0.5 inch screen that displays a menu,
>> > and the song, artist, album. It has a blue light. Obviously there is
>> > some type of low level processor and audio chip to put the music out.
>> >
>> > So, how much more of a leap is it to turn that into a PC?
>>
>> The real leap would be demonstrating how these cheap PCs will have any
>> positive impact on the lives of the people they're given to.
>>
>> Put yourself in their place: you live in a house with no running
>> water or electricity. Somebody gives you a cheap laptop computer with
>> an LCD screen, but you have no phone line to connect it to. You
>> don't even know anybody who has made a phone call within their
>> lifetime.
>>
>> What will you use your new computer for? How would it change your
>> life? Wouldn't you rather they just gave you $100? Or the medicine
>> for your malaria-racked body? Or the food for your starving family?
>
> I never thought of it that way. It would also be interesting to know
> what the literacy rate is in these countries. But otherwise, if
> you're sick and starving somewhere in a desert getting a computer
> with a compiler, an Office suite and media players isn't nearly as
> useful as food and medicine.
I suppose you meant "office suite", as opposed to "Office suite". The last
thing they need is Windows XP. They could probably use an anti-virus though.
Helping children in Africa by introducing yet another source of visuses
seems irrational.
Best wishes,
Roy
--
Roy S. Schestowitz | "Pentiums melt in your PC, not in your hand"
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