[dundee] cheap free and zero cost..... African children get the best technology

[Lee Turner]

I think the OLPC is fundamentally flawed.

For starters, a lot of these countries that they are targeting don't have
proper schools... perhaps they should build them first?

I'd also like to point out that I made it through school fine without a
laptop (although I admit we did have computing labs... and eventually we
replaced the ailing BBC Micros with RM Machines running Win98)

Perhaps it would be more beneficial to sell these machines to, for example,
learning support units in schools in developed countries?

I'm not saying African kids shouldn't get laptops, but perhaps they should
be setting less lofty goals, getting them in the hands of underprivileged
kids in developed countries first would allow them to lower the costs and
sell them to third world countries for even less - which I'm fairly sure
would improve the uptake

</rant>

On 27/11/2007, <3 <sauntering.with.scissors at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> *can i get that crank handle battery pack for any laptop?  think of the
> liberating possibilities!
>
> :rolleyes:*
>
> I happen to think that OLPC is a fantastic idea. To an extent it is
> liberating for the children getting an education, knowledge is power etc
> etc.
>
>
> On Nov 27, 2007 6:35 PM, Digit (SG) < digit.siljrath at googlemail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > i've been looking into zero cost computers (laptops specifically), and
> > abnormal micro pc's ( http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/store/Mini_ITX_Systems/Damn_Small_Machine
> > ) and just heard on the news mention of the computers going out to every
> > kid in africa (supposedly)
> >
> > http://laptop.org/laptop/hardware/features.shtml
> >
> > "In addition, —for use at home and where power is not available—the XO
> > can be solar or foot powered. It will come with at least two of three
> > options: a crank, a pedal, or a pull-cord. It is also possible that children
> > could have a second battery for group charging at school while they are
> > using their laptop in class."
> >
> > enough to put me off getting a pc phone hybrid (still thinking Nokia
> > Communicator for that) and move to africa to be a small child?  ...
> > almost.   a laptop you can take anywhere without needing to remember to
> > charge and take batteries....  oh yes please.  can i get that crank handle
> > battery pack for any laptop?  think of the liberating possibilities!
> >
> > :rolleyes:
> >
> > --
> > The Universe speaks in many languages, but only one voice. The language
> > is not Narn, or Human, or Centauri, or Gaim or Minbari. It speaks in the
> > language of hope; It speaks in the language of trust; It speaks in the
> > language of strength, and the language of compassion. It is the language of
> > the heart and the language of the soul. But always, it is the same voice. It
> > is the voice of our ancestors, speaking through us, And the voice of our
> > inheritors, waiting to be born. It is the small, still voice that says: We
> > are one. No matter the blood; skin; world; star; We are one. No matter the
> > pain; darkness; loss; fear; We are one. Here, gathered together in common
> > cause. we agree to recognise this singular truth, and this singular rule:
> > That we must be kind to one another, because each voice enriches us and
> > ennobles us, and each voice lost diminishes us. We are the voice of the
> > Universe, the soul of creation, the fire that will light the way to a better
> > future. We are one.
> > _______________________________________________
> > dundee GNU/Linux Users Group mailing list
> > dundee at lists.lug.org.uk   http://dundee.lug.org.uk
> > https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/dundee
> > Chat on IRC, #tlug on dundee.lug.org.uk
> >
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> dundee GNU/Linux Users Group mailing list
> dundee at lists.lug.org.uk  http://dundee.lug.org.uk
> https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/dundee
> Chat on IRC, #tlug on dundee.lug.org.uk
>



-- 
<generic witty comment>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.lug.org.uk/pipermail/dundee/attachments/20071128/30bc0baf/attachment-0001.html