What you see even in western schools (or at least in NL) is that computers are all around in the classroom, to learn ppl write, do math, to geography etc. Complete and utter bull. I learnt it the 'boring' way. * + - / math? Just make them, pages and pages and more pages of boring sums, completely not funny or inspiring. Same with writing, complete and utter boring writing lessons.. etc. etc. Right now I see a clear change on fora, ppl who really can't write properly, gramatical errors. I'm not sure whether computers have a role in that, but: *I* didn't need any computer to learn how to read/write, or to learn things about the world anyway (geo, math, bio etc.). So over there they won't need computers either for the same lessons.
Sure, when you're studying you might need a private computer (tho ppl didn't need one 30 years ago, and those are today's professors/gurus), but I can imagine a computer being handy. If ppl in the 3rd world are actually studying for an academic grade, I don't mind them having a computer!
The only computers I've seen in my school-years (not my-study years where I mainly used my own one) are MSX2 for geo-lessons (flying a chopper to given locations) and small PC's for LOGO, WP5.1, DBase4 and M$-DOS 5. Big swell! The Dos/WP lessons were given in the time of Windows and WP for Windows .. So, even when I *did have* a computer at my disposal at schools, nothing useful was done with them.
So, I figure: those ppl in the 3rd world who aren't studying for a serious grade won't need a private computer.. they'd sell it probably if they'd get one. (and let's not mention them living in a tribe or culture that tries to keep western influences outside!)

For sure... let's the poor africans write books with a pencil, they don't need a word processor. Oh, come on, it's just a paper worksheet with 150.000 cells, why are you looking for a computer. Better than this, you can sume and rest big numbers of 5 digits, left superpeople from Europe and USA the big numbers

Oh, come on... bah

You can't see the problem, if you don't want to see the problem. Nevermind.

Publishers print/write/make books, not Joe African. African publishers for sure will have computers for those jobs. I'm not talking about African industries here, but about normal/non-industrial ppl, and mainly was I talking about learning how to read/write, that has nothing to do with computers whatsoever. If we did rely on computers for reading/writing then we wouldn't be able how to read/write before the 80's!

All people should have access computers to do any work they would do with them. They are tools (powerful) and, yes, African writers could use pencil and paper (and stones too), but they should use (or begin to use) the same tools than modern countries.

Look, this is not a caprice, nor nonsenses. It should be thousand, millions people on 3rd world countries losing their art and genious due to unaccesibility to adequate tools. Potential drawers, writers, designers, architects, painters, musicians, technicians, physicists, chemists... all these people could simply "learn to read and write", but their intelligence is being conditionated if we can't make them reach adequate technology.

Believe me, probably the best 3D Renderer is somewhere in Somalia or Chenai, looking for food.

Cool! I guess it's far from Nishi's original idea, but it is indeed very interesting though.

This laptop will be distributed this year here in Brazil at public schools (at least is what our president said...)- first just for some to test it, and if everything goes well, to all of them.

Believe me, it's a necessary process. The really poor people here in Brazil usually dont get any chance to be even near a computer, but when they try to get a job, the first thing asked is if they know how to use one.

The main idea is to give them the laptops, they could take it home and the whole family could use it - not only to study at school, but also to use the internet and expand their knowledge (even if just to watch pr0n hehehehe)

Is it the ideal solution? Not by far, the computer is very limited to be compared to a real one, but still, it's a giant step for those who had nothing so far.

I'm sorry, but whats below just pissed me off:

Quote:

So, I figure: those ppl in the 3rd world who aren't studying for a serious grade won't need a private computer.. they'd sell it probably if they'd get one. (and let's not mention them living in a tribe or culture that tries to keep western influences outside!)

You really don't know any "3rd world" people, do you?
"aren't srudying for a serious grade" - they study what they can, given the circunstances. Try to study a lot, without eating for a week.

"they'd sell it" - not everyone here is a thief! Most of the *STUDENTS* in *SCHOOLS* want to learn, and want to graduate. But they dont have a decent place to live, most of the time they dont have anything to eat, or even means to get to school everyday. You cant judge them by *your* life standart.

"not mention them living in a tribe or culture that tries to keep western influences outside!" - now I know you really dont know anything at all... first: here in Brazil there are no "tribes", and the most common thing are poor people trying to speak anything in English... buying "Nikes", listening to english songs, whatching american movies (on TV of course)... exactly the opposit of what you described.

Change your mind man, you're talking about people in need, not "haters-thieves-whatever".

It's a great humanitarian effort, but if a poor person doesn't have money for the most basic needs, wouldn't she/he rather sell 100$ laptop to get some money out of it now, rather then work on improving computer skills?

As of Negroponte's idea "buy 2, get 1" - no thank you. 100% tax is not funny. Dell gives a lot more for a little more, and doesn't suffer from "save the world poorest" syndrome.

Slotman: I think it's strange for a country that has a space development program to need to give subsidized computers to their habitants... (same goes for Pakistan, btw). Wouldn't the money of that program (or the investment in the computers) be better spend to kill poverty? Give them food, give them shelter. Give them a schoolbus. Then let them learn at school how to use a computer. I don't think that if you do not improve their way of living, they do not have much use for a computer.

Not everyone is a thief. You are right ofcourse. On the other hand: what would you do if you have nothing to eat, but have a shiny computer in your house? Probably sell the thing to get some food... At least I know I would. And that has nothing to do with stealing.

You don't seem to get the point. The question is an easy one: can the $100 laptop run MSX-PLAYER?

A good point is that: if you give someone 100$, it's spent in a few weeks time (or so) and nothing was gained. Only a little bit of time. if you give someone a laptop, he can use it to educate himself and get a job, which is a lot more helpful than just a one-time shot of money. That's called structural aid.

The "buy 2 get 1" is brilliant. Rich people have plenty of money to buy one for $200, meaning they can help someone else on the world to educate himself. Don't be so selfish.

my 2 cents.

Quote:

The "buy 2 get 1" is brilliant. Rich people have plenty of money to buy one for $200, meaning they can help someone else on the world to educate himself. Don't be so selfish. my 2 cents.

They can definitely afford it, but there is no reason for them to buy it. This is not a prestigious item like Dell XPS or Sony PS3. And even though the price is low, you know that you are forced into donation, which is something people hate. And there are great much more powerful options readily available from Toshiba, HP, Dell and such for a bit more money. A generic modern cell phone is more powerful and functional then 100$ notebook (but it doesn't come with built-in crank-operated power generator).

So, I don't think anyone will buy this item for actual computing. May be some obese antisocial nerds will get it to complete their collection of "unusual" computers. To me, 100$ notebook has a lot less appeal then OCM.

besides the aid-issue here: I'd spent $100 or $200 for a decent laptop.

My current oldie does the job (P2-333,192MB,98SE) why are HW+SW devellopers forcing me to buy P4-3000,1024,XP, just to do the same thing?? (You pay $100 to Bull Gates just for the OS! that's helping the first world not the third)

that reason alone would justify this kind of product, with or without humanitairy background.

I'd buy it, because it's a great and unique item, full of new technology and innovations. And famous as well! So, it is prestigious for me! I'd be glad to pay $200 for that. It's even cheaper than an OCM and I'm also helping someone with it! Yeah, so half of it is a donation... is that bad?? I don't think so.

Now seriously, there is one fact that I do not understand.

If the real cost of production is about $150 and it is supossed to be priced $100, then if you sell one you'll loose $50. Net gain: -50 USD. Therefore, the solution of selling 2 of them for $200 with leave a net gain of -100 USD, or, in other words, a total loss of 100 USD. This point of view is independent of the goal of giving them away to developing countries.