Yet another reason to get angry with Bill...

[Duncan Anderson]

On Sunday, 19 March 2006 15:20, Eric Dunbar wrote:
> On 19/03/06, Jeff Waugh <jeff.waugh at ubuntu.com> wrote:
> > <quote who="Duncan Anderson">
> >
> > > The laptop in question is a wind up job which does not require
> > > electricity, so I think it is precisely those communities which would
> > > benefit from it the most. Or should I assume that the great big yellow
> > > handle in the picture on laptop.org is just for show?
> >
> > It has a crank, and takes C cell batteries. One of the comments made by
> > the OLPC staff is that this laptop may be the first artificial light
> > source available in some places it will be distributed.
>
> Not to rain on the parade, but, if it's the first artificial light
> source, then there's also a good chance that no one can read at a
> sufficient level to make use of the laptop.
>
Most reading gets done in daylight, or candlelight or using gas or oil lamps.
> That said, enough people are literate and still in _desperate_ need of
> information so, provided they're targetted then there's the
> possibility that people will find a use for them (in the developed
> world there may be a _tiny_ market for them as well -- the homeless
> (though, they will now start to have public access to
> internet/computers as well so for them to tote around one of these
> gadgets will be yet another thing to lose (and, that's one of the
> problems (at least in Toronto)... oftentimes they're not "with it"
> enough to keep track of their meage belongings).
>
There are many rural people in South Africa who are literate and who are 
starved for intellectual stimulation. Books are way too pricy. A new science 
textbook costs almost $50, so a $100 laptop is a miracle. A new Thinkpad or 
ACER travelmate or whatever costs at least $800.

There are schools which operate with no mains electricity, and they manage.

> Eric.

Your input is well reasoned, if a trifle pessimistic.

cheers
Duncan

	
	
		
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