lolex said:
However, do we believe a laptop is more reliable than a station ?
what I mean is when there is rarely finds a station to locate communication,
you rely on a laptop notebook?
The communication issue was slightly separate from the laptop issue, although I think they converge when it comes to education. It was meant as a general response when people point out the need for basic supplies compared to modern technology.
How long is battery life you could rely on? who's going to give the hardware supports when needed ? Any figures of extreme weather which those laptop are targeted to locate with?
The laptop is not yet in production. Probably exactly some of the issues they are trying to deal with, apparently the laptop has a rubber casing and is inspired by a visit to Cambodia. The power issue is being addressed through the use of a wind-up generator.
I think to build some stable fixtures to locate communication with reliable power supply among those unforgiving enviroments is a more proper approach.
Yes, that is another approach. I think that it is important to remember that these laptop are going to be sold. While costs vary, a (very) approximate figure is that motorway / highway costs £1 million per mile. What will make the biggest difference - a million children with laptops or 100 miles of modern highway? I am not proposing a clear answer, just issues that need to be addressed.
Who is the actual recipient of this program? undefinded.
Name those countries ? undefinded
How many childrens in nos. are qualified according to your quote? undefinded
Why to build something hazards to earth massive in scale rather than recycle existing resounces while you bear the "Help the World" quote ? undefinded.
From their FAQ, the target is education departments of governments that agree with their OLPC philosophy.
Some of the countries so far interested are China, Brazil, Thailand, and Egypt. I also saw South Africa mentioned. I don't think that there is a limit to developing nations, though, more to governments rather than individuals. The BBC report (below) mentions that Massachusetts will be purchasing them for their schools, too. I don't know if there is any special qualification beyond being a child in a nation or state that agrees with the project's philosophy.
They say that recycling is very labour intensive. Presumably too much to be viable (they also discuss laptop versus desktop and stress that portability is important). Recycled systems would presumably need to be have an assortment of Wind-up power converters fitted. I imagine that the two systems will complement each other, with recycled systems used as a central server, working with thin clients on the laptops.
BBC Report
adzoox said:
It is mythical that Linux is free ... it is only free to the complex mind ... for people that know how to assemble 100's of components from dozens of sources ... support isn't free ... hey ... Red Hat has to make SOME money or they wouldn't be in business.
Companies that are profitable can also be altruistic. How is a Red Hat donation different from an Apple one? They paid $2 million. I mentioned earlier differences between Linux and other operating systems. Linux has a well established community support system and importantly, one that, thanks to open sourcery, can answer all levels of technical questions.
adzoox said:
1) Isn't food, shelter, water, clothing, and economic investment better to pursue? Only if factories for these laptops could be placed nearby that would be support hubs, jobs, and wealth creation would this be a true success
2) I have a problem with this program going forward without a true plan for the content for education that is placed on the laptop ... what are we going to give them on the hard drives?
3) What will stop someone from selling their laptop on eBay ... you can be assured this will happen or a black market will arise.
4) Will children who are JUST AS NEEDY of this technology receive them in the USA, Japan, and England?
5) Is there ulterior motive in using Linux that isn't being discussed here?
1. Yes all those are factors, some might not be manageable within the $100 target, but education is also important. Just because you are delivering food doesn't mean you have to stop work on the education program.
2. If you are paying for it, then ask the directors to be accountable! AFAIK, they don't use a hard drive. Storage is based on flash memory. I have every expectation that software will be tailored to the local markets and specifically decided on by the education boards of client governments. Seeing as clients aren't even fixed yet, isn't this a bit premature? I am not sure where the "give" bit comes from. I keep seeing $100 per unit. Suggests SELLING to me.
3. Local laws can prohibit some of this, seeing as locally the project will be government funded. Nothing is watertight but eBay pull items that do not meet local laws.
4. It doesn't seem quite clear but while the primary target and motivating force seems to be developing nations, I don't think there is anything to preclude selling to developed countries. But they are targeting governments rather than individuals.
5. Compared with selecting a proprietary system? Proprietary systems, while offered at low cost initially will come with unnecessary support and legal baggage, I posted earlier about this.
billyboy said:
I have seen misplaced and inappropriate aid too many times, so unless somehow I totally misread the evidence, there is no great new dawn on the horizon thanks to 100 million $100 laptops.
The whole idea for project is based on educational theories developed at MIT.
The $100 laptop is being developed by One Laptop per Child (OLPC), an independent, non-profit association based on the "constructionist" theories of learning pioneered by Seymour Papert and later Alan Kay. I don't think this is throwing money at a problem, it is trying to rationally look at computers, education and the limits of many governments and actually trying apply some of the theory.
