On TechRepublic: 10 cool USB flash drive tricks
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet
TalkBack 44 of 84:
Next »
« Previous
I have to disagree Anton
"The computers are considered patronizing because they have less than the capabilities and functionality that the rest of the world takes for granted and considers essential to computing."

Essential in this case is misleading. If you are talking about yesterday you might be right, but as we see more and more apps/uses moved to the net and thin clients the essencial hardware drops radically. (Even MS is begining to grasp this.)

"The computers are considered patronizing because they have less than the capabilities and functionality that the rest of the world takes for granted and considers essential to computing.

"The answer given at some length is that the infrastructure is so weak that giving people what the rest of the world has is impracticable."

But why assume they want/need what the rest of the world uses. As a comparrison the first world has electricity and in many cases delivering it to the third world is not practical. Does that mean they have no use for a hand craked generator or even a quality oil lamp for lighting? Of course it doesn't, it is a vast improvement over nothing.

China / Africa? Two very different circumstances. The biggest being China is not divided into a hundred fiefdoms all battling each other and China has accepted that educating their poopulation is a good thing.

"Give everyone in the world Windows. Why do they deserve any less? "

Why does someone eat chiken when they can't afford the best steaks...
Posted by: No_Ax_to_Grind   Posted on: 03/07/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
Reply to Story Reply to Message

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

OLPC is a revolution in the making. And, we need them right here in the  DonnieBoy | 03/07/07
Plus, this would be a perfect fit  John Zern | 03/08/07
A laptop to change the world  Loverock Davidson | 03/07/07
What would you suggest as an alternative?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/07/07
I Can't Believe You Answered This Goon  itanalyst | 03/07/07
Proof Again Of Your IDIOCY  itanalyst | 03/07/07
Rude and ignorant  Kyser Soze | 03/09/07
Rude and arrogant?  jasonp@... | 03/15/07
Not destined to be a failure at all  Oracle619 | 03/08/07
OLPC  JDThompson | 03/08/07
A laptop to change the world  dasprem@... | 03/08/07
Intuitive?  handydan918 | 03/08/07
Have you spent any time in the '3rd world'?  akcoyote | 03/08/07
How stupid can one person possibly be?  jasonp@... | 03/15/07
Yeah, I know  Hrothgar - PCLinuxOS User | 03/19/07
Laptop Plan Misguided...Kids Need More Human Interaction, Not Less  violet6 | 03/07/07
very well guided  charbax@... | 03/07/07
You're kidding, right?  Confused by religion | 03/08/07
Well said!  ajole | 03/08/07
I have to second that !  TSEG72351@... | 03/08/07
Grammar!!!  Overthepond | 03/09/07
NOT kidding but true  stevef61@... | 03/08/07
Slightly utopian, I think  IT_User | 03/08/07
Blind ignorance  tobias2143@... | 03/07/07
I don't want her teaching my kids  orangemike | 03/08/07
You clearly haqve never seen any of these schools  woot! | 03/08/07
Couldn't Agree More  robineau@... | 03/08/07
You are wrong in detail, but I llike your main point.  ajole | 03/08/07
You're Missing the Point  bonafide49 | 03/08/07
Too funny!  ajole | 03/08/07
Yes, but CAN they...  vrrivaro | 03/08/07
Limitations  IndredKold | 03/08/07
Not enough people willing to teach these kids...  ajole | 03/08/07
Obviously living ina bubble...  GaijinIT | 03/09/07
Does anyone really believe that with  NatanElias | 03/09/07
I don't know if I agree  Hrothgar - PCLinuxOS User | 03/19/07
Watch the video of Jim Gettys FOSDEM keynote  charbax@... | 03/07/07
pff your suggestion is pencils?  charbax@... | 03/07/07
wrong place I posted this  charbax@... | 03/07/07
Bravo Jeremy  kerzner@... | 03/07/07
Jeremy, for once we are in agreement.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/07/07
Bravo!  itanalyst | 03/07/07
Odd response  Anton Philidor | 03/07/07
I have to disagree Anton  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/07/07
You're arguing a different point from mine.  Anton Philidor | 03/07/07
I have an idea Anton. Why don't you donote millions to the project!  nomorems | 03/07/07
You need to clarify your point  IT_User | 03/08/07
Unless you can say...  Anton Philidor | 03/08/07
I honestly don't know  IT_User | 03/08/07
NO I would NOT be more pleased!!  ajole | 03/08/07
It is patronizing to give a starving person chicken?  ajole | 03/08/07
Deliberately contentious?  whisperycat | 03/08/07
jeu d'esprit  Anton Philidor | 03/08/07
Windows costs  whisperycat | 03/08/07
"Let them eat cake"  davidaforshaw@... | 03/11/07
Or maybe the youth will grow up knowing that Microsoft is not the only way.  nomorems | 03/11/07
Cut-down computers? Depends on task at hand  *nixFan | 03/08/07
You're not writing an admission...  Anton Philidor | 03/08/07
Back to patronizing  Hrothgar - PCLinuxOS User | 03/19/07
China's not a good example  voska | 03/08/07
Less?  vrrivaro | 03/08/07
Give everyone in the world...  jasonp@... | 03/15/07
Future ebay products  Boot_Agnostic | 03/07/07
May step one not be the last.  deramin@... | 03/07/07
Good first step to education revolution  msupert@... | 03/08/07
100 dollar (150 dollar) laptop and learning  elmerpaul | 03/08/07
Before you run, you must learn to walk.  tracy anne | 03/09/07
Incalculable Importance  Frihet | 03/08/07
The Important thing here  wizardb@... | 03/08/07
they need teachers, not laptops  freemant | 03/08/07
they need teachers  tracy anne | 03/09/07
best benefit? potentially not US-biased  toliman | 03/08/07
They need essentials, not laptops (nt)  CobraA1 | 03/08/07
They need essentials  tracy anne | 03/09/07
Books don't need power or Internet access to function (nt)  CobraA1 | 03/09/07
Get this  Hrothgar - PCLinuxOS User | 03/19/07
What difference does an OS Make?  shane_f | 03/09/07
All Said And Done...  Mr_Wizard | 03/09/07
I want some asap  howiem | 03/09/07
Buy some soap and water first  Linux User 1 | 03/14/07
Get this  Hrothgar - PCLinuxOS User | 03/19/07
OLPC to Change the World?  Adis Add | 04/20/07
Corruption thrives on ignorance  raywill@... | 05/30/07
RE: A laptop to change the world  w.Ollie | 10/10/09

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

  • Smart Tech Expert advice on innovations in healthcare and the green technologies that make it happen. Find out more
  • Smart Business Discussion and advice on management issues that revolve around making your world smarter and more useful. More Smart Advice
  • Smart People The best and worst moves in the management and strategy trenches. Learn More