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Have you spent any time in the '3rd world'?
I have spent quite a bit of time (over 2 years) in countries where less than 10% of the population would fit even the minimum description of 'middle class' and the vast majority are the definition of 'dirt poor'.

From everything I have read about the laptop it is as close to 'dead on' in design for 4/5 of the world's population as I think anyone could get before seeing what happens when it actually becomes widespread. (The same old 'no design is finished without widespread user feedback' paradigm.)

Your 'pencil, paper and books' statement has been the paradigm for over a century with significant results, but does not begin to have kept up with the development of technology and tools used in the developed world and by the top 10% of the undeveloped world's population.

The 'laptop' project is a paradigm which offers technology access to the 'rest of the world' and a chance for a real leap forward for millions of people.

I can't decide if you have a very limited imagination or are afraid of what may happen if another few million genius intellects are given access to the knowledge of the modern world.
Posted by: akcoyote   Posted on: 03/08/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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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

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