Second Life Forums Archive - $100 Laptop, Cool

Chosen Few

Alpha Channel Slave

Join date: 16 Jan 2004

Posts: 7,496

09-29-2005 14:50

Anyone remember that comnpletely stupid movie, The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest? It was about a team of rejects from some fictitious research facility who are given as a punishment the task of making a $99 computer. Well, it seems it's not so completely stupid anymore (okay, the movie was still terrible, no matter what). Someone's actually building $100 laptops for kids in developing countries. Check it out.

_____________________

.

Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.

pandastrong Fairplay

all bout the BANG POW NOW

Join date: 16 Aug 2004

Posts: 2,920

09-29-2005 14:51

Dude, that movie RULED!

_____________________

"Honestly, you are a gem -- fun, creative, and possessing strong social convictions. I think LL should be paying you to be in their game."

~ Ulrika Zugzwang on the iconography of pandastrong in the media

"That's no good. Someone is going to take your place as SL's cutest boy while you're offline."

~ Ingrid Ingersoll on the topic of LL refusing to pay pandastrong for being in their game.

Torley Linden

Enlightenment!

Join date: 15 Sep 2004

Posts: 16,530

09-29-2005 15:10

It's pretty exciting to see this, and economic complications aside, I hope the laptop and pricing isn't limited to a select few targets, 'cuz I do know that in addition to other countries around the world, there are many youth in North America who could benefit such tools. I do read in the article about the possibility of having the government take the load and then give these lappies to schoolkids. Interesting choice of Linux to build again from the bottom-up, too. Hopefully it will be slim, trim, and edutational!

_____________________

Teeny Leviathan

Never started World War 3

Join date: 20 May 2003

Posts: 2,716

09-29-2005 16:10

From: Torley Torgeson

I do read in the article about the possibility of having the government take the load and then give these lappies to schoolkids.

This is the part that bothers me. Some third world governments can't be trusted with distributing these laptops. In a worst case scenario, anything that could help educate and better the lives of the poor can be considered a menace. Keeping the citizens poor and uneducated keeps the worst dictators in power. In the end, we could see warehouses full of laptops headed for the black market, and the proceeds going into yet another dictator's pocket.

Maybe M.I.T. should consider distributing these computers through legit international relief organizations. Maybe they can work on building their own distribution network. It would be a shame to see this project fall flat on its face.

_____________________

The Default Avatars were created by Linden Lab
They evolved.
They rebelled.
There are many copies.
And they have a plan.

$100 Laptop, Cool
Chosen Few Alpha Channel Slave Join date: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 7,496	09-29-2005 14:50 Anyone remember that comnpletely stupid movie, The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest? It was about a team of rejects from some fictitious research facility who are given as a punishment the task of making a $99 computer. Well, it seems it's not so completely stupid anymore (okay, the movie was still terrible, no matter what). Someone's actually building $100 laptops for kids in developing countries. Check it out. _____________________ . Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.
pandastrong Fairplay all bout the BANG POW NOW Join date: 16 Aug 2004 Posts: 2,920	09-29-2005 14:51 Dude, that movie RULED! _____________________ "Honestly, you are a gem -- fun, creative, and possessing strong social convictions. I think LL should be paying you to be in their game." ~ Ulrika Zugzwang on the iconography of pandastrong in the media "That's no good. Someone is going to take your place as SL's cutest boy while you're offline." ~ Ingrid Ingersoll on the topic of LL refusing to pay pandastrong for being in their game.
Torley Linden Enlightenment! Join date: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 16,530	09-29-2005 15:10 It's pretty exciting to see this, and economic complications aside, I hope the laptop and pricing isn't limited to a select few targets, 'cuz I do know that in addition to other countries around the world, there are many youth in North America who could benefit such tools. I do read in the article about the possibility of having the government take the load and then give these lappies to schoolkids. Interesting choice of Linux to build again from the bottom-up, too. Hopefully it will be slim, trim, and edutational! _____________________
Teeny Leviathan Never started World War 3 Join date: 20 May 2003 Posts: 2,716	09-29-2005 16:10 From: Torley Torgeson I do read in the article about the possibility of having the government take the load and then give these lappies to schoolkids. This is the part that bothers me. Some third world governments can't be trusted with distributing these laptops. In a worst case scenario, anything that could help educate and better the lives of the poor can be considered a menace. Keeping the citizens poor and uneducated keeps the worst dictators in power. In the end, we could see warehouses full of laptops headed for the black market, and the proceeds going into yet another dictator's pocket. Maybe M.I.T. should consider distributing these computers through legit international relief organizations. Maybe they can work on building their own distribution network. It would be a shame to see this project fall flat on its face. _____________________ The Default Avatars were created by Linden Lab They evolved. They rebelled. There are many copies. And they have a plan.

Welcome to the Second Life Forums Archive

$100 Laptop, Cool