For $150, Third-World Laptop Stirs a Big Debate

[Rick Tomaschuk]

North America has so many 'obsolete' computers it seems a waste to send
them to China, etc. to be broken down for scrap when they could be used
in developing countries. $150 laptop??? How about an obsolete PIII for
$25.00 running Linux and a $10.00 obsolete monitor. Where is the $150
laptop now. Its a joke. Why does anyone need it???? I have a significant
amount of exposure to developing countries which I won't go into now but
let me say many of the people in non-war torn countries are quite
content not to have a McDonalds at every third street corner. They value
their way of life. Its business people who convince their politicians to
buy into the North American tread mill way of life.

RickT



On Thu, 2006-11-30 at 15:59 -0500, Colin McGregor wrote:
> --- Rick Tomaschuk <rickl-ZACYGPecefkm4kRHVhTciCwD8/FfD2ys at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> > I'm tired of solving the worlds problems while our
> > own country goes to
> > hell. Solving third world dilemmas while a noble
> > cause does little to
> > help me find work in and around Toronto. The list
> > server is the Toronto
> > Linux Users Group. I don't tie religious
> > associations with my business.
> > I simply observe what I see. As for 'bankers being
> > people too' so are
> > lawyers but I digress.
> > RickT
> 
> I trust you know the joke about how there are really
> nice, decent, reasonable lawyers, the problem being
> the 99.9% of lawyers who give the decent ones a bad
> name.
> 
> Regarding the OLPC  project, yes, there are is various
> bits of donated money that is helping the project
> along, but it should be pointed out that the bulk of
> the cash for this project is coming from the nations
> in question (i.e. Nigeria and its oil wealth). While
> yes, job hunting is a PAIN, the fact that a charity
> donates some $$ to this project doesn't seriously
> impact me one way or another. The technology used for
> this project is interesting, the goals pleasantly
> lofty, and the details entertaining (certainly a lot
> more entertaining than the latest movie actor/actress
> scandal). It is on the last point that I can live with
> the fact that in the end this project might cost me a
> few $ through taxes, I would see it as entertainment.
> If the project does achieve its goals (which might be
> a big if) then a richer/more intelligent world will be
> worth a few $.
> 
> Colin McGregor
> 
> > "Replacing desktops one PC at a time"
> > http://www.TorontoNUI.ca
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"Replacing desktops one PC at a time"
http://www.TorontoNUI.ca

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