Read more.Microsoft's ambition to have every low-cost laptop running its XP operating system takes another step forward.
Read more.Microsoft's ambition to have every low-cost laptop running its XP operating system takes another step forward.
note: does not support mesh networking, forcing people in XO installations in poor areas to have a full wireless infrastructure
note: does not fit on XO disk, forcing use of an SD card (with extra contacts to get damaged in dusty environments)
note: does not use special "sugar" UI which encourages kids to tinker and learn, instead is normal XP
the XO is not, and never was, a technology project. it was an education project - more akin to shipping textbooks and writing materials
and now, through microsoft's involvement, poor kids in ethiopia will be able to jump onto the wireless in their local starbucks whilst sipping a latte, and have msn webcam conversations with their buddies in california. yippee.
The OLPC scheme is a bloody stupid one any way.
How about spending the money on infrastructure, farming, water, fraking schools for the kids to actually be students at!
But no its fine because every child will have a laptop, now all we need is every kid to have the electricity to power the bloody thing![]()
that's the idea behind the hand crank for charging
of course, you're right on many levels - for poverty-stricken countries to prosper, they DO need things like decent infrastructure. but how are those things going to be paid for and maintained? give a man a fish, etc etc etc. the idea with the olpc project is to get kids educated - and with an educated workforce, poor countries will actually be able to build up its own infrastructure, via global trade in valuable resources like skilled people. no farmer with a share in the village cow is going to afford to put in a comprehensive sewerage system
“Now I have the handpump, I have more time to weave because it doesn’t take me so long to collect water.”
Kironbala Tonchanjgya, from Debarchari, Bangladesh.
This is from WaterAid, who can supply such a pump for £50 ($100), which seems a bargain compared to a laptop. Note the direct economic benefit, not just the potential for such benefits in many years time.
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