Negroponte’s laptop finally in production

[Daniel ~]

Originally Posted by dsio

I've uploaded a Documentary all about Free and Open Source Software, and Linux as its being used in developing countries to bring the third world into the 21st century.

Negroponte makes an appearance along with many others. The description from AOAFiles:



300MB in DivX format. Well worth watching and very interesting.

That really was quite interesting! Gave me more reason to believe MS has no future in the Desktop market...Unless it wises up and starts treating it's OS like a Free Web browser and basically goes open source and adopts their model...hey it's a good model, it will work even for MS...

I found the argument concerning complexity a new and interesting one...Having nothing they need to hide, open source can encourage as many people who want to, to work on a problem. It seems organic.... the more urgent the problem, the more prevaseive, the more people who will be willing to spend their time working on it...yes?

Suns Mirco's remarks about realizing it's better to work in the open with it's partners on code right from the get go... this thinking prevents companies from spending millions on developing software no one wants!

Would ayone less stary-eyed care to comment? LOL

[dsio]

In the developing countries its two major factors, cost and flexibility.

Cost wise, if you're buying a quad core extreme edition from Dell or Alienware, then paying $250-$1000 for a windows license, and similar money for an Office license isn't a big deal.

If you're talking OLPC, or as they showed in that video, recycled older computers (they were using Pentium 3 generation hardware in some african countries, which really isn't that slow at all) you're paying $0-$100 for the hardware, and the software ends up being several times the price of the machine.

In Brazil the choice was simple, have half as many computers running windows, or twice as many computers running open source software.

The other thing is the flexibility, and forreign language support. Brazil has its own educational distro and its own mainstream distro of linux, customized for local language and culture. Microsoft doesn't make "Vista for Brazilians", neither does it make "Vista for Africa".

I found the initiatives there very interesting.

[danrok]

Sounds like OLPC are making a right mess of this:

The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) XO project has suffered another blow to its once-spotless image: Complaints over delivery delays for U.S. shipments and account mismanagement are leading some donors to ask for their money back. For a non-profit organization seeking to impact the educational disparity of children worldwide with its approachable gadget, the stream of donor complaints is another sign the noble business is sadly going off the tracks.

The Heartbreak Continues: OLPC Suffers Delivery Delays and Account Problems | Gadget Lab from Wired.com

[cloasters]

This news gives me considerable pause. Perhaps we should wait before asking our Members for further donations?

[Daniel ~]

Originally Posted by dsio

In the developing countries its two major factors, cost and flexibility.

Cost wise, if you're buying a quad core extreme edition from Dell or Alienware, then paying $250-$1000 for a windows license, and similar money for an Office license isn't a big deal.

If you're talking OLPC, or as they showed in that video, recycled older computers (they were using Pentium 3 generation hardware in some african countries, which really isn't that slow at all) you're paying $0-$100 for the hardware, and the software ends up being several times the price of the machine.

In Brazil the choice was simple, have half as many computers running windows, or twice as many computers running open source software.

The other thing is the flexibility, and forreign language support. Brazil has its own educational distro and its own mainstream distro of linux, customized for local language and culture. Microsoft doesn't make "Vista for Brazilians", neither does it make "Vista for Africa".

I found the initiatives there very interesting.

Weather or not they know it this is MS' worst nightmare, millions upon millions learning to program in Linux...for a linux community..

[Daniel ~]

Originally Posted by cloasters

This news gives me considerable pause. Perhaps we should wait before asking our Members for further donations?

They are new at this. There is nothing to indicate malfeasance, only a degree of incompetence bronght on by inexperence. I see every reason to hope they will in time correct this defect... bound to have a bit of a cooling effect though...

[cloasters]

Enthusiasm check. Maybe it's time to get this program going again?

[Daniel ~]

I'd like to hear what our past contributors think.... Personally I have no regrets, Negroponte pioneered this and got the ball rolling... But I'm not altogether convinced that, at this moment in time, this is the best way to make our good intentions a reality for others...

I Guess I'd like to know what you guys think is the best way to get lap tops into 2nd and 3rd world hands at the present?

[Gizmo]

We currently have $79.23 in the PayPal account. That leaves us $120.77 short of another laptop. I can't ethically do anything else with this money and I really don't want to just let PayPal have it forever. How about 12 of us come up with $10 each?

[danrok]

I'll chip in with $20 now...

And, I've put a reminder up on the front page.

[ccperf721p]

I have a few extra in the bank so I will throw $20 in.

If everyone just did a little alot would happen.

[danrok]

Couple of photos of the end result, lifted from One Laptop per Child Foundation, Invest your money and your time - OLPC Foundation

[cloasters]

Small donations will really help. What about me? I already made a significant contribution. When we have our third machine on the way to a deserving kid, contributors will feel very good about themselves!

[robbie]

Originally Posted by Gizmo

We currently have $79.23 in the PayPal account. That leaves us $120.77 short of another laptop. I can't ethically do anything else with this money and I really don't want to just let PayPal have it forever. How about 12 of us come up with $10 each?

I'll cough up some doe. My "other hobby" seems to be eating up alot of it as of late. (stupid RC CAR!)

Should I cut Giz a check? Or Dan?

[Gizmo]

Send it to me, as I'll need to transfer the funds to the PayPal account anyway.

[cloasters]

If we can get donations to equal the $200 needed to send OLPC Number Three life will improve in a sweltering jungle or windswept plane. We're getting closer!

[Gizmo]

We have purchased our third laptop.

Confirmation number: 1L6463795Y9834939

Thanks to all those who have donated.