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270

Support the OLPC idea!

270 points posted to Dell by l-roy 06/11/07

DELL should try to support this project in some way.
This project is the most modern approach to terminating intellectual
gaps between the 3rd world and the rest, in my

http://www.laptop.org/vision/index.shtml<

reg
06/11/07		 Modern way to convert free peoples into exploitable labor units for first world corporations.

So far they are too under educated to be used. Once they learn some more, they can start working for $3 / month.

The added bonus of erasing their culture and replacing it with western consumerism is just a freebie side effect.

Get those children in the 'pipeline' and soon they will be working in factories making sport shoes and plastic goods
for first world consumption.

Cynicism - If someone tells you they are doing something free for your own good, look for how they can profit from it.
A lot of so called 'third world' villages don't want your 'help', don't want your 'missionaries' and do not need your 'culture'.
l-roy
06/11/07		 then you should perhaps read a bit more about the project and how the fundamental idea of education
could be provided more efficiently to developing countries by enabling them to take part in modern
communication and global knowledge.
Is there one person not saying that the internet/digital networking is the most important invention of these
days? so way not allowing poorer peoples to take part?
it is fundamental to first spread knowledge then go into action.

would you wanna live in this modern world without a computer?
reg
06/11/07		 education? Or indoctrination and propaganda feeding?

Education is a work of humans, it need no technology to accomplish.

It is not about 'allow' it is more about 'require' - enslaved economic units.
Western Consumers are so deep in the pool they can no longer see the sewage they are swimming in...

How will a silly green looking laptop help people who live close to the land?

Better corporations stop destroying their way of life and allow them to continue living as they wish.
But they need 'taught' - to become useful tools to others...
l-roy
06/12/07		 you are right with some points. but the question is should a non-profit organisation do it,
or IBM together with microsoft? have your choice
reg
06/12/07		 The latest report on the news today: The USA will no longer be a technological leader.
Once all those other countries catch up - the USA will switch places and end up the biggest 3rd world nation,
perhaps even collapse under its own economic burden, just like the U.S.S.R.

Back to what is the USA good for? Wheat? Hollywood? What does the USA bring to sell to the world marketplace?
siriusfox
06/12/07		 How about we drop the OLPC, and instead take that money and let africa use decent sources of power, like Coal and Oil, instead of the highly inefficient solar. Or even better, allow the local peoples an easy way to get clean water. It'd do a a lot more than OLPC ever will.
reg
06/13/07		 Water - ya - it would be nice to have some water to drink.
l-roy
06/13/07		 that's right but the project is running and can't be stopped, so as i know us forum-geeks, we would probably
buy one OLPC for 250€ (and support the project with 100€)rather than donnating the money.

it just would be so much worse if a commercial company like MS would be the "dictator" of the new "market"
of raising the internet idea in the 3rd world.
reg
06/13/07		 and food.

food would be a nice thing to go with clean water.
jorge
11/17/07		 After reading some on this due to the current deal, I looked into the software:

OLPC Provided Software

Downloadable additional software

What do you think? I was expecting more educational software or are kids these days doing these activities already? what age? Anyone?
dwood
11/17/07		 Laptops per child is a waste. Those People need to have their own identities!

I agree completely with Reg. Giving a laptop isnt what is needed, what is needed is to develop water-cleaning places along rivers, proper sewage, let them farm in good years, send foo in bad years, buil places that stop the Saharas growth. let the people decide what they want!

Save Darfur, save elephants, dont Westernize them because then, truly bad things will happen. Support the Peace Corps, Eradicate Malaria. just DONT send them the laptops, because there are more urgent things that need be done.
jervis961
11/17/07		 I'm not impressed my 10 year old doesn't use most of that.
cosh
11/17/07		 I think the software could really use some work. It doesn't look as polished or user friendly as I thought it was supposed to be. And they do need some more education-y stuff. A science thing would be good - you know, a colorful, animated quiz for learning about the states of matter, photosynthesis, electricity, heat and energy, that sort of stuff (at a basic level). Much better than a cheap implementation of SimCity.
dwood
11/17/07		 After looking at the site. I decided that then Laptop per child thing is great- The children can learn at their terms, not the School's. That was the reason why I was upset.
jervis961
11/17/07		 I still like the look of it and the idea behind it. I just don't like the applications, very ugly with the stick figures and stuff. My kids would laugh at me if I gave them one of those. Maybe my kids aren't the target audience though.
jorge
11/17/07		 Well I also think there are not enough early age activities/learning software, I had assumed the target age was elementary age children. High school? I don't think so.

I also agree with dwood for that age (elementary) they really need to be learning the basics, I doubt not using a computer as a kid isn't going to haunt them later in life, sure at high school they will more appropriately use them and learn what they're for. I mean if a cell phone isn't already doing that, most of those countries already have cell phones, and I bet they are using the web interfaces as well if not playing games.

Who besides me, thinks adults will end up with some of them if not all of them? Those countries aren't known for being completely open when things are given to them, starting with food. I expect a African e-bay glut on them coming soon! Or some kind of e-mail spam scam. Hang on, here it comes!
sugarbear
11/17/07		 You are probably right jorge.
aikiwolfie
11/17/07		 I just have to say I think that machine looks awesome. I want them for my neices and nephews. Don't they do a buy two get one deal kinda thing?
jorge
11/17/07		 For a short time, starting last week I think. Better hurry! (it was why I was actually looking at it, determining its worthiness and well I think I'll pass for now)
sugarbear
11/17/07		 It`s buy one get one free. It`s $399.99
aikiwolfie
11/17/07		 No it's not. It's Buy one, Give one. And it's only in the US and Canada??? I would have paid the postage and packaging. I have like more neices and nephews than I can count. These people are stupid.
sugarbear
11/17/07		 That`s what I meant. I bought one and gave two.
aikiwolfie
11/17/07		 In fact I just counted. I have enough nieces and nephews to save the whole of the third world.
jorge
11/17/07		 You could give it to yourself.
aikiwolfie
11/17/07		 Um ... ok.
dwood
11/17/07		 whats the point of buying one/ Why not just send 2 over there instead?
aikiwolfie
11/17/07		 Because westerners don't get the point if they don't get something in return for their cash. It's like if you drop a penny in the tin you get a sticker.
jorge
11/17/07		 Play with it, be a kid again? Yea, I'd be taking it apart in a few minutes after getting one, gotta see whats inside.
aikiwolfie
11/17/07		 LOL!!! I always used to end up with spare bits. Never could figure that out.
sugarbear
11/17/07		 They don`t look sturdy enough for where they are going.
jorge
11/17/07		 Yea, nothing like checking out a YouTube video as a python (snake not the language) curls up next to you in the jungle, we won't get into the moisture content in that area of the jungle will we. Where is the power outlet in the jungle? Who's supplying the power to the out house featured school house? Yea, they'll get used by the poor in Africa...

I better start a OLPC pool on what is exactly going to happen to those things, there must be a profit in that!
aikiwolfie
11/17/07		 For where they are going? I don't think they're going to war zones. We can't even get food in there never mind laptops. Besides there's no moving parts inside. Very little to break or go wrong.
jorge
11/17/07		 Thats what people said about my Coleco Head to Head Football game, it busted...
aikiwolfie
11/17/07		 But you took a screw driver to it and when that didn't work you used a hammer!
jorge
11/17/07		 No, I still have it, the buttons wore down, I did solder new contacts but its not the same...
jervis961
11/18/07		 Ah the Coleco head2head Football game. Good times, good times.
dwood
11/18/07		 the old blinking lights one?
ah1f
11/28/07		 What do they use to charge the things in villages without electricity?
jorge
11/29/07		 Nigerians sue OLPC

Justice? Ironic? Or just plain dumb, how are they getting money off OLPC?
dwood
11/29/07		 Bloodsucking Patent Trolls.
aikiwolfie
11/29/07		 I can see the company holding the patent not doing much business for awhile. Suing outfits like OLPC doesn't go down well with people. A particularly dumb move.
dwood
11/30/07		 Nigeria is the country of scams, fyi.
aikiwolfie
11/30/07		 There scams are so infamous I'm amazed people still fall for them. But they do. I guess stranger things have happened.
 
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