Just focused on this thread. Are you saying these laptops wouldn't be so
good, nor much of a deal, for someone here, say who otherwise couldn't
afford a computer? I ask, because it occurs that this might create an
opportunity to kill 2 birds with one stone if individuals or other funding
sources (maybe foundations, for example) would be willing to buy 2, one for
a poor child in 3rd world country, one for either a poor child or poor adult
in this country. I have a particular interest in helping poor, disabled
(including mental health disabilities) adults become empowered by getting on
the right side of the digital divide. So, for instance, I could approach
disability/mental health agencies or government funders related to this to
pay for some of the domestic donation costs. I assume the donations would
be tax-deductible, so another incentive.
A few years ago I researched and found a few programs that donate laptops to
poor and/or disabled in this country, but seemed pretty limited. Talked a
guy at Dell into passing on a similar idea to higher-ups at Dell, but later
he said it didn't go anywhere.
Otherwise, I'm not sure much is being done about the digital divide in this
country, and suspect it may even be growing wider, as the poor are
continuously getting poorer, thanks to things like very flawed inflation
measure (CPI) used for adjusting cost of living increases in programs like
Social Security and Disability (yes, Bush is not the sole cause of
irrational and unfair policies, as many seem to believe). Further, IMO, it
will be increasingly important for the poor and poor-disabled (talking tens
of millions) to at least have computers and be online, just to function.
If, say, you are homeless, but can use a laptop at a wireless cafe, you can
look for work, get benefits, just communicate. "Case management" as
traditionally practiced could also be transformed, something I'm working on
indirectly for now. And much, much, else - limited, as always, only by our
imagination (and willingness to maybe cough up a relatively few dollars).
Randall
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rev. Stewart Marshall" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:39 PM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] One laptop per child: give one and get one
No they have upped the price because they are not getting the discount and
they are not creating the volume they had hoped for.
The one web site I posted last night discussed this.
The countries he is trying to get behind this want a proven product before
they will commit, and will not commit for the numbers he wanted initially.
These are not your everyday laptops and they are not made for higher
education purposes.
They are purposely made for remote, poor, third world countries and such.
Good idea maybe not as well thought out as it should be.
But a good first start.
Stewart
At 08:17 PM 9/25/2007, you wrote:
Or they have made the price infinitely higher in case you pay $400 and
donate both of them.
--
John DeCarlo, My Views Are My Own
Rev. Stewart A. Marshall
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Prince of Peace
Ozark, AL SL 82
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