That it is more robust certainly is nice. However, the fact that infrastructure development is robbed by a well marketed feature filled (narrated below) *product* does not mean that it will solve anything. Odd that the iPhone was brought up - it has had such good marketing that people are buying it even in areas where the features don't work.
If that's not corporate success, I don't know what is. But we're not talking about corporate success.... or are we? It seems to me that the mission of education and the closing of the digital divide have different goals when compared to corporate interests. The proof will be in the pudding. I'd like to hear success in any way, but I am fairly certain that the successes will mainly be seen in areas that... already have the necessary infrastructure in place. And in the long term, I have sincere doubts as to whether the OLPC will create employment for people once they do become computer literate in the context of the OLPC - or outside of the context. Good technology, but I seriously question the use of it. Satish Jha wrote: > Magda, > > There is a bit of difference between making a PC and a learning PC for > children. What we know as OLPC, without a dozen feature it has that do not > come bundled with any other laptop, can be manufactured below $100. But add > ruggedness, no moving parts, mesh networking, dual boot system, a screen > that works well under the sun, a keyboard that is spill proof, a built in > camera, a swiveling screen and an e-book feature and we are talking a > serious package. retaining costs at $200 after adding all that narrated > above and more is a feat in itself.. So OLPC is no ordinary laptop and the > next version will be to laptops what i-phone is to cell phones and for > less.. That said, we should encourage every initiative to reduce costs as > the lower price points will undoubtedly increase the reach of computing, > opening every newer frontier with drop in prices.. > -- Taran Rampersad [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.knowprose.com http://www.your2ndplace.com http://www.opendepth.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/knowprose/ "Criticize by Creating" - Michelangelo "The present is theirs; the future, for which I really worked, is mine." - Nikola Tesla _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
