Yes there is a huge difference, which is the point of most non-Microsoft technological initiatives in this area - the $100 laptop is open source. It's also the reason that MIT turned down Apple's offer to provide their OS. I'm sure others on this list are writing right now with the same comment.
And no, the $100 laptop debate does not belong in this thread, beyond that distinction. Thanks Dave On 12/9/05, Cindy Lemcke-Hoong <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Moral of the story: > > Is there any difference between Microsoft vs the famous 100$ lap-top? > > One should ask the same question on that 100 million lap-top order: who > gets to manufacture them? who gets pay at the MIT lab, where are the > researchers and technical experts located?? Who's citizen actually benefit > from all these? > > There are more stories of 'strings' . But if I do list them, I am sure > someone would tell me they do not belong to this discussions ... > > Cindy > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Michael Maranda <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: That is an unfortunate story. > But it raises a general question of how we > relate to technology and to funders and donors who are in our sector. We > want resources to do what we think is needed in our commnities or in policy > work related to technology. We need the courage to accept resources that > fit our colleective values. Even if a particular gift comes to one of us > without such strings attached, what does it say when we accept resources > from entities that practice their "philanthropy" in this manner? > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kris Dev > Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2005 10:33 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [DDN] Fwd: [GKD] Microsoft Donations: Roses with Thorns? > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Augusta Molnar < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Dec 8, 2005 6:26 AM > Subject: [GKD] Microsoft Donations: Roses with Thorns? > To: gkd@milhouse.edc.org > > Dear GKD Members, > > I am writing from Oaxaca, Mexico where I am visiting communities in the > highlands. They have been beneficiaries of a very cool project financed in > part by the Gates foundation to install a wireless connection and a set of > computers for the schools. We are working on a network in the Latin America > region for communities for which we use by preference FireFox as our > browser. We suggested they try this browser as Explorer was causing > problems, and discovered to our surprise that the Gates foundation "gift" > comes with tags. > > The computer network does not allow any of the users of the donated > computers to install any software not owned by Microsoft, even any open > source software. The network within which the computers reside will not > allow any individual computers to download software to install, ostensibly > to prevent viruses and incompatible software from jeopardizing the Microsoft > system. > > These are computers installed for educational purposes in a number of > telecenters in the public libraries in Mexico for all the young students > preparing for a global world. These computers are therefore their only > affordable access to the Internet and to learning about computers and > programs. A significant number of them will leave this town to work at least > part of their life elsewhere in Mexico or in the U.S. Their work and career > opportunities will depend upon their skills and preparedness. > > I am reminded of my youth, working in the vicinity of USAID programs which > only purchased American-made cars shipped to remote corners of Asia for > irrigation projects, etc., because the tied money only allowed US bids. > (Ever try to blow up a pneumatic truck tire with a bicycle pump in a small > town in Asia? ) > > Is this standard Gates foundation policies?????? Is this type of tag > allowed?? > > Interested to hear from those of you who are more knowledgeable on this > point. > > > Augusta Molnar > Director, Community and Markets Program > Forest Trends > 1050 Potomac Street NW > Washington, D.C. 20007 > Phone: 202 298-3006 > Fax: 202 298-3014 > www.forest-trends.org > > > > > ------------ > ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a > message, send it to: < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a > message to: . In the 1st line of the message type: > subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can > be found at: > _______________________________________________ > DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list > DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org > http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide > To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with > the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. > > > > _______________________________________________ > DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list > DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org > http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide > To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE > in the body of the message. > > > > > ============= > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > _______________________________________________ > DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list > DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org > http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide > To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE > in the body of the message. > -- The Daily Glyph http://www.gomaya.com/glyph Usumacinta http://www.gomaya.com/dams Cell 917 312 9733 _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
