We blogged a few years ago about the 100 dollar computer, and how it will revolutionize 3rd World life. I was skeptical then.
Well, the 100 dollar computer is back in the news. For 150 dollars. Guess what?
Giving kids (I thnk back then we thought it would somehow help farmers) in the 3rd world really cheap computers is still pretty worthless.
So what about the article makes you think the XO is worthless?
Comment #1 :: link :: January 4, 2007 2:55 PMmainly that the no one has really come up with a great application that can run on such a machine that fills a need that can't be filled by existing, cheaper technologies. Books, pencils, paper, tv and radio can all be used more efficiently in the Third World than a computer.
Comment #2 :: link :: January 4, 2007 3:42 PMWell, the article says the machines have web browsers. And other articles I've read indicate they'll be able to connect to the internet. If these kids have no access to large libraries, then the internet will be a pretty amazing resource, I think. (With the caveat that the kids are taught how to distinguish reliable web sites from not-so-reliable ones -- but that's needed for books, too.)
Comment #3 :: link :: January 8, 2007 9:30 PMYeah, maybe. As the goatse guy says in the story just below this:
>I don't know why we didn't think this through in the early stages of Internet, but the fact is so obvious that to hear it makes you think you always knew it: the pipes can back up sewage. The same open door that gives you a world of knowledge and communication is also a piping hot shit-gun of horror.
So maybe a $150 computer that comes with its own little guardian angel to put on your shoulder would be a better idea.
Comment #4 :: link :: January 8, 2007 10:24 PM
