From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Nov 13 14:15:56 2007 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 9448016A418 for ; Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:15:56 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from bsilver@chrononomicon.com) Received: from trans-warp.net (hyperion.trans-warp.net [216.37.208.37]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 3B81013C4AA for ; Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:15:55 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from bsilver@chrononomicon.com) Received: from [127.0.0.1] (unverified [65.193.73.208]) by trans-warp.net (SurgeMail 3.8f2) with ESMTP id 142743054-1860479 for ; Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:15:40 -0500 Message-ID: <4739B18E.70005@chrononomicon.com> Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:15:42 -0500 From: Bart Silverstrim User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.6 (X11/20071022) MIME-Version: 1.0 CC: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org References: <20071111195501.46d58539@p4> <4739AC34.4060806@gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <4739AC34.4060806@gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Authenticated-User: bsilver@chrononomicon.com Subject: Re: One Laptop Per Child X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:15:56 -0000 Rob wrote: >> I am usually not the one to bring up these things but I feel very >> strongly about this. Starting Monday, November 12 this website is >> offering a give one get one deal. I believe the money will be well >> invested. YMMV >> http://xogiving.org/ > > I have to agree with many posters, this project is the most seriously > misdirected, biggest crock of shit I've heard of in years. > > We're talkin' people in 3rd world conditions, without basic essentials > of life, and some idiot wants to give them COMPUTERS?!?!? WFT? Where > are they gonna get electricity to charge them, instruction in use, > repair, software updates, etc. And they don't have toilet paper, so all > the keys on the left half are gonna go bad! Have you read the articles on OLPC? They're made to run on very low power. They have batteries that can be crank-charged quickly, or run off small solar panels. Somehow I don't think they're short on sunlight there. The laptopgiving.org site states that it operates up to 2,000 recharge cycles and can be charged by crank, pedal, pullcord, or solar panel. It's not like they're shipping off-the-shelf laptops to them. While there are plenty of problems for these kids, the OLPC project is a way to try to help with education and interaction. The units work with a type of automatic mesh network. As I understand it, if one gets access to the Internet, they all can route to it, but even if not they connect to each other for social and collaborative applications. Just because there are many third-world countries out there doesn't mean that someone can't try something to improve things. Maybe it'll fail miserably. Maybe it'll help give a boost to the conditions of the education system. It's worse that you're in a place where you have plenty of access to education and information and you didn't bother to look up how the XO works before bashing it on the forums.