Intel - stopping poor children from getting computers

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I think this is another american attempt at trying to force their cuture down another cultures throats the same way we are doing in the middle east with giving the Iraqis democracy. What is a third world peasant going to do with a computer???????????? They want food, and a better shelter! Not windows vista with a computer barely powerfull enough to play solitare.
 
Alex

Like the project or NOT - The fact is it may educate some. If this happens then things like democracy happen all by themselves.

If it educates even a few (like the village geek/s :)) then it is worth it.

Propaganda carries with it some potency. When you give people a means to maybe read beyond it they may learn some truths. Many issues in the world like racism, or oppression for reasons of religion, race, color, location, rights (such as water, food, money...) can be solved by education.

Geographical separation has been an issue as well. Since data carried in old fashioned methods sometimes becomes suspect (just as data in these forums sometimes:)). Beliefs, hatred, discourse are all very well/easily bred in the uneducated.
 
Why do you think China specifically monitors/restricts the entire internet coming into the country?

If knowledge that something different could exist, that too becomes very powerful. It is likely that some of these countries will slow roll these OLPCs even if they do purchase them. That way they can also get a restrictive/censored environment up and running.

Knowledge is power and you can not have the people seeing they are not being cared for as they would wish. Especially when they may now know that they could have been.

China was at least smart. If you look back you will see that a few things helped bring down some walls of communism. Pepsi, Coke, Levi Jeans, and MTV. Believe it or not these things were very influential to the sudo demise of communism in Russia. Teenagers were filmed raising their hands (when they were finally able to) for MTV and for Coke and Levis like they saw on MTV.

Funny how something so small could have such a big impact. :)
 
Do you have any proof to back up that bunch of bullshit you call a post?
Click to expand...
www.laptop.org/
http://www.classmatepc.com/

Do you have any specific counter arguments or accusations of inaccuracy that you would like me to address? Your ignorance is not proof of my incorrectness.

The intel laptop is not cheaper than the OLPC laptop, it does not have an integrated mesh router, it does not use durable batteries, and it does not have a rugged dust and water-resistant design and when OLPC was getting started Intel was busy trying to get Prescott to run at 4ghz. Exactly what are you debating here?

How many times in this thread has some moron said "but if intel competes with them and offers a better laptop for cheaper that's good for the children"? Look up the specs yourself. It's not better and it's not cheaper. Oh, and it comes with TPM ensuring that governments can control student's machines (just what the developing world needs). And a runtime of 4 hours (compared to the up to 12 that an OLPC can get in certain modes).

The "fact" of the matter is that a whole bunch of people posted BS here without even knowing anything about OLPC project or the Classmate laptop. They made some loose assumptions and applied grade school level "capitalism is always right" economic theory to justify what's going on.

It appears very much like intel when from not being interested int he project to giving away a few laptops (very few. 25 for brazil) at a time when the OLPC project needs to secure large orders to get their volume up to bring the price down to move into the second phase of their mission. The packed a laptop up with a 900mhz CPU and 256mb of RAM so it could run WinXP... something OLPC has been against since the beginning. And they failed to meet a whole host of design goals that are openly published, discussed, and specced out on the OLPC website. This doesn't make sense! Intel can't build a better laptop than a crappy non-profit project that doesn't even have in-house chip development and takes years to get into production?!?! Well, the two most obvious reasons for these shortcomings woud be:
1. They never heard of the OLPC project and/or were too stupid to accomplish those design goals. This seems unlikely.
2. They want to run the PC industry in the developing world the same way they do here so they had to block OLPC before people got used to the idea that laptops are cheap, run all day, and last years without maintenance in harsh environments.

I just hope the participants of the Classmate pilot projects come to conclusions along the lines of: Wow, computers are pretty cool but I really wish it would run longer and have better wireless network connectivity.

You don't like economics and polotics? Fine. Hardware is what we're all about, so lets stick to that. Look at what's in them. The difference in philosophy is blindingly obvious.
OLPC XO
* Graphics Controller: Integrated with Geode CPU; unified memory architecture

Enlarge

Physical dimensions:

* Dimensions: 242mm × 228mm × 30mm (approximate, subject to change)
* Weight: Less than 1.5 kg (target only — subject to change)
* Configuration: Convertible laptop with pivoting, reversible display; dirt and moisture resistant system enclosure

Core electronics:

* CPU: AMD Geode LX-700@0.8W (datasheet)
* CPU clock speed: 433 MHz
* Compatibility: Athlon instruction set (including MMX and 3DNow! Enhanced) with additional Geode-specific instructions
* North Bridge: PCI and Memory Interface integrated with Geode CPUhttp://www.amd.com/us-en/ConnectivitySolutions/ProductInformation/0,,50_2330_9863_13022%5E13073,00.html
* Graphics Controller: Integrated with Geode CPU, using a unified memory architecture
* South Bridge: AMD CS5536 (datasheet)
* DRAM memory: 256 MiB dynamic RAM
o Data rate: Dual – DDR333 – 166 MHz
* BIOS: 1024 KB SPI-interface flash ROM; LinuxBIOS open-source BIOS; Open Firmware bootloader
* Mass storage: 1024 MiB SLC NAND flash, high speed flash controller
* Drives: No rotating media
* Embedded Controller: ENE KB3700: Image:KB3700-ds-01.pdf

Prototype-A Motherboard
Enlarge
Prototype-A Motherboard

Display:

* Liquid-crystal display: 7.5” Dual-mode TFT display
* Viewing area: 152.4 mm × 114.3 mm
* Resolution: 1200 (H) × 900 (V) resolution (200 dpi)
* Mono display: High-resolution, reflective monochrome mode
* Color display: 800 (H) x 600 (V) or greater transmissive color mode
* Power Consumption: 0.1 Watt with backlight off; 0.2-1.0 Watt with backlight on
* The DCON - Display Controller chip with memory that enables the display to remain live with the processor suspended. The display and this chip are the basis of our extremely low power architecture. The machine is usable and relaying mesh networking traffic while the CPU and much of the motherboard is regularly turned off. The display controller chip also enables deswizzling and anti-aliasing in color mode. You can examine this photograph of the display (it looks even nicer in person; photographing a display is remarkably difficult).

Note: web browser images are currently scaled up so that an image of very roughly [800x600] fills up the browser window.

eToys (Squeak)running on the OLPC display
Enlarge
eToys (Squeak)running on the OLPC display

Integrated peripherals:

* Keyboard: 70+ keys, 1.2mm stroke; sealed rubber-membrane key-switch assembly
o Keyboard Layouts
o Layout pictures (for B3)- US International, Thai, Arabic, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Nigeria, Urdu, French
* Cursor-control keys: five-key cursor-control pad; four directional keys plus Enter
* Touchpad: ALPS Electric Dual capacitance/resistive touchpad; supports written-input mode
* Audio: Analog Devices AD1888, AC97-compatible audio codec; stereo, with dual internal speakers; monophonic, with internal microphone and using the Analog Devices SSM2302 for audio amplification

Keyboard detail
Enlarge
Keyboard detail

* Wireless: Marvell Libertas 88W8388+88W8015, 802.11b/g compatible; dual adjustable, rotating coaxial antennas; supports diversity reception
* Status indicators: Power, battery, WiFi; visible lid open or closed
* Video camera: 640x480 resolution, 30FPS, Omnivision OV7670. The camera and device driver support disabling AGC and automatic color balancing, to enable its use as a photometric sensor for educational applications.
* Independent and undefeatable by software display of microphone and camera recording status

External connectors:

* Power: 2-pin DC-input, 10 to 20 V usable input. Input can safely handle -40 to 39 V. input. Exceeding this range will likely blow a one-time fuse.
* Line output: Standard 3.5mm 3-pin switched stereo audio jack
* Microphone: Standard 3.5mm 2-pin switched mono microphone jack; selectable input mode:
o Sensor, DC w. 2.5 V (3K ohm impedance) bias voltage for switches, resistive sensors, etc.
o Sensor, DC w. no bias voltage for measuring voltages (0 - 3 V)
o External Microphone, AC w. bias voltage
* Expansion: 3 Type-A USB-2.0 connectors; MMC/SD Card slot
* Maximum power: 1 A (total)

Connectors
Enlarge
Connectors

Battery:

* Fully-enclosed “hard” case; user removable
* Pack type: 4 Cells, 6V series configuration
* Two chemistries:
o NIMH, with a capacity of 16.5 Watt-hours
o LiFeP, with a capacity of 22 Watt-hours
* Electronics integrated with pack provide:
o Identification
o Battery charge and capacity information
o Thermal and over-current sensors along with cutoff switch to protect battery
* Cycle life: Minimum 2,000 charge/discharge cycles (to 50% capacity of new, IIRC).
* Power Management will be critical

Battery
Enlarge
Battery

BIOS/loader:

* Open Firmware is used as the firmware, including hardware initialization and fast resume.

Environmental specifications:

* Temperature: somewhere in between typical laptop requirements and Mil spec; exact values have not been settled
* Humidity: Similar attitude to temperature. When closed, the unit should seal well enough that children walking to and from school need not fear rainstorms or dust.
* Altitude: -15m to 3048m (14.7 to 10.1 psia) (operating), -15m to 12192m (14.7 to 4.4 psia) (non-operating
* Shock: 125g, 2ms, half-sine (operating) 200g, 2ms, half-sine (non-operating)
* Random vibration: 0.75g zero-to-peak, 10Hz to 500Hz, 0.25 oct/min sweep rate (operating); 1.5g zero-to-peak, 10Hz to 500Hz, 0.5 oct/min sweep rate (nonoperating)
* 2mm plastic walls (1.3mm is typical for most systems).

Regulatory requirements:

* The usual US and EU EMI/EMC requirements will be met.
* The laptop and all OLPC-supplied accessories will be fully UL and is RoHS compliant.

http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Hardware_specification

Classmate
Chassis
Customized Mini Chassis 245x196x44
Processor
Intel® Mobile Processor ULV 900 MHz, Zero L2 cache, 400 MHz FSB
Chipset
Intel 915GMS + ICH6-M
Memory
DDR-II 256M SO-DIMM
LCD
7" 800 x 480, LVDS Interface, LED B/L
Storage Device
1GB/2GB NAND Flash
Audio
Stereo 2 Channel Audio, Built-in Speakers and Microphone, Jack for External Output and Microphone Input
LAN/WLAN
10/100M Ethernet + WLAN 802.11 b/g w/ Antenna
Keyboard
Integrated Keyboard with Hot Keys
Touch Pad
Cycle Touch Pad with Left and Right Buttons
Note Taker (optional)
Customized Note Taker with Wireless Pen
TPM
TPM1.2
Power Solution
Battery with Adapter – 6 Cells, approximately 4 hours Usage
Weight
Less than 1.3kg (aprox. 2.86 pounds)
http://www.classmatepc.com/classmatepc-system-hardware.html
 
Try reading all of the posts that relate to this particular discussion before you post. Your comment doesn't address anything that was said by chunkymonster or myself and therefore warrants no response. Nuff said.
 
maybe just a link to the "proof" and a couple of sentences would be better here
Click to expand...

www.google.com
stfu lern2search n00b

Like that?

Ok, ok, there was probably a happy middle ground xD I am deservedly scolded for being long-winded once again 😳
 
Hey guys, I've finally decided to post because this topic really sparked my interest, as someone who has visited the "third world" anyways...I recommend visiting http://www.classmatepc.com/contact_us.cfm
and letting Intel know what you think of the project they are undertaking. Be civil about it if you disagree, but be forceful as well, just a bunch of stupid fanboy ramblings won't make them change what they are doing, but if enough well informed emails are sent to them it might have an impact.

I don't believe they are doing it for the right reasons, as was mentioned earlier they could have gotten in on this and instead missed the boat. Also the developing world is still a large part of our globe. I don't see why Intel can't take it's laptop to another part of the globe so the two laptops could coexist. This is why I believe they are not genuine in what they are doing. Some of you might argue that is doesn't matter what intel's motives are, but to some of us it does. Motives are important, its not right for Intel or anyone else to squeeze out someone who has worked very hard to help children in developing nations. I have lost a lot of the respect I had for Intel when I heard about this. Competing with another large corporation is one thing, but this seems kind of low to me.

One last thing. The developing world does need a lot of things more than laptops, malaria still kills thousands in Africa each year, it kills more people than AIDS does. But this laptop is basically a free gift, and the advantage of having it over nothing has to be considered. If I recall this laptop isn't really aimed at the Ultra poor nations, but the ones who are similar to Iraq, (I'm sure this choice is debatable but they do have some technology there) where they are kind of in between being extremely poor and having some technology. I think this is where they will have the most impact.
 
2nd -- The object of the OLPC was to get a connected laptop to as many children as possible while keeping the price at the hoped for $100 mark. Intel has accomplished this. They are even cheaper than that of OLPC (atm).
Click to expand...
Er? I'm seeing prices in the $199-$550 range. Here's one source:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070503-asustek-to-launch-249-classmate-pc-in-july.html
Where are you seeing less than $170?

3rd -- Companies like AMD gain NOTHING from this :) Thats funny :) AMD NameSpace anyone? Of course they gain nothing from this. That is why they have Negroponte speak at their seminars for GLOBAL VISION. No nothing underhanded at all going on there. :) No name recognition in this space either. Just throw an estimated 2 Mill at a problem and you get the lead for the device to speak for you.
Click to expand...
OLPC is not branded. There's no AMD logo on it at all. They make some money selling Geode NB+GPU+CPU and a SB chip. If you go to classmatepc.com you see "sponsored by intel" and an advertisement for C2D right on the front page. If you go to laptop.org... is there an AMD logo anywhere? I didn't see one. So AMD will make some money if enough OLPCs are ordered but there is a significant difference in the marketing approach.
 
Has anyone here ever spent any time in these third world countries and work with these people?? In something other than government sponsored trip or a vacation. I am lucky enough or some would say unlucky to have work in some of these countries and talked to the people that actually live and work in these countries. Have any of you people?? I can tell you one thing that a laptop is the last thing these children need. how are they going to use it when they do not have power or it is only on for a few hours a day??? All this is, is a publicity stunt by everyone and a feel good about your self project. When I see projects like this it makes me laugh and then I see people talking about it and argue that have never left the USA and really know nothing about how conditions are in these countries. I can think of a lot of ways to help these people other than something like this. How about spending money to help build factories so the people can work… Instead of giving them something. That will last about one day until they sell them to buy food or something like this. We are talking about children that will take a piece of hard candy and lick it a few times to make it last for several days instead of putting it in there mouth like we do they hold it in hand and lick it and then wrap it back in paper.

There is nothing wrong with Intel, AMD or any other company or individual making money and a profit. This is all any of us want to do. I work because I make a profit my company pays me for the service I provide them so this is my profit. If I help the company make a profit I will make more money and this is what I and anyone that has ever had to work for a living wants to do. I was not born rich and have work and struggled to get where I am nothing was given to me and I do not think it should have been. Just like we do not need to give these people a stupid laptop PC. Need to help provide jobs so they can do what they want and need to do on there own. Do you people have any idea of the poverty and conditions 99% of these people live in??? I am not talking about the poor the governments show us or the reporters it is so much worse that you can ever imagine. Things we take for granted like water, power, phone and internet is a luxury for these people. I think before any of you people criticize any of these companies or the USA you should kiss the ground you walk on because these companies making a profit is what this great country was built on. That and freedom of choice. You people do not know how spoiled we are in USA..
 
Try reading all of the posts that relate to this particular discussion before you post. Your comment doesn't address anything that was said by chunkymonster or myself and therefore warrants no response. Nuff said.
Click to expand...
Actually I posted in direct response to something you said. For someone who blatantly stated that you don't care about the project it's not surprising that you didn't know that one of the main people running the the project collects no salary from the OLPC not-for-profit organization. What is surprising is that you posted about it anyway .

If the big epiphany you want to share with us is that some non-profit organizations have employees with impressively large salaries why don't you just say that and then admit that you don't know anything about the OLPC project or what salaries are being paid to persons working for it? "Some other non profits are corrupt therefore OLPC probably is too. Prove that they aren't."??? Some people seem to need a remedial lesson in how burden of proof works. I could bring up quite a bit of evidence to to show that they aren't corrupt but first why don't you prove to me that you aren't Satan?


There is no gift greater than education. All the malaria and HIV medicine in the world won't change Africa. We've already exported billions of doses to them for at great expense to us. Education and communication has a clear potential to change the situation entirely and it would as evidenced by every other society in the history of the world that gained access to quality education and communication tools. Unfortunately these tools are wasted on some who feel the need to to bash topics they openly admit they haven't any interest in actually being knowledgeable in.
 
That would be the case if this hadn't decayed down to another AMD Vs Intel battle and how absolutely evil Intel is and how they secretly work for Satan and making money is the greatest of great evils.

what the hell is wrong with making money????? and you must like making money as you are using a pc and are on this forum so either you or YOUR PARENTS like making money.
 
Has anyone here ever spent any time in these third world countries and work with these people?? In something other than government sponsored trip or a vacation. I am lucky enough or some would say unlucky to have work in some of these countries and talked to the people that actually live and work in these countries. Have any of you people?? I can tell you one thing that a laptop is the last thing these children need. how are they going to use it when they do not have power or it is only on for a few hours a day???
Click to expand...

OLPC was designed to work in these kind of situations. read up: www.laptop.org
It can safely accept something like -15 to 49v safely and charge off off like 10-20v. This means that very crude power sources can be used to charge it. It runs up to 12hours off a 4cell battery. 1 hour/day of electricity would be enough to use the laptop for many hours per day and alternative energy sources would be highly feasible due to the efficient design of the energy consumption, charging, and storage characteristics that were design goals from OLPC's inception several years ago. A ~$50 "car alternator with a hand crank on it" really could be used to keep multiple laptops running (probably not very conducive to schoolwork but it would work).

This is not a regular laptop.
 
Has anyone here ever spent any time in these third world countries and work with these people?? In something other than government sponsored trip or a vacation. I am lucky enough or some would say unlucky to have work in some of these countries and talked to the people that actually live and work in these countries. Have any of you people?? I can tell you one thing that a laptop is the last thing these children need. how are they going to use it when they do not have power or it is only on for a few hours a day???
Click to expand...

OLPC was designed to work in these kind of situations. read up: www.laptop.org
It can safely accept something like -15 to 49v safely and charge off off like 10-20v. This means that very crude power sources can be used to charge it. It runs up to 12hours off a 4cell battery. 1 hour/day of electricity would be enough to use the laptop for many hours per day and alternative energy sources would be highly feasible due to the efficient design of the energy consumption, charging, and storage characteristics that were design goals from OLPC's inception several years ago. A ~$50 "car alternator with a hand crank on it" really could be used to keep multiple laptops running (probably not very conducive to schoolwork but it would work).

This is not a regular laptop.





Again I ask have you ever been in any of these countries and spent time with the people??? What good is a laptop PC to someone that has no food?? and if we age going to give them a car alternator to power this we are going to have to send this to them also.. And teach how to use it.. These are wonderful people and most are so smart and hard workers. what is needed is to spend this money helping provide work and a job for these parents so they can provide for there children instead of teaching that you should be given things. Again I say all this program is is a feel good so that they can say look at me and what i have done. It dose not matter if it acutally dose any good or makes any since in real world!!!
 
Cutting down most of the foolishness, the laptops are about the same.
Click to expand...

They have the same amount of ram and the difference is processing power probably isn't that big (especially not compared to what we are accustomed to). Is that your point? If so you've missed the point.

up to 4 hours runtime
vs.
up to 12hours

18month battery that is sensitive to proper charging and discharging
vs.
3+ years battery that is far less sensative

power source that must be within ~2v
vs.
power source of 10-20v

802.11g card
vs.
independent integrated 802.11g compatible mesh router

Typical laptop case with a carrying handle bolted to it
vs.
rugged element resistant case with integrated handle

no camera or microphone
vs.
integrated camera and microphone

One of these is usable in an environment without reliable electricity or network infrastructure. One of them isn't. One of them will last for several years. One of them won't. One of them has three distinct additional features that turn it into a full-fledged communication device. The other doesn't. Which of these differences am I foolishly overstating the importance of?

Now that they've been upgraded to 256mb of RAM I want one (the B2 test unit only had 128mb, RAM market has changed a lot since then though).
 
Try reading all of the posts that relate to this particular discussion before you post. Your comment doesn't address anything that was said by chunkymonster or myself and therefore warrants no response. Nuff said.
Click to expand...
Actually I posted in direct response to something you said. For someone who blatantly stated that you don't care about the project it's not surprising that you didn't know that one of the main people running the the project collects no salary from the OLPC not-for-profit organization. What is surprising is that you posted about it anyway .

If the big epiphany you want to share with us is that some non-profit organizations have employees with impressively large salaries why don't you just say that and then admit that you don't know anything about the OLPC project or what salaries are being paid to persons working for it? "Some other non profits are corrupt therefore OLPC probably is too. Prove that they aren't."??? Some people seem to need a remedial lesson in how burden of proof works. I could bring up quite a bit of evidence to to show that they aren't corrupt but first why don't you prove to me that you aren't Satan?




Simple Satan isn't real.

Really full disclosure is the answer here. Most not for profit organization have employee that are compensated quite well particularly at the top. My take is without voluntary disclosure of compensation you have something you rather not have others to see.
 
Some of you totally piss me off, It disappoints when people get emotional and blast Intel. First of all the title it further clarifies what I said, second to insult those because they don't agree with you is total bullshit and ignorant.

Here is my opinion on all this, Intel is a company and you make money on a business or a company so grow up. what Intel did I don't see it as harming children in any way and you know that it offers a better alternative no matter what Intel's intentions are, just focus of the end result you got poor kids getting educated. But what I am seeing are "stupid" AMD fanatics bashing Intel only because of the AMD vs. Intel issue. You know at the bottom of your heart you don't hate Intel because of this lie that they are taking away computers from little kids you hate them because, you have a loyalty to AMD which is disturbing. Yeah I called some of you "stupid" but you know realize why and for right reasons as well. The fella who started this has the right intentions, but don't label him as a victim after all his concept will come true with Intel offering a better deal, and the fella is getting money if you research just cause it says non-profit it does not mean they aren't in it for the money most of the people on top of these companies are wealthy and are millionaires also.

This all has to do with superiority, obviously AMD is considered an underdog so its common to see immature people pick sides with a company because of their underdog status and go as far as to say AMD is holy and Intel works with satan.

This is a business both are in it for the money if AMD had the cash they would try to thrash Intel at any opportunity, if you disagree then you need to educate yourself further. Get smart if you really care then play your part in helping your brothers and sister don't say you support them play an active role and help. Go out once a week or once a month volunteer at a elderly facility, so drop these primitive emotions or use them for a positive change. But most of us wont and thats why our culture is deteriorating. ie, world hunger we are in 2007 and and we have thousands die a day because of this but all it takes is a dollar or donating a chicken for every 10 chickens sold to fix this....pathetic
 
Flasher702,
First try reading the post from PCnut again. That is why I am not super excited about this whole computer giveaway. Oh sure the NIMH batteries will work great...NOT. I won't even buy any piece of electronics with NIMH anymore because they are junk. Also what the hell does that have to do with his post :?: I'll tell you... absolutely nothing. Let me help you understand, if a child has to lick a piece of candy a few times and then save it so that it will last because he has no candy, or food for that matter, then you might as well give him a jet airplane, it would be about as useful.

As far as your post to me about the students and subsequent post about the fact that I should limit my post to nonprofits and not the OLPC. Well that is exactly what I did initially. If you read my posts instead of skimming them you would know that. The whole reason for my post was that Chunkymonster made the blanket statement that it was a nonprofit and therefore could only cover expenses. I was simply pointing that this was a fallacy, because the "expenses" can hide a lot of fat. I specifically stated that I had no reason to believe that Negroponte was not sincere or that Negroponte was or would abuse the nonprofit by gouging salary etc. My whole discussion with Chunkymonster was relating to the inferring that since an organisation was a nonprofit they were lily white. You were the one that expanded my posts to included students and Negroponte working for free and blah blah. I never said that they weren't I simply said that we cannot be sure that Negroponte is not getting something either material or non-material e.g., fame, a future job etc. that would cause him to be so defensive. And just because he goes on TV and states that he is getting nothing does not make it so.

As far as your comments about Africa and medicine and the value of PCs there, first we need to eliminate the genocide, or maybe you think that PCs are more important.
 
Has anyone here ever spent any time in these third world countries and work with these people?? In something other than government sponsored trip or a vacation. I am lucky enough or some would say unlucky to have work in some of these countries and talked to the people that actually live and work in these countries. Have any of you people?? I can tell you one thing that a laptop is the last thing these children need. how are they going to use it when they do not have power or it is only on for a few hours a day???
Click to expand...

OLPC was designed to work in these kind of situations. read up: www.laptop.org
It can safely accept something like -15 to 49v safely and charge off off like 10-20v. This means that very crude power sources can be used to charge it. It runs up to 12hours off a 4cell battery. 1 hour/day of electricity would be enough to use the laptop for many hours per day and alternative energy sources would be highly feasible due to the efficient design of the energy consumption, charging, and storage characteristics that were design goals from OLPC's inception several years ago. A ~$50 "car alternator with a hand crank on it" really could be used to keep multiple laptops running (probably not very conducive to schoolwork but it would work).

This is not a regular laptop.





Again I ask have you ever been in any of these countries and spent time with the people??? What good is a laptop PC to someone that has no food?? and if we age going to give them a car alternator to power this we are going to have to send this to them also.. And teach how to use it.. These are wonderful people and most are so smart and hard workers. what is needed is to spend this money helping provide work and a job for these parents so they can provide for there children instead of teaching that you should be given things. Again I say all this program is is a feel good so that they can say look at me and what i have done. It dose not matter if it acutally dose any good or makes any since in real world!!!

No I have not. But people working on the project have.

What should we do instead? What good does it do to send them food when women don't have the education and empowerment necessary to make the self-realization that they should have so many children? What good does it do to send them medicine when they don't know how to prevent and treat disease for themselves? What good does any of it do when they are so easy influenced by religious leaders into foolishly self-destructive behavior? Aren't we already doing these things? How are they supposed to engage the rest of the world economically on equal ground without equal education and technology? The OLPC project isn't just a laptop. They don't just air drop them into place. They work with local organizations to deploy them into educational programs to give them the tools and and eduction they need without altering their culture by brute force (as more traditional educational programs have done ala "africanz").

I haven't been there myself. I'm sorry. But I'm not completely naive. If there something important I'm missing TELL ME. But you don't seem to know some very important details of the project.

It's not like we'll be giving them laptops instead of food. In fact the OLPC's aren't even necessarily charity. That was also one of the goals. OLPC is sustainable because the units are designed to be affordable with low maintenance costs. How long would it take them to eat ~$170 (and hopefully the laptops will get cheaper) worth of food? And then what? The OLPC X0 should last for years and the education value should, hopefully, last for the rest of their lives.

To be horribly blunt: they DON'T need food. Food grows right up out of the ground. I've done it. I didn't have any freaking computer and I lived on a farm. They need education to be able to create sustainable healthy societies and ward off predatory organizations and leaders that seek to exploit them.
 
One of them will last for several years. One of them won't.
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First, what makes you think/know that the PC will last several years in the harsh environment in which they will be. Second, what makes you think that the PC, assuming that it actually gets into the hands of a child, won't be sold or traded for food, clothing etc. What would you do if you had a PC and were cold and hungry? Would you trade it for food? I know that I would in a heartbeat.
 
As far as your comments about Africa and medicine and the value of PCs there, first we need to eliminate the genocide, or maybe you think that PCs are more important.
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That's what the education communication stuff is for. It's the thing that sending them food and sanitation technology can't do, hasn't done, and never will do.

The other option is to migrate there in mass with security force to bring the situation under control and destroy their culture in the process. That really wouldn't bother me but it might bother them and it certainly upsets some people around here and it would be a lot more expensive and difficult.
 
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