[geeks] $100 One Laptop Per Child - grist for the mill

[Brian Dunbar]

Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
> On Sat, Nov 18, 2006 at 09:41:21PM -0600, Brian Dunbar wrote:
> 
>> Okay, so I know this isn't 'the' solution but it could be 'a' solution.
>>  I wonder if Solar Power Satellites could supply that need.
> 
> Possibly, but it's an awfully expensive way. For example lower cost systems
> may be better at least at first. Passive solar systems would be a lot
> cheaper if you could come up with something that was much cheaper than the
> photovoltaic (solar cell) electrical systems.
> 
> Writing this jelled an idea. I'll have to look into it.
> 
> Geoff.

If you only have a few customers - it's expensive. Many customers and
the price drops.  You know this of course.  My mind's eye sees hundreds
of urban areas subscribing to the service.  As the price drops the
service spreads to the hinterland.

Passive solar's drawback is that it takes up acres and acres of room for
the power delivered.  One system that might work with an electron laser
would be .. a tank of water.  Laser delivers power daily, super heats
the medium and hoy presto you've got steam driven energy until the next
pass.  I'm glossing over the technical details here of course.

As an analogy for what I'm talking about consider that cell phone
networks are all over the place - and serving markets that the local PTT
can't or won't get at.  Suddenly you've got guys talking across the
world when a few years prior getting word to the next town was difficult.

-- 
Brian Dunbar
System Administrator
Liftport - The Space Elevator Company

brian.dunbar at liftport.com
aim: bdunbar1967

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