[geeks] OLPCs for sale...

[Dan Sikorski]

Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
> On Fri, Nov 16, 2007 at 07:23:15AM -0600, Lionel Peterson wrote:
>   
>> Negroponte likes to point out that the family can use it as a light source at 
>> night, since they don't have electricity in their homes... Really, this is 
>> what he said on 60 Minutes. I was floored - why not send them small solar 
>> panels with rechargeable batteries and an LED light array? I would probably 
>> cost, oh, about a hundred some dollars less than a freakin laptop!
>>     
>
> Because with the software and education they are getting that's all
> they can do. :-(
>   
I can't really understand why people here are trying to slam the OLPC 
from every possible angle.  Can you really make fun of Negroponte for 
trying something different to improve the lives of children?

Are the laptops perfect and a solution to all of the world's problems?  
No.  Will there be enough of them for every underprivileged child in the 
world?  No.  Will the laptops provide food, shelter, immunization, and 
clean water for them?  No.  But regardless of how the laptops are used, 
they have made a monumental effort to improve the lives of the people 
they are giving the laptops to.  Would the LED light work better as a 
light source? You bet, but none of us would be talking about this, or 
participating in the "give one, get one" program if they were making 
solar LED lights.  There are already efforts to provide the necessities 
for the children getting the laptops, so why duplicate the efforts of 
those charities?  Negroponte is aiming to do something different, and 
attract charitable donations from different sources.  Based on the fact 
that they are actually shipping these laptops, I would guess that it 
must be a successful effort.  If you don't like the initiative, and 
think that it would be better to get food and clean water to people that 
don't have it, then by all means donate to such a charity.  Like 
education, but not the technology?  I'm sure you can find a charity to 
send books or sponsor teachers.   If you think that OLPC is a cool idea, 
and instead of just helping people survive, help educate them and expose 
them to technology as well, donate to it.

    -Dan Sikorski