User Feedback :: DSL Opportunity?
Well, here's the reality. This guy wants to SELL $100 laptops to these countries when we are throwing away thousands of working PC's everyday.
There's really no need for that program. There are plenty of FREE machines out there to help other people. I have worked very hard at this very thing for 3 yrs here locally and have helped alot of families. You would be amazed how much hardware is readily available. There is more in your local area than you could warehouse, trust me.
Chris
I can understand what you're saying, but i think the main differences are 1) they're all laptops, so they can easily be carried anywere, 2) they're made to work where there is no source of electricity, and 3) They're being sold to places that do not have this abundance of throw-aways. I don't know if you'd be able to afford that without charging something.
Still, on the other side of the coin, if negroponte had pushed this as a non-profit venture (did he?), it would be much easier to get contributions.
Mik, you are right about 1 & 2. They are more portable and I completely forgot about the electricity! duh! Laptops will become more abundant soon as they are now outselling desktops. I am already starting to see more older laptops donated to my org, especially the older Toshiba models.
On point 3, I'm saying PC's can be shipped to them. I have an org I work with that currently ships hardware to other countries. It does cost money but as a nonprofit you could solicit donations for shipping costs I'm sure. I haven't gotten that big in my area because I haven't been able to find a warehouse big enough in this area to facilitate such an operation.
I don't know if he started this as a nonprofit or not but I agree that approach may serve him better.
I wish them luck. I know what getting computers in the hands of kids in my community has done........
Chris
original here.