DSL Opportunity?
Forum: User Feedback
Topic: DSL Opportunity?
started by: bigpilot
Posted by bigpilot on April 04 2006,20:21
Linux is too big for the $100 computer claims Negreponte. Have you guys (I mean the DSL founders) tried pitching DSL? I'm pretty sure it will work just fine on on Negreponte's machine.
< News.com story link >
Posted by doobit on April 04 2006,20:42
I think he's totally limited in his thinking. I believe I could design a lunchbox sized computer that would run DSL, have a color TFT screen embedded in the lid, 256MB RAM, a 512 MB CF disc, a rubber, washable keyboard, with embedded pointing device, that would run off a small solar panel (harbor Freight for $12.00 and a lot better than a kick pedal), and rechargeable battery. My development costs would be a little more than $300 so actual production costs could be much less.
Posted by bigpilot on April 05 2006,15:38
I too think an ARM/StrongARM/XScale based laptop would work much better (and consume far less power) than the x86 based laptop Negreponte is working on. I don't see any advantage in using x86 except that you can also run Windows on it, but that would be moot anyway since Windows doesn't run of Flash, I think the Windows source code hardcodes C: drive somewhere.
Posted by John on April 05 2006,15:53
I have tried to contact them about DSL, but all I got back was an auto-responder -- that was months ago.
Posted by Tao-jen on April 05 2006,16:50
doobit said \"I think he\'s totally limited in his thinking\"...I think that his limitation is the child process of his agenda.
John said \"I have tried to contact them about DSL, but all I got back was an auto-responder -- that was months ago.\"...
I\'m not too suprised with that, because...
Negroponte said \"We are also talking to Microsoft constantly. We are going to ship them development boards. They are going to make a Windows CE version (that supports the hardware). So jeez--why criticize me in public?\"
They must not really want Linux on their laptops if they\'re talking to Microsoft... For all we know their may not actually be a \'one laptop per child\' program. After all it\'s not like any of us are in those countries to verify that it\'s for real... And Microsoft has been known to start major campaigns to make Linux look bad before. Maybe this is more of the same.
Posted by John on April 05 2006,19:34
I wouldn't go that far, I think the project is genuine. And I cold see how there would be a demand for CE based units too. Though I really hope they primarily focus on Linux a based solution. I am sure the children in the developing world don't want to be stuck with restrictive licensing issues.
Posted by doobit on April 05 2006,19:43
You can already buy cheap CE based palmtops that do almost the same thing. The only real issues in this whole idea are power source and connectivity.
Posted by green on April 05 2006,22:44
The project is real and some of us DO spend time in "those countries."DSL works there as well as it does elsewhere. Trust me.
I have distributed DSL CD's in "those countries" and it is excepted well.
McGates does not have his claws in up to the elbows outside of the U.S. and Canada. Maybe a couple of other places.
Posted by bigpilot on April 06 2006,05:59
| Quote (John @ April 05 2006,11:53) |
| I have tried to contact them about DSL, but all I got back was an auto-responder -- that was months ago. |
Try harder, I'm pretty sure there must be a way to contact him.
Posted by bigpilot on April 06 2006,20:16
< Puppy Linux > beat you guys to him!!! 
Posted by clacker on April 06 2006,20:52
Those Dogs!!! I know I play around with Linux and dsl just for fun, but that just pissed me off. I'd much rather see dsl in there than puppy (not that there's anything wrong with them).
Posted by clivesay on April 06 2006,20:55
Doesn't look like any decisions have been made. If they want to get these laptops out anytime soon they are better to work with a smaller project than to wait for some corporate brass to go through 10 levels of approvals to contribute to the laptop project. I think DSL is a better fit than Puppy but everyone has their opinions 
Chris
Posted by bigpilot on April 07 2006,07:32
You're right, no decision has been made because Negreponte obviously only wants the big names on board, AMD/Red Hat etc. It says that Red Hat has 7-9 people working full time on OLPC, but that's only because they need to massage and squeeze RH Linux to fit the laptop. DSL wouldn't need to have that many people working on it because it works out of the box.
I gather Gates keeps asking for a hard disk in the OLPC laptop and I assume that's because Windows needs a harddisk to run off, it won't run from Flash (and Windows CE isn't really suited for a laptop).
Posted by green on April 07 2006,13:46
Just my opinion, but if Negreponte REALLY wanted to provide the best he could, then he wouldn't be talking to McGates in the first place. Although this project (and a few others) are trying legitimately to provide something that could prove very positive, it seems to be turning into more of a publicity campaign than anything else. I think it is great that large corporations want to get involved and it is even better that Linux may be in the mix, however, it seems to be headed down the same path as so many other well intentioned programs to help those they believe are in need. It starts as a really swell idea, but then becomes more of a "look what I am doing for these people" type of thing.Of course, I have all the answers. (NOT!) If big boys want to be involved then let them subsidize the cost of the gear and produce something a little more powerfull and still put DSL or a custom DSL on the thing. If people really want to help others, then they would make a sacrifice and eat some of the cost and not be in it just so they can tell the public, "See what we are doing!" But as long as that IS what they are doing, they should belly up to the bar and pay the tab.
Posted by Tao-jen on April 07 2006,18:08
For Green: Sorry if I offended you with my last comment... Over time the news becomes harder to believe with so many inserted opinions.
I think that maybe why Negroponte is holding out for the big dogs is because of support... Not that the folks they\'re trying to help can afford Redhat\'s, Novell\'s support fees... Or even a fully sloshed MS OS... It\'s just because of all the FUD over indemnification that holds many back from jumping right in.
Also, I agree with Green that this seems to be becoming a \'look what I did\' campaign... It could even be that Negroponte is using free Linux distros to force commercial vendors to knock down their prices.
DSL may also be overlooked because there\'s no single clear spot to grab help info... The dillo startup page helps with many issues, but doesn\'t cover every possible issue... Maybe there could be an add on similar to netman that allows users to quickly get help info... In conjunction with a blogspot (linked to from the top of the forum board) that users can access the same info if they\'re having trouble setting up network connectivity with DSL... Another idea would be for a help manual (paperback) that gets shipped with CDs or USB keys for users to reference...
The ideas are almost limitless, and I\'m sure that many of us here would like to help John and Roberts put something like this together.
Posted by John on April 07 2006,19:21
Not exactly, but they did take a more public approach. I did do a series of emails and also posted to their wiki.That said, they are tied to Fedora (RH is an underwriter). So, their challenge is to put Fedora on an extreme diet.
Posted by bigpilot on April 07 2006,19:39
What are the chances of that happening and still having a workable system? Not very high, IMHO. Red Hat is just too fat!I don't agree with the support issue, I don't think Red Hat nor anyone else will provide any support for third-world consumers, they're on their own.
Posted by mikshaw on April 07 2006,20:02
Red Hat may be fat, but it can be stripped like any other distro. Knoppix is fat, too, but look what John did to it =o)
Posted by green on April 08 2006,02:28
Tao-jen,No offense taken. I was just trying to emphasize a different perspective.
I am sensitive to issues regarding "third world countries." I do not even like that term, but most know what it means.
People in countries that are perceived by westerners as 'third world" are very open to open source and to changing the paradigm, thinking outside the box. OS's like DSL would/could flourish in those environments, that is why I hand out some DSL CD's in hopes that it will catch on. I know that at least one Internet Cafe I visit has DSL on at least one machine. I know that does not sound like much, but it is a start. I almost always 'forget' to grab my DSL CD's when leaving a 'net Cafe.....
Posted by humpty on April 08 2006,11:01
i dunno, it sounds a bit gimmicky to me after reading the specs.this guy wanted a crank shaft attached to the pc?
these are kids, i'd rather give them a games machine.
Posted by clivesay on April 08 2006,11:46
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
Posted by mikshaw on April 08 2006,14:17
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.
Posted by clivesay on April 08 2006,15:05
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