Comments on: Kick start for e-books? Brewster Kahle and MIT Tech Rev blogger excited over $100 laptop’s technology http://www.teleread.org/2007/03/15/brewster-kahle-and-mit-tech-rev-blogger-excited-over-100-laptop-for-e-books/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:25:26 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: The Future of Reading « These are the Musings of Starship Manimal http://www.teleread.org/2007/03/15/brewster-kahle-and-mit-tech-rev-blogger-excited-over-100-laptop-for-e-books/comment-page-1/#comment-640913 The Future of Reading « These are the Musings of Starship Manimal Thu, 29 Nov 2007 03:02:19 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6282#comment-640913 [...] read, writers writer, and publishers publish.” Other devices such as the Sony Reader and One Laptop Per Child XO laptop receive very brief [...] [...] read, writers writer, and publishers publish.” Other devices such as the Sony Reader and One Laptop Per Child XO laptop receive very brief [...]

]]> By: Carol Jurd http://www.teleread.org/2007/03/15/brewster-kahle-and-mit-tech-rev-blogger-excited-over-100-laptop-for-e-books/comment-page-1/#comment-261918 Carol Jurd Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:52:15 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6282#comment-261918 I know this project is aimed at the huge number of children who don't have access to a computer, but why can't someone use this technology to produce a simple, portable computer for the rest of us? Why do I need enough computing power to run a large company on a something I want to carry in a small bag? My old 1995 Cassiopeia was portable, had a keyboard and was very durable (like being taken on trips into outback Australia). The flash memory was small but flash cards etc are now much improved. I could type, use a spreadsheet, read a book or a webpage on it. It didn't have a full colour 3d rendering screen, DVD burners etc etc but it was USEFUL, unlike half the techno-rubbish now littering our house. Actually, the developers could sell the device at a profit to wealthy countries and use the profits to finance the very good plan of helping students in poorer countries. Unfortunately you are right about the black market, but by making them available legally that could stop about 99% of that. I know this project is aimed at the huge number of children who don’t have access to a computer, but why can’t someone use this technology to produce a simple, portable computer for the rest of us? Why do I need enough computing power to run a large company on a something I want to carry in a small bag? My old 1995 Cassiopeia was portable, had a keyboard and was very durable (like being taken on trips into outback Australia). The flash memory was small but flash cards etc are now much improved. I could type, use a spreadsheet, read a book or a webpage on it. It didn’t have a full colour 3d rendering screen, DVD burners etc etc but it was USEFUL, unlike half the techno-rubbish now littering our house.
Actually, the developers could sell the device at a profit to wealthy countries and use the profits to finance the very good plan of helping students in poorer countries. Unfortunately you are right about the black market, but by making them available legally that could stop about 99% of that.

]]> By: Wayan http://www.teleread.org/2007/03/15/brewster-kahle-and-mit-tech-rev-blogger-excited-over-100-laptop-for-e-books/comment-page-1/#comment-261709 Wayan Thu, 15 Mar 2007 22:30:04 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6282#comment-261709 Carol, Your want for one is a basic problem of the project. The computers should be for children to learn with - designed specifically for that purpose and seemingly useless to adults (want a Fisher Price radio?). Instead they designed a computer that adults do want and could use, which means while OLPC is trying very hard to keep them in schools & off the retail or black market, <a href="http://www.olpcnews.com/people/negroponte/ebay_olpc_sales_inev.html" rel="nofollow">eBay sales are inevitable</a>. Carol,

Your want for one is a basic problem of the project. The computers should be for children to learn with – designed specifically for that purpose and seemingly useless to adults (want a Fisher Price radio?).

Instead they designed a computer that adults do want and could use, which means while OLPC is trying very hard to keep them in schools & off the retail or black market, eBay sales are inevitable.

]]> By: Brewster Kahle and MIT Tech Rev blogger excited… | Pilka http://www.teleread.org/2007/03/15/brewster-kahle-and-mit-tech-rev-blogger-excited-over-100-laptop-for-e-books/comment-page-1/#comment-261692 Brewster Kahle and MIT Tech Rev blogger excited… | Pilka Thu, 15 Mar 2007 22:20:35 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6282#comment-261692 [...] read full story [...] [...] read full story [...]

]]> By: Carol Jurd http://www.teleread.org/2007/03/15/brewster-kahle-and-mit-tech-rev-blogger-excited-over-100-laptop-for-e-books/comment-page-1/#comment-261671 Carol Jurd Thu, 15 Mar 2007 22:08:44 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6282#comment-261671 Apart from the highly affordable price, the other advantages of the $100 laptop seem to be (1) that it is light; (2) simple to use; (3) good power supply. What it looks like is a slightly larger version of my old Cassiopeia PDA (with a small keyboard). This was the most useful gadget I have ever owned, but now sadly defunct and won't connect to my current computer. My other questions - when can I buy one of these? And why aren't they in the shops now! Apart from the highly affordable price, the other advantages of the $100 laptop seem to be (1) that it is light; (2) simple to use; (3) good power supply.
What it looks like is a slightly larger version of my old Cassiopeia PDA (with a small keyboard). This was the most useful gadget I have ever owned, but now sadly defunct and won’t connect to my current computer.
My other questions – when can I buy one of these? And why aren’t they in the shops now!

]]>