Ok, How About A $12 Computer?
from the that's-more-like-it dept
Last week, we wrote about supposed efforts in India to build a $10 computer. However, Indian officials later explained that there was a typo in the transcript to the speech in question, and they really meant a $100 computer. But don't think others aren't trying for cheaper computers. The Raw Feed points out that some folks at MIT (ironically, the home of OLPC founder Nicholas Negroponte) are working on building $12 computers for the developing world, using the old Apple II as a base. It seems like an interesting plan, though still quite far away from reality. But, still, in this space, more competition is good, no matter how much Negroponte wishes he were the only provider.![Hide This Hide this](https://ii.techdirt.com/s/t/i/topclose.png)
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: $100 computer, $12 computer, computers, developing world, mit
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
$12 computer...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Just the beginning
[ link to this | view in thread ]
How about a cure for cancer?
Maybe other peoples priorities are different than mine.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: How about a cure for cancer?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
How about sending more probes out to Mars to search for life?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: How about a cure for cancer?
I didnt read that the computer provided the tools that modern businesses use (ie microsoft "blank"). If that's the case, I can't think if any education applications. How about $12 text books, there's a nice step towards better education.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: How about a cure for cancer?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: How about a cure for cancer?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: How about sending more probes out to Mars to search for life?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: How about a cure for cancer?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Most people toss a computer
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: How about a cure for cancer?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
All that to say we can have $25 computers that serve specialized tasks. Right now we use our single computers for to much they don't need to do and shouldn't do. My average computer at work doesn't need to surf the internet or design graphics it needs to print pictures and fill out reports and access a small database.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ironic?
How is that ironic? People in the same area have similar goals?!? That's SO ironic!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
For those mentioning cancer
Ditto on space tech - more computers = better education and more people with ideas having more access to the computing power needed to develop those ideas.
So no, this isn't a waste of money, it's an investment that pays off many, many times over in the long run.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Ironic?
"See, I can be sarcastic, too!"
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Ironic?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
all good
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: all good
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Obligitory Maxwell Smart...
No?
Well then would you believe a $23 computer and a free Chihuahua for tech support?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
$0 computer
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: How about a cure for cancer?
Wow, you really don't know much about file sizes do you?
A 700 page, graphics intense PDF document weighs in at 6.5MB. Going for text only you can get 700 pages in about 1.6MB.
Hardly what you'd call space intensive.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: How about a cure for cancer?
Seems that 'privileged' life of yours made you a lazy speller too!
[ link to this | view in thread ]