The Classmate PC

This very welcome bit of news hit today.

After the rants commentary of this weekend about the WankerPC, I just love this new development.

Hopefully, enough orders will pour in bringing down the cost of the devices.

My rejoinder to the comment on my post here:
I don't waste my time on anyone who reduces meaningful discourse on computing to a referendum on Microsoft and Intel.

This time though, since the whole idea of 3rd World education is important to me, listen up.

Thank you for your comment.

However, I think you have missed the boat entirely.

In your comment, you mention the number of systems I have with respect to their power consumption. Not a problem for me, thank you. The systems’ power requirements are directly proportional to my computing needs.

Nevertheless, let us get to the nitty-gritty.

To the best of my knowledge, there has never been a branded WinTel system, so I’m assuming you mean Windows-based PCs which use a varied number of processors, so what do you pejoratively call them: WinAMD? WinVia? WinMeta?

If that is the case, the solar panel and hand-crank, in your view, represent the state-of-the-art in technology? Are you kiddin’? This view totally invalidates any credibility you have with respect to this matter.

Believe it or not, people in Africa use computers, even mainframes and supercomputers. With available power when it is required; emphasis on required.

Your snide comments about the length of time I have been in America are totally infra-dig. I would not even begin to give it any mind since I have spent over 78% of a more than 4-decade life (so far) abroad.

A different view from mine regarding a pressing need for any laptop of any kind for impoverished kids in 3rd World nations is eloquently expressed in this article for Marketwatch by John C. Dvorak.