Great article in USA Today earlier this week about how a potent combination of computer companies, tech entrepreneurs and philanthropic folk are working together to bring the digital age to the Third World (and the rest of the world).
Here's an excerpt from Kevin Maney's article:
It's a mini-movement. There's former Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab chief Nicholas Negroponte with his $100 laptops [that's one in the photo], funded in part by Google. There's chipmaker AMD with its 50x15 program — funding projects that can get 50% of the world's population on the Internet by 2015. There's Intel, trying to keep up with feisty rival AMD, announcing in early May that it will invest $1 billion to make technology for people in developing nations.
Click here to read the full article -- required reading!
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That's pretty interesting. The article answered my questions about the power and the internet connection issues, which are equally interesting.
I wonder how much of it is "give something back" induced compared to the need to sell more computers, and who will really buy these? I mean, I think people will, but who is really the target market? 3rd world countries, or more those who have not yet shelled out for a currenlty priced PC?