I'm getting very cynical about all this corporate marketing tie-in with OLPC.

Why free T-mobile hotspot access? Why not just REDUCE the fee of the OLPC, and hence increase volumes. Or why not T-mobile provide FREE mobile phones or internet access to the poor 3rd world? Because they see you as a CAPTIVE IDIOT who will buy their overprices services in the future.

Same for EA. Getting FREE marketing with a "worthless" and "useless" giveaway.

Personally, a FREE virus scanner would be a LOT MORE USEFUL for the OLPC. As would a TYPING TUTOR, or some EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE.

But oh no.

BTW, many of these OLPC destination countries... the kids DO NOT speak english, or even use the US alphabet. Perhaps a free MP3 player with language lessons would have been more useful for these poor underpriveledged.

I'm dead against OLPC. Not the concept. I'm al for 1st world support of underdeveloped countries. But it's a misdirection of money. While it is far better than nothing, $100 per child (or more) directed in other ways would have a much longer lasting benefit to them, and their communities.

I also have heard nothing about how the OLPC giveaway will be "policed". ie. who will get one, on what terms, and who will "benefit" either directly or indirectly. The whole scheme seems about as cock-eyed as providing free bicycles on street corners in LA to help reduce pollution.

(PS Im not trying to be negative, just real-politik)

I would donate it if i can choose the country and region that i want it to go towards.

It is rumoured that, in poor families, the cams on the OLPC will be used as webcams of their young daughters for money. Just in the same way that young girls pimp themselves on the web from Eastern European countries, and the web, and your HDD, is full of it.

Very worrying.

And to think of all the young inspiring terrorists and internet scammers that may get their own free laptop to do their dastardly deeds on. :wtf:

"The whole scheme seems about as cock-eyed as providing free bicycles on street corners in LA to help reduce pollution."

Lol, touche.

It would have been even better if you said to reduce drive by shootings.

i just hope they don't give them to nigeria or the internet will go down with the quantity of spam letters sent :p

pti just hope they don't give them to nigeria or the internet will go down with the quantity of spam letters sent :p

Same... kids will grow up to be super spammers!

IF CHINA HAS A GIANT INTERNET FIREWALL, why can't WE (ie. all other continents) just firewall the whole of africa from SMTP servers? i.e. NO spam. That would be nice. Make it law. No ISP can import electronic data from africa, just like no company can EXPORT nuclear weapons etc. etc.

Soda for president, anyone?