One laptop per child

[likesfish]

a wired nation is going to be able to make more cash and have more chance of catching up with the rest of the world.
may do some good may not is hardly taking cash away from water vaccine and food aid projects

 

[potential]

a wired nation is going to be able to make more cash and have more chance of catching up with the rest of the world.
may do some good may not is hardly taking cash away from water vaccine and food aid projects

nicely put exactly right.....

 

[citydreams]

a wired nation is going to be able to make more cash

They're not going to start manufacturing until between 5 and 10 million units are paid for upfront (and of course not even manufacturing in Africa), with a plan of producing 100 million. So an initial capital requirement of around $1 billion (excluding delievery, support &c) going up to $10 billion.

Then, how many years will it be until the level of knowledge is such that an industry can be formed? And how much realistically do you think such an industry, competing with a global markets is going to be able to make?

How could it possible be better than giving Africa $10 billion now so that they can immediately improve their welfare?

 

[citydreams]

a wired nation <snip> is hardly taking cash away from water vaccine and food aid projects

But it is! That's resources that could be being used elsewhere. There must be some trade off between laptops and sanitisation.

There not doing it for free. They want paying in hard cash.