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1. Comment - Intel Chairman Derides $100 Laptop

   (Dec 10, 2005 - 9:15 PM)

   While I can definitely see the upside of the poor receiving free or even 'near-free' technology, I can see right through this ploy to provide these "affordable" laptops.
   
   First off, the laptops will have to be fabricated in an off-shore factory for a fraction of the $100 at which it is targeted to be sold. The workers will earn approximately $1/hour. A relative wage, considering economies of scale and such. Who receives the contract to build these inexpensive laptops leads to all sorts of pluses for whoever has the power to grant these contracts (can you say kickbacks?)
   
   So let's say that for this example, the total cost of producing the $100 notebook sums up to $60. Now, that is, of course, before adding the freight costs of delivering an order of these beauties and the administrative costs associated with processing a friendly government order.
   
   So even still, I think a reasonable profit can still be made on a notebook featuring a 1GB HDD (can you say surplus?), Dual Scan Color Display (old tech, can you say surplus again?), with a hand crank (like they have flashlights that sport a hand crank at the 99 cents store). Think some of you are starting to get the idea...
   
   Now, this is where it becomes interesting. What politics that get played in the role of handling orders from various "poor" governments and the bonus points all the bleeding hearts are trying to earn here gets twisted into something that strikes a similar chord as free-trade consortiums for the Americas (can you say NAFTA? ...but say it slowly in a deep voice).
   
   Bottom line, it becomes another rosy way to leverage control and put pressure on foreign governments. All in the name of providing One Laptop Per Child. Give me a F!@#$%^& break!
   
   The real truth is some people get rich and look like heroes while doing it. Politicians make quick friends in support of this rosy plan to make the poor poorer, and the cycle goes on...and on.
   
   Guess "we" are looking to build our next India already. And hey, they should be able to program and all, as they would have Linux as a foundation for their learning. Not bad, if you ask me.
   
   Newt
   
   P.S. - Geez, just read the crappy responses on their FAQ as to why this or that. I especially found their reasoning for not recycling computers to prevaricate the real issues at play here.
   
   P.P.S. - I can see the future is bright ...the incessant burning of these incendiary laptops instead of the American flag. Hope they aren't composed of PVC plastics to make them kid-friendly (flexible and tough), as we already have enough of a global problem with toxins in our atmosphere and our food supply.