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Either Gates doesn't know what the project is about, or he pretends he doesn't. Gates said:

"The last thing you want to do for a shared use computer is have it be something without a disk ... and with a tiny little screen,"

However, the $100 laptop is not a shared computer. In fact, the goal of each child having ITS OWN computer is an explicit goal of the project.

Why is it important for each child to have a computer? What's wrong with community-access centers?
One does not think of community pencils--kids have their own. They are tools to think with, sufficiently inexpensive to be used for work and play, drawing, writing, and mathematics. A computer can be the same, but far more powerful. Furthermore, there are many reasons it is important for a child to own something--like a football, doll, or book--not the least of which being that these belongings will be well-maintained through love and care.

Gates also said that big costs come from network connectivity, applications and support. The argument that applications are more expensive than hardware is similarly disingenious: if you pay Microsoft their extortionate retail prices, yes applications are expensive. The same goes for support: paid support is expensive, community-based support is cheap.

Like the one on the $100 lap top:

http://news.com.com/2300-1044_3-5884639-1.html

http://laptop.org/