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Get Ready For The Simputer

Posted by timothy on from the humble-handheld dept.

EccentricAnomaly writes: "CNN is reporting that the Simputer will roll out next month. The Simputer is a handheld computer running GNU/Linux starting at around $214 and is aiming to be an affordable computer for the third world that can be used even by the illiterate with its text-to-speech features. From the Simputer website: "The Simputer is a low cost portable alternative to PCs, by which the benefits of IT can reach the common man." Slashdot ran a story in May 2001 reporting the launch of the Simputer project." The same Reuters story is also found at the Hindustan Times.

9 of 238 comments (clear)

  1. From the Faq! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    # Q: Can I create a Beowulf cluster using many Simputers?
    A: You must be a /.er; in which case you know the answer!

  2. They sure picked a great name. by Monkeyman334 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Anyone else think of the femputer from futurama when they hear the name "simputer"?

    Simputer: That does not simpute. Simputer will return after deciding your punishment ... After lengthy simputations I, Simputer, have decided the fate of the men. Simputer sentences them... to death!

    1. Re:They sure picked a great name. by Wyzard · · Score: 2, Funny

      Actually, the first thing that came to my mind was a new Maxis game...

  3. Re:I know this is terribly Politically Incorrect b by scott1853 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I know enough people that are literate but shouldn't be using a computer. Just today I had to walk an older lady through an IE Connection Wizard.

    ME: Choose the option "I want to setup my connection manually".
    HER: It's not there.
    ME: Check again, I'm sure it's there.
    HER: No, it's not here.
    ME: Ok, read me the options you have.
    HER: [option 1], [option 2], "Setup my connection manually". Ok, I found it.

    I'm sorry but it's a waste of resources when you allow people to be as ignorant as they want.

  4. Sally Struthers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    For only 0.54 USD a day, you can provide the neeeded computing power to a third world child. Think about, that is less than the price of a bad cup of coffee a day. Less than a newspaper even. Won't you help? I want you to meet Nidia. Nidia is seven years old and lives in a village with no running water, no schools, and no healthcare. Your 0.54 UDS a day would change her life, allowing her to compute with the other kids in the village. Start helping today!

  5. Actually, they DID say it...I shit you not. by VValdo · · Score: 3, Funny

    From the FAQ:


    # Q: Can I create a Beowulf cluster using many Simputers?

    A: You must be a /.er; in which case you know the answer!

    W

    --
    -------------------
    This is my SIG. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
  6. What will we do with it? by acceleriter · · Score: 4, Funny
    This is a mass market device with a low price point and decent capabilities, which would normally mean that we should hack it to run Linux. But it already runs Linux.

    Does this mean we must r00t it and install Windows?

    --

    CEE5210S The signal SIGHUP was received.

    1. Re:What will we do with it? by jimmu · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hack it to run Open BSD :)

      --

      ----
      One of us needs to stick ones' head in a bucket of ice water.
      - Hobbes
  7. Simputer.org FAQ writer has a sense of humor! by Sonicboom · · Score: 2, Funny

    I almost fell out of my chair when I got to question 10 of their FAQ:

    Q: Can I create a Beowulf cluster using many Simputers?

    A: You must be a /.er; in which case you know the answer!

    rotflmao!

    --
    [Connection closed by foreign host]