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HP Markets Cheap 4-User PCs To African Schools

Posted by timothy on from the imagine-that dept.

Kracs writes "HP are supplying their low-cost multi-user 441 desktops to African schools. Running Mandrake Linux, and sporting four screens (1xTNT2 AGP, 3xTNT2 PCI), keyboards and mice (1 PS2 set, 3 USB sets) they provide relatively cheap computer access for up to four users (of particular interest to schools in low economic zones). However, according to this article on New Zealand's Xtra news page they've only manufactured enough to outfit schools in South Africa. HP has commented that they're talking to several organisations and are hoping to bring the PC to market in other regions but have stated they will only be marketed to developing countries." (Remember, there are also home-grown methods to achieve similar results.)

14 of 293 comments (clear)

  1. When I was a kid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Each PC had to serve 256 users! And the monitors were black and white... and our keyboards had only 7 keys... and our mice were dead! And we LIKED IT.

    1. Re:When I was a kid by joshholm · · Score: 4, Funny

      As long as the 7 keys were "1" "P" "O" "S" "T" "[space]" and "[enter]" it is all good.

    2. Re:When I was a kid by ColaMan · · Score: 2, Funny

      You may joke but, back in the day, if a computer could only serve 256 users, it was considered tame. And the monitors weren't black and white , they were green, or amber. No mice, but the keyboard did have the full complement of keys.

      And we LIKED it, because you could pull the keycaps off and rearrange them for the next hunt-and-peck sucker :-)

      --

      You are in a twisty maze of processor lines, all alike.
      There is a lot of hype here.
  2. Monkey Island comes to mind by Zorilla · · Score: 5, Funny

    Guybrush Threepwood: "Look! A four-headed computer!"

    (Cannibal turns around)

    --

    It would be cool if it didn't suck.
  3. Monkeys by antic · · Score: 3, Funny



    So now when they set a million monkeys typing away to reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare, they'll only need 250,000 computers!

    This is a win-win-win-win-etc situation!

    --
    'Thats they exact same thing a banana wrench monkey.'
    1. Re:Monkeys by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I thought it was an infinite number of monkeys. Though I suppose that would be a greater savings still. A quarter infinity is more than 250,000.

    2. Re:Monkeys by pesc · · Score: 3, Funny

      I don't think it is +5 Funny to refer to South African school children as monkeys.

      --

      )9TSS
  4. 441? by Chordonblue · · Score: 3, Funny

    If this were being sold to Nigeria I'd call it the 'HP 419'...

    --
    "...Well, there's egg and bacon; egg sausage and bacon; egg and spam; egg bacon and spam; egg bacon sausage and spam..."
  5. Re:Not a dupe by jarich · · Score: 2, Funny

    Because hardware wants to be free!

    --
    Agile Artisans
  6. This is a cancer! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Everyone wants to think of the children. What about the poor hardware manufacturers. This will cause them shrinking profits: they will now only be selling 1/4 the systems they would be!

    And think of Microsoft! Poor Microsoft! They aren't getting any money from this! Western economy will collapse!

    Just say no, my friends. One user, one CPU, one licensed OS!

    Bill Gates

    1. Re:This is a cancer! by smchris · · Score: 2, Funny


      Perhaps a federal "network tax" on these machines if they appear in the U.S. -- to compensate Microsoft for their loss?

  7. In other news. by JPriest · · Score: 2, Funny

    Reports of Nigerian 411 scams have quadrupled.

    --
    Saying Java is nice because it works on all OS's is like saying that anal sex is nice because it works on all genders.
  8. I can hear the arguments now from the classroom.. by 56ksucks · · Score: 3, Funny
    * I want the AGP video card. I called it...

    ** You always get the AGP video card, I want the AGP video card..

    * No I called it! I get the AGP video card! Besides they're the same card it's just shaped different.

    ** Nuh uh! if they're the same then why does it matter? Huh?

    * Cause I like the shape better, besides you get the USB keyboard and mouse!

    *bell rings*

    ** I call it next time :P

    --

    ---- "Excuse me. Where's the children's gun section?"

  9. HP just looks for future outsourcers by Vitus+Wagner · · Score: 2, Funny

    Since it is evident than ten years later Russia, India and China would have life conditions good enough and average salaries big enough to prohibit use of their people as cheap offshore programmers,
    HP takes care of creating new potential pools of inexpensive intellectual labour force.