Getting Open Source to the Dialup Masses

WillSmith writes "South Africa's Mark Shuttleworth Foundation has a solution to getting open source out to places with low broadband : the "freedom toaster". The idea is simple : a bring-and-burn software kiosk."

Comments

Any Costs?

[kaellinn18]

As I can't get to the mercilessly Slashdotted site, maybe someone who did can answer a question for me:

Are there any costs for the user associated with this? The main allure of open source software is that it's free. Although I'm sure if there are costs, it will be comparatively cheap compared to Microsoft, but when you start talking about third world countries, even small costs can be prohibitive. Will people be able to donate CDs to this project so that the project will not have to charge money to reimburse itself for the CDs?

Re:Any Costs?

[maxilion]

From the homepage:

What is the Freedom Toaster
The Freedom Toaster is a conveniently located, self-contained 'Bring 'n Burn' facility, where users bring their own blank discs and make copies of the open source software they require.

But why do we need this?
The Freedom Toaster project began as a means of overcoming the difficulty in obtaining Linux and Open Source software due to the restrictive telecommunications environment in South Africa, where the easy downloading of large pieces of software is just not possible.

And the name? What's up with that?
Initially the name came about directly as a result of the fact that Linux is a free Operating System and that you "toast" a CD with Linux. However, it later became apparent that, the name actually captured a meaning deeper than what was originally intended. It encapsulates the philosophy of Open Source Software, that we have the freedom to choose which software we use, that we have the freedom to change it if we like and that we have the freedom to share it with anyone, for free. Listen closely....and you'll hear violins playing in the background

Free for all!
In the past, most people have shied away from Open Source Software, more particularly Operating Systems. Because, unless you where already an expert on various "scary" details that accompanied them, it's been notoriously difficult to get your hands on reliable and complete distributions that where easy to install and easy to upgrade. Not anymore, now it's as easy as toast.

How do I use the Toaster?
Using a Freedom Toaster could not be easier. Using the touch-screen on the Toaster, you choose which software you want. On-screen information tells you more about the software you have selected, including how many CDs you will need. The Freedom Toasters also contain a host of on-screen information to teach people a little more about the world of Free and Open software. Touch the screen, browse and explore!

Another Simple Idea

[katana]

I call it "the mail." Each house gets a local kiosk called a "mailbox." Whenever someone needs Open Source software, a central "server" sends the software to the "mailbox" in "trucks."

Someone should totally do this.

This is a good idea

[ajs318]

In some parts of the world, broadband internet has a somewhat lower priority than things like clean drinking water and efficient sewers. {Even though you have to admit the logistics are simpler}.

The bandwidth of a Ford Transit packed with CD-Rs should certainly not be underestimated!

Re:This is a good idea

[IamTheRealMike]

I guess it would be overly cynical of me to point out that Ubuntu routinely pushes out several hundred megs of updates every few weeks ... and the installer insists on downloading them if you have a network connection, wanted or not.

I don't think any distro that practically requires broadband to stay up to date (ie, all of them) is going to cut it for the third world. On the other hand, if you don't have the internet at all, then you don't really need updates do you?

ubuntu + dialup?

[MichaelSmith]

I have literally just got back from upgrading my sister in-law's pc from RH 9 to Ubuntu. She just got an iPod and I decided to upgrade the OS before installing gtkpod.

So there I am all ready to apt-get gtkpod and...

...where is the ppp dialer? It's not there. Now I know that ubuntu tries to be lightweight but surely something could come out to make way for a gnome ppp program? Not being able to get on line pretty much ended my quest to get the ipod working.

It seems to have wvdial so I could probably have got online that way. But that is not going to help the mums and dads, though.

Re:Site go boom

[xappax]

And why stop at distros?
There's plenty of free/oss media out there - music, software for other OSes, games, independent films...

In an area where money is scarce and software/media is expensive, I can see a "free media" kiosk being in serious demand.
Imagine what the kids at your local mall would think if they could walk in with a couple blank CDs and walk out with some a couple hip-hop albums from some local small-time artist. Sure would piss off Wal-Mart...