Power Scheme for OLPC Project Falling Into Place

robotrachel writes "According to Technology Review, the $100 laptop intended for children in the developing world will be powered in much the same way that you might start an outboard motor on a boat. The new power system will 'make the laptop much easier to power than it would be with a hand crank, in part, because the users will be able to operate the generator in a variety of ways, including holding the device (the size of two hockey pucks) in one hand and pulling the string with the other, or clamping the generator to a desk, attaching the string to one foot, and using leg power.'" There are plenty of sewing machine treadles in the world, too -- I hope someone can figure out a way to combine them with the new design.

Comments

Is it just me or ..

[Rorian]

does the concept of a pull-string operated laptop seem a little insulting?

Also, what real use can you glean from a PC these days, without a network connection? 90% of the use I get out of my PC is from the broadband connection giving me access to wikipedia, google, various developer networks, digg & slashdot.

So does anyone out there have a non-connected PC hooked up performing some life-changing work, or are they just useless when disconnected from the wwworld?