An even lowlier P3 1ghz with 256mb of RAM can run xubuntu (or some other lightweight linux) just fine, and do just about anything the 'average' user would want to do. Surf the web, play online games, email and word process.
There are millions of people in the USA that don't have access to a computer at home, or barely have access to a computer at all. Governments, schools, businesses and individuals routinely discard perfectly good hardware because the windows paradigm has failed them. Recognizing this disconnect has inspired me to take some action in my community, and I am not the only one doing this. We are starting a non-profit called dDivide ( http://ddivide.org/ website redesign on the way ) where we collect donated computers, use volunteer labor to refurbish them and then distribute them where they are needed. We are working on developing programs to include those who are receiving the machines in the rebuild process. Giving computers away isn't enough, they won't be useful if the users can't maintain them!
There is a new site called growingupfree.org which is trying to consolidate the efforts of organizations like mine by connecting us and keeping track of efforts going on in all 50 states.
Efforts like ours could really benefit from Slashdot expertise, please check out growingupfree.org and see if anything is going on in your area. If you have any ideas for me or want help, feel free to contact me at ian@ddivide.org
Slashdot Mirror
An even lowlier P3 1ghz with 256mb of RAM can run xubuntu (or some other lightweight linux) just fine, and do just about anything the 'average' user would want to do. Surf the web, play online games, email and word process.
There are millions of people in the USA that don't have access to a computer at home, or barely have access to a computer at all. Governments, schools, businesses and individuals routinely discard perfectly good hardware because the windows paradigm has failed them. Recognizing this disconnect has inspired me to take some action in my community, and I am not the only one doing this. We are starting a non-profit called dDivide ( http://ddivide.org/ website redesign on the way ) where we collect donated computers, use volunteer labor to refurbish them and then distribute them where they are needed. We are working on developing programs to include those who are receiving the machines in the rebuild process. Giving computers away isn't enough, they won't be useful if the users can't maintain them!
There is a new site called growingupfree.org which is trying to consolidate the efforts of organizations like mine by connecting us and keeping track of efforts going on in all 50 states.
Efforts like ours could really benefit from Slashdot expertise, please check out growingupfree.org and see if anything is going on in your area. If you have any ideas for me or want help, feel free to contact me at ian@ddivide.org