I think people are missing the opportunity here. Instead of thinking about how idiotic this idea is and how it's just MySpace getting "free publicity" (they need any?), consider this: If we all start registering random email addresses with MySpace's "do not call list", maybe we can save someone from the horrible horrible slip of sane judgment of getting a MySpace account in the first place.
It is simply unethical to use insider information to quash a deal and sign a separate one yourself with a client.
Insider information? OLPC is a non-profit whose processes are open to examination. Much of their technology is Open Source and the product of public institutions. And the production costs / pricing structure are as well publicly known, as are the target customers. What "insider information" where you talking about?
And, since you bring up the "intellectual property" issue, if "intellectual property" is good for OLPC is it not then also OK for the Corporate Profit Machines like Intel, Microsoft, and dare I say... the Record Companies?
The fact is, OLPC needs to be ready to compete with commercial producers such as Intel, it should be expected. This whining that Negroponte is doing is quite unbecoming, and really illustrates that while he might be an incredibly visionary guy, he's no politician and needs to be reminded that the world is not a Socialist mecca.
The connections [to Microsoft] in this and other cases are pretty obvious for even the lay person to see.
I don't know, are you sure that isn't just a little bit paranoid?
Look, Intel could have used a Linux or BSD based OS, but would that have been much better? It's still Intel using their weight to push people around. I'm not so sure M$ has much to do with this other than they are Intel's prefered OS...
Wikia is not the same thing as Wikipedia, even though Jimmy Wales is centrally involved in both.
The problem is that it's an incredibly incestuous relationship. And the question arises as to just how much of the resources of the NON PROFIT Wikipedia are now being used for the FOR PROFIT Wikia CORPORATION.
Jimmy Wales wants to make his billions off the free labor of the Wikidrones that presently donate their time and money to Wikipedia. Very ethically challenging.
And among a significant percentage of the US population, especially those in charge of huge piles of public money, everything is always "better" when done with technology. And did I mention the huge pile of money these people have to spend? Everybody likes new toys!
The fact that Microsoft continues to push this fake "standard" shows how little they care about their customers and how much their business is predicated on lockin.
It is no more a "fake" standard than any other standard. It's a bad standard, but still a standard.
And a little reminder, no one is obligated to use any "standard". They choose to use it, or choose not to use it. And there are a million "standards out there, many of which work the same areas.
When my girlfriend was in Cairo a couple of years ago she saw many, many places selling burned CDs and DVDs, all underground, of course.
Because of the RIAA and MPAA, people here usually think of music and movies. But go to virtually any bookstore in most non-European countries, and you'll find most popular titles from the US and Europe are "pirated". Travel books, popular fiction, technical titles...
This is simply not true. In many ways Amazon has increased the business of your local book seller
Used booksellers may be able to sell a few more titles on Amazon, but it's not going to float them when Amazon takes all their new book sales, and drives the price of used books into the range of pennies of profit.
Likewise, selling used books on Amazon does not support the local employment rolls.
In the short term, it's good for consumers, but over time the destruction of local economy these mega-retailers cause results in overall reduction of workers to nothing more than disposable corporate surfs.
Why is a company capable of such awesome technical inginuity (Amazon Web Services) getting hung up on something so utterly ridiculous?
Amazon is in a very competitive market that centers around their Web site. Every little thing that they can keep their competitors from being able to use on competing ecom sites is a win for Amazon, and they have the money to waste on the little stuff.
Like Wal*Mart, Amazon is responsible for destroying a large part of many cities independent retailers because although many people talk a strong talk about supporting a healthy local economy by frequenting small businesses, most of these same people will jump to save $2 on a $30 purchase by buying through these faceless uncaring mega corporations.
So really, while we rile against the practices of companies like Amazon and Wal*Mart, we rarely actually put our money where our mouths are.
When you shop at book sellers like Powell's World of Books, you may pay a little bit more, but you're supporting a healthy business model that is centered around both the employee and customer, instead of lining Jeff Bezo's pocket even more.
A communication link is not a toy. They can learn to read and write and pledge allegiance to their flag, but they previously only could learn what was fed to them. Now they can read EVERYthing. They don't need no, education... Not going to be a comfortable century for the Catholic Church and government censors.
What you are describing is a propaganda tool, not an educational tool. These kids need to learn to read and write and do math and understand mechanical concepts before they hit the Interweb to start and read political blogs.
Many nations have fewer technological resources than the USA, for example, but somehow manage to maintain reasonably well educated populaces.
That's because computers are not needed to teach basic education. In fact they are not needed to teach advanced education either. These little toys are a distraction from the actual educational needs of these people, and primarily serve to satisfy Westerners need to worship technology over knowledge and make us all feel good about our Consumer Lifestyle that the rest of the world pays for.
Let's see a story in a few months or so about the Peruvian XOs and their educational benefits once the novelty wears off and the laptops start having problems that the kids will have to fix.
From the article you didn't read...
50 primary school children got machines from the One Laptop Per Child project six months ago.
And...
For every 100 units it will distribute to students, Peru is buying one extra for parts. But there is no tech support program. Students and teachers will have to do it. "What you want is for the kids to do the repairs," said Negroponte, who believes such tinkering is itself a valuable lesson. "I think the kids can repair 95 percent of the laptops."
Like most computers these days, looks like repairs are "remove and replace".
Which may worry some people in power when impressionable children have access to all kinds of corrupting influences. "Daddy, what is 'capitalism'?" or "Teacher, why don't I have freedom of the press like my friends in America?"
And therein lies one of the biggest problems with this toy: Rather than a tool to teach basic education skills, it's primary use is as a political propaganda tool.
Slashdot Mirror
My mom had both her hips replaced with titanium, and wishes she had done it years earlyer...
I think people are missing the opportunity here. Instead of thinking about how idiotic this idea is and how it's just MySpace getting "free publicity" (they need any?), consider this: If we all start registering random email addresses with MySpace's "do not call list", maybe we can save someone from the horrible horrible slip of sane judgment of getting a MySpace account in the first place.
FLAMEBAIT? Geeez! Lighten up! It was a JOKE!
And, since you bring up the "intellectual property" issue, if "intellectual property" is good for OLPC is it not then also OK for the Corporate Profit Machines like Intel, Microsoft, and dare I say... the Record Companies?
The fact is, OLPC needs to be ready to compete with commercial producers such as Intel, it should be expected. This whining that Negroponte is doing is quite unbecoming, and really illustrates that while he might be an incredibly visionary guy, he's no politician and needs to be reminded that the world is not a Socialist mecca.
Jimmy Wales wants to make his billions off the free labor of the Wikidrones that presently donate their time and money to Wikipedia. Very ethically challenging.
Chilled is the traditionalist way!
So, are you saying that the Nigerians are pulling a "Microsoft Scam"? Or that Microsoft has been pulling a "Nigerian Scam"?
Sure you can have my file. But you'll have to figure out how to read them... First Post.
And among a significant percentage of the US population, especially those in charge of huge piles of public money, everything is always "better" when done with technology. And did I mention the huge pile of money these people have to spend? Everybody likes new toys!
And a little reminder, no one is obligated to use any "standard". They choose to use it, or choose not to use it. And there are a million "standards out there, many of which work the same areas.
U.S. May Kidnap Wanted British Citizens
Likewise, selling used books on Amazon does not support the local employment rolls.
In the short term, it's good for consumers, but over time the destruction of local economy these mega-retailers cause results in overall reduction of workers to nothing more than disposable corporate surfs.
Like Wal*Mart, Amazon is responsible for destroying a large part of many cities independent retailers because although many people talk a strong talk about supporting a healthy local economy by frequenting small businesses, most of these same people will jump to save $2 on a $30 purchase by buying through these faceless uncaring mega corporations.
So really, while we rile against the practices of companies like Amazon and Wal*Mart, we rarely actually put our money where our mouths are.
When you shop at book sellers like Powell's World of Books, you may pay a little bit more, but you're supporting a healthy business model that is centered around both the employee and customer, instead of lining Jeff Bezo's pocket even more.