Bill Gates has his say of things
By Ryan Block 
posted Mar 16th 2006 9:05AM
posted Mar 16th 2006 9:05AM
Being that he may or may not be reading this
post, and in the interest of open discourse, we ask you Bill, what's going
on? Yesterday at Microsoft's Government Leaders Forum, in front of 300 leader figures from Canada, Latin America and
the US, you apparently outlined a future where one's cellphone will becomes their "digital wallet," and you'll be able to do things like scan business cards? We might have looked past the fact that you
basically described what standard-issue Asian cellphones have been doing for years, but you had to go on to publicly
disparage the OLPC? We hear you said, "The last thing you
want to do for a shared use computer is have it be something without a disk ... and with a tiny little screen,"
and went on to slap it on using a crank as a power source where there's no electricity. Look, we're not gonna do a
point-for-point here, and we understand you may be a peeved that Negroponte and his crew shut Microsoft down on putting Windows
on the OLPC (they wanted to keep it open source, after all), but c'mon, as a leader yourself, the last thing you should
be caught doing is publicly speaking ill of one of the most important technology projects of our time for the developing
world -- learn from Craig Barrett's
mistake. The rest of you reading this may now resume your usual posing as Bill G in the comments.Love, Engadget
Read - OLPC comments
Read - cellphone comments
In other news, Bill Gates today announced he will be buying the website Engadget (w/ all affiliates) and immediately firing all current employees.
Bill is loosing it!
Bill if you are reading this just give up now. Take your money and run. I don't see your company being around that much longer. One think I have to say is I do like your ethics but I hate your company.
There is nothing wrong with Bill Gates and few should ever question his very important role in providing grants and support for humantarian and development work. Thanks Bill!
Microsoft is on the other hand Soviet in its ambitions, the dark side of the force, so damned filthy rich and monopolistic that as a company they could never conceive of a world with benevolence, competition or variety. The only thing that will save Microsoft is that they begin to offer some amount of free software.
By the way the OLPC is a shortsighted and rather silly idea. We will all be obliged to contribute to that one because it is getting high profile, not because it is a good project.
Nice to see we're all on top of it. Whatever next - perhaps a cellphone thats kinda like a bit flexible, but not - imagine a cell phone that could connect to differnet networks as you moved around, one day on voda***e the next on spr*nt as you travel. how amazing will the future be ?
What do you mean "posting as Bill G in the comments"? Who'd do something as childish as that?
Bill has pretty deep knowledge of the developing/underdeveloped world -- the guy does more and spends more philanthropically through his foundation to fight diseases and provide vaccinations and basic human services in Africa than the US Government. Than all 1st-world governments combined, I think is actually the case. He actively made a choice early on with his foundation to NOT pursue technology for 3rd-world development, to instead pursue basic human services -- after he researched it he determined that spending big on basic human services and disease prevention was the best way to help people in need. So when he's not bullish on this project I give him the benefit of the doubt that he's coming at it from this perspective and not from the "Microsoft" perspective or being pissed about not winning the OS "contract."
The only thing that will save Microsoft is that they begin to offer some amount of free software.
AHH but MS do offer free software - like Calculator and Hearts- its free when you buy windows !
Posing Bill, POSING. Can i have a million dollars?
If you want to know how many people pretend to be Bill Gates in the comments, you should read the comments from the post about Bill Gates reading Engadget.
Will you marry me Bill?
MS just is not the company they used to be. I remember how cool it was to see Windows 3.1 for the first time. Sure Apple was there first, but while Windows lined the racks at EggHead, Apple only has a shelf. It was kind of a no brainer....
Now, it just seems like others (mostly Google) are improving on things MS used to own - e.g. gmail, google maps, etc. etc. The lack of consumer based inovation has been frustrating to watch, and as a MS stock holder, Microsoft is making it harder to justifiy keeping it in my portfolio....
Africa needs basic human resources and stuff like that right now. We shouldn't be making them crappy cheap laptops, we should be getting them power where they need it, along with everything else.
Microsoft does NOT have bad eithcs.... they are just big and all big companies are like that. They are trying to make the consumer happy and still make money. Microsoft will be around for a long time to come.
Greed is a powerful opiate.
How many people would like to have everything they would ever earn in their lifetime, right now... one lump sum...
...how many of those same people would be out of money in a year.
Greed.
So Bill Gates gives to charities publicly, because.... he's really a good guy? Bill Gates gives publicly because he wants to be remembered. He wants to be patted on the back and told he's a good boy. He should grow some, let em drop, and give as if he believed in charities [what did he give away, .001% of his holdings? something he just earned back in the time it took me to type this?] and do it discreetly. Let the focus be on the charities, not the short man trying to save his persona from a personal h3ll.
Computers can be a valuable tool in education and many other ventures, but the OLPC is a misdirected effort. Most developing nations have bigger problems like running water, vaccines, food and suitable housing for their children. A glorified Speak and Spell isnt going to solve any of that. Any place that cant provide the power and needs the hand crank isnt going to see a whole lot of benefit. Just because a project is altruisic shouldnt make it immune from critisism.
Bill funding huge philanthropic projects -- while incredibly altruistic -- is one thing. This, however, is quite another. Bill did not discuss why he thought money that may be spent on OLPCs should go toward health care, disease prevention, and attacking poverty and famine. Bill discussed why the OLPC is apparently not a worthwhile computer. Can you see the difference, here? What's more, the poorest countries in the world probably won't be getting OLPCs, it is meant for developing nations like China and Brazil (who've supposedly placed orders).
Best, Ryan
Fair enough, Ryan. Taking techical potshots is sort of cheap, especially since its whole goal is to be barebones, lowcost, yet still usefull. Point taken.
I'm not sure if we can say that Bill is greedy. I don't think he is only because he donates more money then most of us will ever make and this is the only reason I like him. As for M$ the company in as a whole is greedy. Bill if you are reading this, and you fell like you want to help a good cause or anyone else for that matter. check this site out. http://eliasfund.org/
OLPCs are stupid, why are we trying to get the world educated on technology when they don't even have enough food/shelter? why don't they fix the core problems first like poverty, starvation, etc...whats the point of educating people about computers if they might just pass away in a couple of weeks
Bill doesn't really care... YES he does donate... Its all for tax write-off purposes and PR. He's killing two birds with one stone by spending donation money vs. advertising money.
With the amount of money he makes, he better be donating. He's got so much money, it would just rot.
I agree with JC and slap the writer, Ryan Block, of the article on the hand. 'Bad bad bad' The day has come and past when Engadget was no longer in the 'blog' class of internet starships. Engadget is big enough, and making enough money themselves I might add, that there should be a policy in force where you have to disclaim your article as the thoughts of the author alone.
I can think of several reasons why Bill would be upset about the OLPC. One has been stated already, misdirection of much needed attention in the form of lil tinker-putes(OLPCs) instead of organized education and communication in those nations.
Another would be, who is going to provide support for the tinker-putes?
Bill, you just keep doing your thing. Most of what you do and what MS does is beyond the understanding of what seems like a lot of people. All they see is green and the need to rise above that level and actually see how MS has contributed to the development of the world in general by providing a foundation on which much of the progress is done.
Cheers for Bill!
Cheers for Microsoft!
Jeers for Apple, I hope a worm gets ya!
Gee, I've just realized, Negrophonte did what I should have done 20 years ago hadn t I been so greedy.
It really bugs me when people say MS are greedy/trying to take over the world! They are a business and the vast majority of businesses only exsist to make money.
Just because one does it better than all the rest does not make them evil.
MS have done more than any other company in the world to help get PCs into the home and make them useable for even the most hairbrained of users.
Its a joke that people come on here as well and question the money he gives to charity. Who cares why he does it. Does 1 of his money buy less things than 1 of any of our money even though we give it to be nice?! No!
Get over it...the guy is good at what he does and thats why he is the richest man in the world...not because he's evil/robbing from the poor or any other consiparicies.
These comments from the guy who said in the middle of the ninetees that Internet was of no interest to Microsoft future technologies just seems... well, coherent!
OLPC isn't hurting microsoft, bill gates, and isn't taking money away from vaccines, food, etc.
it's an idea to help educate poor kids. so what would a multi-billionaire philanthropist have against that? shame on you bill gates, and shame on those who are against any effort to help others when its not hurting you. you can still have your opinions but you're just adding to the problem, not the solution
thank you, CullerClassik, for saying exactly what i have been thinking for a while now.
I own Microsoft
So I am really getting a kick out of most of these replies.
Some of you guys are very good at making it sound like you know what you are talking about.
But trust me.... You don't.
I think you just want to make yourself sound smart, when in reality you dont know what you are talking about.
This is how bad info gets passed around.
If you dont know about the topic....don't make yourself sound like you do.
Because most Engadgeters believe everything that they hear
Bill Gates is a hard working entrepreneur who deserves all the money he has. The fact that he and his wife give to charities and run some charities shows they have a moral conscience.
As far as Microsoft being an evil corporation, I read an article about the highest paid CEOs last year. Most of us would think that the Microsoft CEO, not Bill Gates, would have been in the top ten. But he wasn't. He was in the Bottom 10 out of 100! How many of you invest in some of those companies that showed little profit yet paid their CEO over $100 million last year?
I remember reading an article several years ago about Bill Gates when he was still the CEO at Microsoft. It was said in the article that you could sometimes find Bill in the Coach section during an evening flight with a blanket over his head working on his laptop.
How many of you if you had billions of $$$ to your name would fly Coach? I think we all need a piece of Humble Pie.
As far as the OLPC goes, hes right. That POS is just going to piss off the users of developing countries. Its really just a publicity stunt to get people on the Open Source bandwagon. The OLPC isnt going to help developing countries develop. They need Real World machines with Real World software. Sending them OLPCs is just going to keep them in the dark ages.
Besides, Open Source advocates are just going to love his statements. Love, in the fact that they love to hate Bill Gates and all things Microsoft. This will give them more things to bitch and moan about. I find Open Source advocates tend to do too much complaining and too little cooperative collaboration.
Just my $0.02.
I remember reading an article several years ago about Bill Gates when he was still the CEO at Microsoft. It was said in the article that you could sometimes find Bill in the Coach section during an evening fligh with a blanket over his head working on his laptop.
How many of you if you had Billions of $$$ to your name would fly Coach? I think we all need a piece of Humble Pie.
Sorry about the duplicate paragraphs in my privious comments.
@dreampc
And just what is YOUR definition of "greed"? When someone makes or has more money than YOU? When someone makes or has more money than YOU think they should have?
Dammned anti-capitalist bedwetters...
To #6: If MS/Bill couldn't get reptuation, news, or tax cuts from the donations, I 100% guarentee you, that he wouldn't do it. Of course he wants publicity and tax cuts. You spend money to show everybody you're helping, they trust you, and you take off from your taxes. It's like cheaper advertising! Except you get good publicity in the fact that you're helping others out (whether in good intentions or not).
I agree will Bill Gates. I've thought OLPC looks like a waist of time and money. Not to mention it still costs $100. I think very little will come from the OLPC. Maybe its just too soon. In a couple of years they could probably do this thing right. I mean come on, how useful will this thing be?
Good intensions don't always bring about good results. And though the naysayers seem bad for saying bad things about someone elses good intensions, sometimes the naysayers are right.
Dear Engadget,
I have to agree with Mr. Gates on this one. Would the average US house hold put up with a small screen computer with out a hard drive? So why would that be what the rest of the world wants? Secondly Weather the geeks of the world want to admit it or not Windows is the dominate os on the planet. Microsoft offered a free version to the OLP project and was turned down. So the OLP project is going to sell a system with out the world standard OS, with a small screen and no hard drive. Most of us look at it and see a very cool toy but that is about it. It seems like a half attempt to bring computers around the world. There is something to be said for doing something right the first time.
I agree this is a good project, I just dont buy in that the OLP is the best we can do. I definitely think it was foolish to turn down Microsofts offer.
I think it's perhaps a bit too early to call the OLPC "one of the most important technology projects of our time for the developing world". Wait a few years and see if it actually works perhaps
To #26: I think they turned it down because Windows couldn't run a $100 PC. Look at Dells', they barely can run properly on those, but that's because of what Dell puts on it. :D
This is a joke, not a serious comment.
Ok now the OLPC is supposed to replace books people. It doesn't need a hdd and the screen only needs to be book sized and have enough room for ebooks. Is it perhaps to dreamy to be practical? Maybe, but it does make sense.
The OLPC is rubbish. It's tantamount to the people who send missionaires used tea bags. If you wouldn't use it yourself, why should anyone else. I agree with helping people on many different levels. I've spent the last year volunteering in China, and I'm blown away by what people 'throw to the dogs'. The people in developing nations who we're trying to help are just like you and me, and just as valuable, and just as deserving of nothing less than an Apple MacBook Pro as you & I are. Start there and work back. Peace.
James,
If I was in possession of billions of dollars, and had the opportunity to change the lives of thousands of people for the better - are you telling me that the only reason I would be doing so would be for the publicity?
Even if this is the case, who cares? Not the people in developing nations who still have parents, brothers and sisters thanks to the money.
The people you should be taking aim at are the greedy scum who are in power in Africa - dragging their own people and nations down into poverty and misery in order that they can buy guns and missiles to kill people instead of medicine and food to help people.
Show me an African leader and I'll show you a self-serving, lying cheating stealing POS.
I am reading a lot of these posts about people who say that all donations are about tax savings and has no altruistic intent. Who of you knows anything about tax write-offs? Gates puts that stuff in a trust so that when he dies a huge chunk of it won't be taken by the IRS. He wants it to benefit people directly.
Plus there are no tax implications of holding stock, only selling it. Yeah he is a very rich man but he doesn't have to donate at all. All I am saying is every once in a while cynacism isn't the correct answer.
"Its all for tax write-off purposes and PR. He's killing two birds with one stone by spending donation money vs. advertising money."
He donates more in a year than he could write-off in a lifetime. And these things carry over.
So no, tax has nothing to do with this.
PR? Maybe, but why? Why would he even care?
i think bill is doing good at what he is doing. hes a business man, they need to make money to survive. once he can make sure that he can survive, thats when he starts lending hands to others, and thats what hes doing. i dont see anything wrong with what bill is doing. and he actually did donate, no matter if you guys say that he did it for publicity or not. I bet you that some of the guys up there that kept saying how bill had no good intention for his donation, have never donate a penny themselves.
This just came up to my mind, how come when it comes to OS, people start b!tchin about how Apple is better that Microsoft suks. And when it comes to charity, nobody ever talk about Apple. Because they never donate a dime? I find it very funny when Bill helped the poors more than anyone else and still get criticized, and Apple never did anything and they get away with it.
I would not call Bill evil, rather I called Steve evil. He trying to take over the world with his iPod.
Sorry i'm just venting.
Gates' last discussion of "the digital wallet" was his announcement that the Pocket PC would become "the digital wallet". Gates also is under the impression that we all want a Tablet PC running Windows Media Center Edition. When you listen to Gates talks everything sounds like it makes so much sense, but most of the predictions he has been touting throughout the COMDEXes of the 90s up through today, simply have not come to pass. How many of you are wearing Smart Watches? Smart Phones?
As for the OLPC, Gates wants you to buy the new (but not available yet) UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC), which is yet another stupid design from Microsoft like the Smart Watch and Talking Barney.
Let's be clear. The day the intelligent guys get to win the most money is not coming near. The smart guys keep getting the dough, and they are the ones, like Bill G, who just know how to stand on the thin border between being thought of as crooks or as good guys. The ones who make it like they're so nice giving so much tax-deductible money. Come on, if this guy was really good heartet, he would give most of his money to create sustainable non-profit organisations (while keeping enough for him and family to live large), and would have left Microsoft long ago to concentrate on doing good to the people of our planet, and not flying coach and playing xbox360 for christmas... Nor saying stupid stuff in public and saying afterwards people misinterpreted. Bill, if you read this. If you want to make it good for the planet, don't hesitate, do it big while you can.
Look: corporations are lawfully required to make a much money for stock holders as possible - no matter what the cost. Screw the employees if you must, ship sub-par products if you must, destroy competitors by any means neccessary, etc, etc, etc. Ethics are a second rate priority, as ultimately who is acutally accountable, when everyone just claims "i was just following the law, and trying to make money for the stock holders"?
Poor Bill only has gained his stature under his tireless, unending efforts to make money for his stock holders.
The executive teams of all corporations deserve their high, high pay, for they take many risks. Well, I guess they don't actually, since they are rarely held personally accountable for misdeed's of the corporation.
To the fellow claiming Bill G is not greedy, since he is in the bottom 10 of the top 100 highest paid CEOs..... wake up young fellow... Steve Jobs only takes $1 per year in salary.... tis all about the benefits baby. Stock rises, and trust me CEO and VP's across this land, DO make sure they get paid well, either today or at a set date in the future.
Microsoft, like any corporation, values stock holders more than customers or society at large. The are lawfully olbigated to.
Does Microsoft aim to produce the best product possible? Only if it means immediate shareholder value. Easier to say you are the "best" out there.
ok i think that bill g uses his money to fund these africa help organizations and other world help funds not only because he has money 2 spend, but also because he wants to help, and yah he does get tax breaks from doing it, BUT SO DO ALL OF US when we donate to a fund!
the olpc will not do to well rite now, NOT MANY people want to change there books for electronics. the regular book reader buys the book from a book store and reads it, the others who dont read books buy magazines or read blog websites such as engadget or others in there specific interest of reading. everyone needs to stop pointing fingers.
wasnt this article about what bill said, and not the whole sceme of the ms world!
ms is in a tight spot rite now. they have a new operating system to be put out, they have to sell more 360's, and better plan for the revolution and the ps3 if they are going to be successfull in the gaming world! bill is great at planning the future of his business, if he doesnt beleive in the olpc then i dont think it will do well. if he thinks that the 360 will have no MAJOR problems wit the ps3 and rev, then i beleive him! BELEIVE BILL, HE HAS HIS MONEY NOT JUST BECAUSE OF LUCK IN THE INDUSTRY, BUT ALSO FROM KNOWLEDGE!!!
ty for reading, and ty for engadget for posting this article!
Johnny
Toronto, Ontario, Canada!
I do live in a developing country and as far as I could tell, 99% of computers here run microsoft os. no one (except for the tech inclined people) even heard of other os. MS helped a lot in enriching our nation's academic sector. Countless graduated as MS scholars. Developing countries need education. Yes, proper education is not only obtained inside the 4 walls of a classroom but certainly not from a semi-charmed device. OLPC is a very UTOPIC ceteris paribus (all other things held constant). It will not work. While our government is busy robbing us off our tax money, a geek from an evil empire comes in and give hope to those who have none.
I don't get it.
Once again Mr Gates is correct. The OLPC is a wasted effort. Having been to a war-torn country where famine and disease were rampant, I can tell you that people were NOT interested in computers or the Internet. They were out looking for something to eat and fresh water to drink!!! Try doing that every day of your life and you'll see how much interest you'll have in computers or the Internet.
Oh, and to all the morons bashing Bill Gates for providing clean drinking water to a village or building a school or...
just STFU and go play on your Macs and drink Starbucks coffee!
Engadget, how many times do you have to remind us that Bill Gates might be reading your website? It's old already. We know. Get over it. It's kind of tiring having to read each post that has anything to do with Microsoft at all that there is a possibility that Gates is reading it. We got the point the last six or seven times you've done it.
So Negroponte's project is beyond criticism just because it's charitable?
Sadly, too many technologists think they can solve the world's problems simply by throwing an internet connection at them.
Bill Gates philanthropic?
The man who ruthlessly and illegally ran BeOS out of business, has kept Linux out of computer bundles with threats and intimidation, the richest man in the world needs a tax break and someone makes the wild statement he gives more to charity than than any first world country?
Give me a break.
I really like the fact the the only alternative Bill has for those 100$ laptops are 1000$ laptops and UMPC... actually since he can afford a lot of those, why don't he buys millions of 1000$ laptops and UMPC to give them to those people instead of dissing a product he couldn't be part of.
This is what the 100$ laptop is supposed to be : CHEAP, low cost, call it what you want, its what it is. I don't expect my 100$ Palm Tungsten E to run Quake3 either.
Even God isn't consistent. Give the man a break.
All you idiots claiming that Bill Gates dontates for tax breaks, please wake up!!!! When you are worth 50b, tax breaks dont matter. Also, Bill has pledged 25b out of his 50b to charity. The waltons from walmart have pledged 1b, combined. Steve "genius" jobs is under 100million in contributions. Do some research before bringing Bill G's philanthropy down. Yes, MSFT has engagd in tough business over the years, just like Google is trying to take over the world now. But to critize a man who has done so much already for the poor is beyond stupid. Ask the people of Asia and India about who has donated more.
Judging a person's philanthropic nature and moral fiber by the amount they donate is a bit misguided. I seem to recall reading a few years back when Gates started his foundation, that he did it after getting taunted by a bunch of old-money associates who told him he was being a selfish prick and better get with the program if he wanted to be remembered in a better light than that. Money is money, and vaccinations for Africa is all well and good, but the amount of money he shoves into those programs could very easily have more to do with a big ego that wants to stay proud of itself than any particlarly strong moral fiber.
I have no way of knowing if the OLPC will be a boon or not. However, there is already ample evidence that some forms of technology - specifically cell phones - are a large boon to developing nations. Small farming villages in sub-saharan Africa can now call the large markets and see what crops to bring. They don't have to waste all day bringing crops to the market in the next town no one will buy. I've read several case studies on this, but can't be bothered to look them up with a link now. Better communication and information helps more than just developed countries.
Perhaps the farmer could look up what the current market is for his product on an exchange and thereby charge an extra $0.05 a Kilo for it. Might make a difference. Just because you can't think of a use for these computers does not mean the people in these countries have a similar lack of imagination.
I read a transcript of his talk and I didn't see any OLPC comments. He did make the digital wallet comment but it was not related to developing countries. From what I read he talked about phones doing more than they used to. The scanning of business cards seemed to be referring to OCR and doing things like translating
He didn't as far as I read say phones couldn't currently scan a card he said it would eventually be 'commonplace'.
I could be wrong of course so Engadget can you post a link that shows he said what you wrote?
He's a public figure and easy to take shots at and easy for people to disparage what they believe his reasons are for giving to charitable causes but in the end shouldn't we simply be happy when people give to charities?
You guys speak of greed this and greed that, but greed is is what helped build and is the foundation of the United States and what it stands for. Hell, Bush and his administration is the greediest of the bunch. If you actually abide by law that greed is a deadly sin, then so is pride... You just can't win. Basically, do what you want, and then you die. The never-ending pursuit of happiness, as it is spelled out in the Declaration. Who are you kidding, in the end it just doesn't matter..
C'mon, oh BG is so good, he deserves every penny he's got, sure i'm jealous of his wealth, but i can't say anyone deserves that much money simply cause noone can ever need that much money.
Sure he's giving away alot of money, alot more than me, but you can't measure the act of giving away money in pennies, and when talking about such wealth as he has, you can't even measure it in percent of his wealth, if i was to give away 50% of all my money and income i'd have to change my lifestyle dramatically, if he'd do it, the only one who'd suffer would be his grandsons in a couple of hundred years from now.
Also, what you all are arguing has nothing to do with what the man said (as someone already stated here early on), he didn't say anything about the whole project being unrealistic in it's goals, he picked on the small screen, and the disk space, it's like seeing yet another self-absorved reader moaning about the olpc cause they wouldn't use it (look at the colors, i'd like a cheap laptop but the screen, the crank etc. etc.), but coming from one of the major (ok has-been) players of the industry, being a celebrity, he really should've thought alot about what he said, considering the event too, he probably did, which, for me, is pretty scary, it's such a reminder of how confined we are here in the western world
(imho though, i'd rather the money being spent to battle infrastructural and social problems, but then again, the olpc is a project for manufacturing such a pc, and for the countries to buy)
With all this termoil and arguing, I think the engadget team should try and make contact with Bill himself, and get a clear view of how he sees the situation and the motives for saying what he said. Many can speculate and misinterpret what was said, but all in all, the conflict in these comments aiun't gonna get us nowhere.
someone on this board hit the nail in the head. if you wouldnt use this laptop to help teach your kids, why should anybody else? If you are doing a noble thing by educating the kids around the world with a computing device, do it right.
Aaah, the "people are starving, why aren't you giving them food" arguments are aplenty again. Read about the goals of OLPC. You might be surprised.
I think the idea is great. Whether or not the implementation will work is another issue.
Bill Gates' comments, however, just show a complete lack of understanding of what's at play here. The OLPC is not created to benefit the content providers, because, quite frankly, they have enough money already. OLPC is created to start addressing the digital divide in a scale never seen before. For him to dismiss the whole idea because the OLPC hw doesn't match his latest dead on arrival concept, namely UMPC, is inredibly arrogant and self-serving. If he wanted to release a press release about UMPC and Origami, maybe he should do that, instead of badmouthing a concept that has nothing to with UMPCs.
The $100 laptop will be sold to governments (not to people). If the governments do this for their people, they will be giving them a lot.
Microsoft is sore that they aren't making money on this, and getting a whole world's worth of marketshare. All they have to do is make their own $100 laptop that runs Windows and competes with the MIT's project.
Of course, this is _great_ publicity for the MIT project and will no doubt help it find some direction.
The disconnected quote given is...
"The last thing you want to do for a shared use computer is have it be something without a disk"
The tempest in a teapot award should be awarded many times here. Anyone who has read the transcript of his speach knows that there was not a single mention of the OLPC. Given that and how the quote was phrased it sounds very out of context. And I agree a shared use computer should have a disk tosave to.
5150 on #16 made an excellent point there. What is the point of an OLPC if their basic need is not even met?
I recall my uncle once commenting on how its crazy to sell a cutting-edge PC in Indonesia (many years back) because their basic utility infrastructure is not even stable. Many rural areas have limited power lines and when there are, there are blackouts ... lasting half a day.
The OLPC with its crank power is really cute. Sure, you can power your pc, but erm, how are you going to power the telephone lines? (Sure, telephone lines carry their own 5v power, but I think if the blackout is bad enough, the tel line will be out as well)
And I wonder how many villages in these countries have multiple tel lines to be able to spare one line for the kid to check his gmail? Or read engadget! ;)
Oh and let's say on a good saturday, everything works ... and then the poor kid realises ... he do not have enough money to pay an ISP for the service! ... not that there is an ISP within 200 miles of his village to boot!
(Is it just my notebook, or is the "Do you want us to remember your personal information for next time?" option not working?)
ok ok, who says that he can afford it, he is a man of money, men of money want to keep every pennie they can. and the MORE you make, the more u need to pay for taxes, if u have a chance to save some money and help little kids in africa the GREAT, kill 2 birds wit 1 stone!
yaay bill gates then
get off my fuckin back, theres no denying he takes tax breaks and theres no denying that it also is good for the less fortunate!
"whats the point of educating people about computers if they might just pass away in a couple of weeks"
What's the point of giving a 7 year old kid a heart transplant ? They're just going to be dead in 70 - 90 years...a virtual flash in the pan in the grand scheme of things.
As 'Sam' from Ronin would quip, "You're either part of the solution or part of the problem, or your just part of the scenery..."
Truth is, most people are a little from coloumn A, a little from coloumn B, and a little from C as well. Negroponte has an idea on how TO HELP PEOPLE. He's spending his time pursuing it. Even if his initiative is a big fat flop SOME good will likely come of it. Probably a lot more than all the energy expended by people on running him and his idea down has or will accomplish.
Along that same vein Billy G has one of two things concerning his charitable endeavors.
1) An idea on how TO HELP PEOPLE that also helps himself (through tax right offs etc.).
or
2) An idea on how to help HIMSELF (tax right offs etc.) that also helps other people.
Even if his endeavors in charity are ultimately motivated out of the kind of sick greed that can only be bred in the dead decaying avericious heart of the thoroughly amoral (which I don't actually think Billy G is...) SOME good will likely come of them. Probably a lot more than all the energy expended by people on running him and his idea downs has or will accomplish.
Ultimately, I don't know if the OLPC will do anything more than introduce the tech challenged youth of the world to the joys of internet porn, or if Bill Gates has the soul of a Jackal that was abused by the devil, but I would ask...If all ya'all out there know so much better how to solve the worlds ills, why are you not out making the world a fantastically better place right now ?
As per the post itself, yeah, I kind of agree. It's in moderately poor taste to hate on an altruistic idea just cause you think you have a better one.
Kind of ironic, it seems that Bill gates efforts are more short term (help people live to see another day) while Negropontes ideas are bit more far reaching (help people build a better future for themselves). If you really want to help people, you gotta do both, and to be honest I think anyone who REALLY just wanted to help people (instead of seeking their own self agrandizment) would probably see that. But, you know...infer what you will...
I think Bill just saw the XP on Mac article and he's a little pissed off right now.
Cheers for Bill!
Cheers for Microsoft!
Jeers for Apple, I hope a worm gets ya!
Sorry , all the worms are in the window(s) ! And theres thousands of them !! Ha ha !
Fanboy (fatboys) vision:
Negroponte is a idol, a $100 worth a lot for a third country people. Bill Gates sux and feel afraid of it.. it's the end of M$ and the beginner of linux and google (lol)
True:
The $100 dollars notebook is useless in many countries, also idiot (they don't need or want it), a nerd of MIT can understand the needs of a child of a poor country? They known the word hungry?. Anyways i vote that it's a VAPORWARE, BLOATWARE or a single NO-GO-WARE. :-P
Also, the Origamy project of Microsoft is worthy to see, it's really expensive but many person will NEED a lightweight notebook, also is cool.
So we have two products, a cheap but nobody need it and a expensive but everyone want it. Which is the best?. who's wrong?
Two comments:
1. OLPC does not have a disk BECAUSE it has a bunch of flash. The flash uses a lot less weight and power than the disk. It's smaller than a drive, but enough to run apps. With 4 USB ports, you can store your files on a flash drive and separate your personal files from the generic device and it will be just fine.
2. The real thrust of BillG's comments seems to be that a PC costs big $$$ to properly setup and maintain. If you are going to spend $5000 of MIS talent to support a PC for 5 years, you should opt for the laptop/Origami at $700 instead of the OLPC at $100, because you get a LOT more screen and disk for what is a small cost relative to support. This is actually a complete canard however because (A) millions of people in India can train themselves to provide MIS services for almost free making support costs minimal; and (B) the reason PCs need so much darn support and drive space is because they run Windows!!
I will say this if you are a tall poppy there will always be someone out to cut you down good on you bill gates keep on going forward
Bruce paull.
Is it right to take a primitive man and put him in the 21st century with no mental, econmic, or political evolution!? Maybe Bill Gates was saying something else about the 100$ laptop. If I was a poor backwards third world man and you gave me a laptop with all its information I think I would become a terrorist, per example middle eastern man.Who is this big boy on any block that he wants(i.e.site).
$100 laptop vs. food and water.. I think food and water would win out any day. OLPC is a stupid project. They are better off just donating the $100 to each child's education. Now that would buy textbooks, food, and clothing.
Did you know that statistics indicate that the lower middle class donate a higher percentage of their income than upper classes and more often. When someone from the upperclasses donates a big and impressive cheque it is kind of important to measure what percentage of their income it is, what is the tax kick back and how often they do it. By all acounts Bill is up there if he really does give most of what he has. Three cheers for Bill. He is an exception among the rich. I find it difficult to associate his actions with the corporate culture of Microsoft...
if u were refering 2 me post #48, i dont have a mac, although now that we can put windows on em, i might just get 1!
lol this topic is over anyway ahahh i hope my post is 1 of the last!!! this topic has been over talked!!!
byebye
JoHn
It's indescribably patronising to think that someone from a developing country will somehow tolerate a third-rate utilitarian piece of hardware,with the stink of charity about it.
Look. The people who these things are aimed at need a computer for exactly the same things you do, and because of financial hardship, are more acutely aware of brand value than you are.
Remember the first and only time you passed your old PC on to a young neice or nephew? They were excited up until they realised they couldn't do proper things with it like you could with your new one.
please i have some important complains wich i wantto forward to his execellency the mater is to important and mater of a lif mater of goodwill but i don t know how i forward it
some important inquaries /complains i want to forward but don t know what is proper
way adress of email
please guide me
Hi All,
By no intention am I trying to send negative energy to anyone, I’m am only letting as many know about www.climatecrisis.net and the fact that I want my kids to have kids.
I found a brochure about Global Warming informing of a new movie in Cinemas now called “ An inconvenient truth’’ and feel as many as possible need to know about the reality of our planet and the urgent need to join as one to prevent the possible crisis occuring with millions of species becoming extinct within the next 10 yrs not 100yrs.
Please go to the website www.climatecrisis.net to learn the truth of our planet’s health.
Our kids need the home we have enjoyed, so it’s our responsibility as parents to give them nature as we know it.
I hope this message reaches others who care enough to think about taking action.
OK so my last message may not have been posted due to my lack of interest in billions or how smart I should campare myself with others. Inteligence is not as important as imagination as we know a smart man once said. Imagine our kids having kids with no blue sky.
Well done Bill you have acheived a natural wonder in my lifetime. Now we all can aspire to your acheivements. If anyone out there reading this is truly ... smart prove it to yourself by being aware of the world we live in, learning everyday something new and remember where we all are, the same planet.
Bill, you have connections, more than you even know, can you inform the millions to help the kids of the future with us and see for yourself that millions of people not money is needed to save our existence.
visit - www.climatecrisis.net
If you already have then great.
Cheers Bill and Readers,
Steve.
CHRISTMAS BONANZA| CHRISTMAS BONANAZA|| CHRISTMAS BONANZA|||
buy 3 phones get 1 free,buy 2 phones get 10% discount and buy 1 phone and get 10% discount shipping cost.the promo last till end of the year.
BUY BRAND NEW UNLOCKED CELL PHONES,MOBILE AND PDA PHONES,GAMES,LAPTOP,DIGITAL
CAMERA,GAMES,PLASMA TV.They are brand new and sealed in an original
company box with complete accessories and one year international
warrantee.
DO CONTACT US VIA....... boldsales@gmail.com
boldsales@hotmail.com
Nokia N97......$240USD
Nokia N98......$260USD
Nokia E90 COMMUNICATOR.......$250USD
Nokia N95(8gb).......$220USD
Nokia N81(8GB).......$200USD
Nokia N800....$200USD
Nokia E60.......$240USD
Nokia E65.......$250USD
Nokia n93i......$210USD
Nokia N93.......$190USD
Nokia N92.......$180USD
Nokia N83.......$160USD
Nokia N91.......$140USD
Nokia N90.......$170USD
Nokia N70.......$150USD
Nokia N71.......$155USD
Nokia N72.......$160USD
Nokia N73.......$165USD
Nokia N75.......$190USD
Nokia 8800 sirrocco...$180usd
Nokia 8800......$120USD
Nokia 8801......$125usd
Nokia 7710......$145USD
Nokia 7610......$120usd
Nokia 9300......$145USD
Nokia 9500......$170USD
sony Ericsson w960.....$300usd
sony Ericsson w910.....$290usd
Sony Ericsson K850.....$270usd
sony Ericsson w888.....$250usd
Sony Ericsson w580.....$220usd
sony Ericsson w660.....$240usd
Sony Ericsson K800i....$190usd
Sony Ericsson w610i....$140usd
Sony Ericsson W850.....$210usd
Sony Ericsson w900i....$140usd
sony Ericsson w700.....$130usd
sony Ericsson w600i....$125usd
sony Ericsson w950.....$160usd
Sony Ericsson p990i....$145usd
Sony Ericsson m600i....$175usd
APPLE iphone 8gb...........$250USD
APPLE iphone 4gb..........$200usd
HTC X7500......... $350usd
HTC S710........ $330usd
HTC P350.......... $300usd
HTC P3400....... $250usd
HTC P4350...... $200usd
HTC P3600...... $210usd
HTC P3300............ $150usd
HTC S620........ $170usd
HTC S310......... $190usd
HTC TYTN........... $210usd
HTC MT EOR....... $190usd
ETEN GLOFIISH X800....$200usd
ETEN GLOFIISH M700......$190usd
ETEN GLOFIISH X500.....$170usd
ETEN M550......... $180usd
ETEN G500+........ $170usd
ETEN M600+.........$150usd
ETEN G500......... $160usd
ETEN M600......... $140usd
ETEN M500......... $140usd
ETEN P300B......... $160usd
ETEN P300......... $150usd
ETEN P700........... $180usd
Asus P535....... $190usd
Asus P525......... $180usd
Asus P505......... $160usd
Asus Z810..... $200usd
Asus V85....... $150USD
Asus V75.... $130USD
PALM TREO PHONES
Treo 750.................$250usd
Treo 700p...............$200usd
Treo 700wx...............$190usd
PLASMA TV
JVC 52-Inch BRAND NEW PLASMA TV .......$600
42 inch LG-42PC3D HDTV Plasma.........$550
42 Inch HD TV Flat Panel Plasma Television..........$450
Sharp AQUOS LC-65D90U 65" 1080p ................$1500
Sharp AQUOS LC-52D62U 52" 1080p..............$850
Sharp LC37D43U 37-inch AQUOS LCD Flat Panel HDTV ....$500
NEXTEL PHONES
Nextel i930.........$130usd
Nextel i870.........$120usd
Nextel i860.........$110usd
SIDEKICK PHONES
SIDEKICK 2.................$100USD
SIDEKICK 3.................$150USD
SIDEKICK 4.................$200USD
I-MATE JASJER..............$90USD
LG PRADA.............$200USD
Qtek pHONES
Qtek s110.....$190usd
Qtek s100.....$180USD
Qtek 9090.....$185USD
Qtek 8020.....$195USD
Qtek 8010.....$160USD
Qtek 2020i....$200USD
Qtek 2020.....$190usd
Qtek 8080.....$120usd
Qtek 8060.....$130usd
Qtek 1010.....$120usd
Qtek 7070.....$210usd
Samsung E840...............$280USD
Samsung U600...............$250USD
Samsung U700...............$270USD
Samsung D800...............$140USD
Samsung D820...............$130USD
Samsung D500...............$110usd
Samsung d600...............$120usd
IPODS
Apple 30 GB iPod Vidoe............$140 USD
Apple 60 GB iPod Vidoe............$180 USD
GAMES
Ps3..................$220 usd
Ps2 .................$160 usd
Nintendo wii...........$240Usd
X box premium console ............$200USD
DIGITAL CAMERA
Canon XL1 Digital Camcorder Kit.....................$600
Canon EOS 1D Mark II N 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera....$850
Canon Camera Kit 1234B002............$350
Canon XL2 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom......$800
CANON EOS-1D Mark II-N 8 Megapixel Digital....$900
Canon EOS-5D Digital , 12.8 Megapixels.......$500
Canon XH A1 1.67MP 3CCD Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom...$850
Canon EOS 30D Digital SLR Camera & Canon....$400
TomTom GO 910 Portable GPS Navigation.......$200USD
TomTom GO 710 Portable GPS Navigation......$180USD
02 XDA atom ife...... $200
02 Xda Zinc......... $190
02 Xda Drphite......... $190
02 Orbit............. $180
02 cosmo........... $150
02 Xda Stealth........ $160
02 Xda Exec......... $140usd
02 Xda II mini......... $140
02 Xda IIs.......... $150
NEW PIONEER CDJ-1000 MP3 MK3 PLAYER........$450
NEW PIONEER CDJ-800 MP3 MK3 PLAYER .........$320
NEW PIONEER CDJ-800 MP3 MK2 PLAYER .........$280
NEW PIONEER DJM 1000...$700
NEW PIONEER DJM 800.....$600
NEW PIONEER DJM 600....$500
NEW Pioneer DVJ-X1 DVD .....................$700
DO CONTACT US VIA....... boldsales@gmail.com
boldsales@hotmail.com
CHRISTMAS BONANZA| CHRISTMAS BONANAZA|| CHRISTMAS BONANZA|||
buy 3 phones get 1 free,buy 2 phones get 10% discount and buy 1 phone and get 10% discount shipping cost.the promo last till end of the year.
BUY BRAND NEW UNLOCKED CELL PHONES,MOBILE AND PDA PHONES,GAMES,LAPTOP,DIGITAL
CAMERA,GAMES,PLASMA TV.They are brand new and sealed in an original
company box with complete accessories and one year international
warrantee.
DO CONTACT US VIA....... boldsales@gmail.com
boldsales@hotmail.com
Nokia N97......$240USD
Nokia N98......$260USD
Nokia E90 COMMUNICATOR.......$250USD
Nokia N95(8gb).......$220USD
Nokia N81(8GB).......$200USD
Nokia N800....$200USD
Nokia E60.......$240USD
Nokia E65.......$250USD
Nokia n93i......$210USD
Nokia N93.......$190USD
Nokia N92.......$180USD
Nokia N83.......$160USD
Nokia N91.......$140USD
Nokia N90.......$170USD
Nokia N70.......$150USD
Nokia N71.......$155USD
Nokia N72.......$160USD
Nokia N73.......$165USD
Nokia N75.......$190USD
Nokia 8800 sirrocco...$180usd
Nokia 8800......$120USD
Nokia 8801......$125usd
Nokia 7710......$145USD
Nokia 7610......$120usd
Nokia 9300......$145USD
Nokia 9500......$170USD
sony Ericsson w960.....$300usd
sony Ericsson w910.....$290usd
Sony Ericsson K850.....$270usd
sony Ericsson w888.....$250usd
Sony Ericsson w580.....$220usd
sony Ericsson w660.....$240usd
Sony Ericsson K800i....$190usd
Sony Ericsson w610i....$140usd
Sony Ericsson W850.....$210usd
Sony Ericsson w900i....$140usd
sony Ericsson w700.....$130usd
sony Ericsson w600i....$125usd
sony Ericsson w950.....$160usd
Sony Ericsson p990i....$145usd
Sony Ericsson m600i....$175usd
APPLE iphone 8gb...........$250USD
APPLE iphone 4gb..........$200usd
HTC X7500......... $350usd
HTC S710........ $330usd
HTC P350.......... $300usd
HTC P3400....... $250usd
HTC P4350...... $200usd
HTC P3600...... $210usd
HTC P3300............ $150usd
HTC S620........ $170usd
HTC S310......... $190usd
HTC TYTN........... $210usd
HTC MT EOR....... $190usd
ETEN GLOFIISH X800....$200usd
ETEN GLOFIISH M700......$190usd
ETEN GLOFIISH X500.....$170usd
ETEN M550......... $180usd
ETEN G500+........ $170usd
ETEN M600+.........$150usd
ETEN G500......... $160usd
ETEN M600......... $140usd
ETEN M500......... $140usd
ETEN P300B......... $160usd
ETEN P300......... $150usd
ETEN P700........... $180usd
Asus P535....... $190usd
Asus P525......... $180usd
Asus P505......... $160usd
Asus Z810..... $200usd
Asus V85....... $150USD
Asus V75.... $130USD
PALM TREO PHONES
Treo 750.................$250usd
Treo 700p...............$200usd
Treo 700wx...............$190usd
PLASMA TV
JVC 52-Inch BRAND NEW PLASMA TV .......$600
42 inch LG-42PC3D HDTV Plasma.........$550
42 Inch HD TV Flat Panel Plasma Television..........$450
Sharp AQUOS LC-65D90U 65" 1080p ................$1500
Sharp AQUOS LC-52D62U 52" 1080p..............$850
Sharp LC37D43U 37-inch AQUOS LCD Flat Panel HDTV ....$500
NEXTEL PHONES
Nextel i930.........$130usd
Nextel i870.........$120usd
Nextel i860.........$110usd
SIDEKICK PHONES
SIDEKICK 2.................$100USD
SIDEKICK 3.................$150USD
SIDEKICK 4.................$200USD
I-MATE JASJER..............$90USD
LG PRADA.............$200USD
Qtek pHONES
Qtek s110.....$190usd
Qtek s100.....$180USD
Qtek 9090.....$185USD
Qtek 8020.....$195USD
Qtek 8010.....$160USD
Qtek 2020i....$200USD
Qtek 2020.....$190usd
Qtek 8080.....$120usd
Qtek 8060.....$130usd
Qtek 1010.....$120usd
Qtek 7070.....$210usd
Samsung E840...............$280USD
Samsung U600...............$250USD
Samsung U700...............$270USD
Samsung D800...............$140USD
Samsung D820...............$130USD
Samsung D500...............$110usd
Samsung d600...............$120usd
IPODS
Apple 30 GB iPod Vidoe............$140 USD
Apple 60 GB iPod Vidoe............$180 USD
GAMES
Ps3..................$220 usd
Ps2 .................$160 usd
Nintendo wii...........$240Usd
X box premium console ............$200USD
DIGITAL CAMERA
Canon XL1 Digital Camcorder Kit.....................$600
Canon EOS 1D Mark II N 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera....$850
Canon Camera Kit 1234B002............$350
Canon XL2 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom......$800
CANON EOS-1D Mark II-N 8 Megapixel Digital....$900
Canon EOS-5D Digital , 12.8 Megapixels.......$500
Canon XH A1 1.67MP 3CCD Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom...$850
Canon EOS 30D Digital SLR Camera & Canon....$400
TomTom GO 910 Portable GPS Navigation.......$200USD
TomTom GO 710 Portable GPS Navigation......$180USD
02 XDA atom ife...... $200
02 Xda Zinc......... $190
02 Xda Drphite......... $190
02 Orbit............. $180
02 cosmo........... $150
02 Xda Stealth........ $160
02 Xda Exec......... $140usd
02 Xda II mini......... $140
02 Xda IIs.......... $150
NEW PIONEER CDJ-1000 MP3 MK3 PLAYER........$450
NEW PIONEER CDJ-800 MP3 MK3 PLAYER .........$320
NEW PIONEER CDJ-800 MP3 MK2 PLAYER .........$280
NEW PIONEER DJM 1000...$700
NEW PIONEER DJM 800.....$600
NEW PIONEER DJM 600....$500
NEW Pioneer DVJ-X1 DVD .....................$700
DO CONTACT US VIA....... boldsales@gmail.com
boldsales@hotmail.com