http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/ Engadget Comments for Free laptops and broadband promised for 270,000 poor UK families http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/..and UK broadband is cheap as chippies.. where I am it's £25 for 2Mbps (usually 1.6, 2.2 if im lucky)]]>Jan 12th 2010 2:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
O2 is £7 a month for 8Mbps (last time I checked). ]]>Jan 12th 2010 2:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
If you live outwith O2's coverage you have to pay £22.50 per month for "up to" 8mbit/sec.]]>Jan 12th 2010 2:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Then you've to be qualified as a poor family if you really desire for a free laptop and broadband.]]>Jan 12th 2010 2:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Jan 12th 2010 2:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/24meg for £17.88
bethere.co.uk]]>Jan 12th 2010 2:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/If you are against this, sign the petition on the Number10 website:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Freelaptopblock/]]>Jan 12th 2010 3:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
Going on Benefits is slowly but surely becoming a definitive career path for me.

Absolutely pathetic. Its incentives to become lazier!]]>Jan 12th 2010 2:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
honestly, UK should look at what welfare does to the US.]]>Jan 12th 2010 2:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
Ive got to say, they are thoroughly pissing me off, and I'm not even paying Taxes at the momement. I'm 17, have a weekend job, and pay my way through things. Education, social events etc.

However, people at school get something called "EMA"...they get £30 a week just for going to school. And now there getting free laptops/broadband connections. Even at the ripe age 16 we're being taught that laziness can prevail all.

I'm not saying there arn't the odd cases where the money/laptops/whatever are genuinely needed -- but for the large part, people just need to get off there lazy arses and find out what work is.]]>Jan 12th 2010 2:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
My thoughts exactly. About how many of those 270,000 families do you think are living in poverty because of LAZINESS? I'd say at least half.]]>Jan 12th 2010 2:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
Argh! One of those subjects that really get my back up. And as for Engadgets closing line:

"...there's no certainty that this pledge will come to pass. Let's just hope it does."

I bet me and putaro05 are just two of many millions who hope it doesn't pass]]>Jan 12th 2010 2:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
Isn't EMA moreso used to help low income families who have trouble paying for necessities, such as transport, books, etc? And even if EMA is used as an incentive to get kids into school, isn't it better than them not going to school and living off Jobseekers' allowance and income support?]]>Jan 12th 2010 3:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
In theory, I would agree...but having seen it in action, it doesn't work like that. EMA goes directly to students bank account and can be spent on whatever they want (and it usually involves some sort of alchohol for whatever illustrious activities they have planned for the weekend).

It also means that people are staying on for education just for money - when the really don't want to be there. Which is brilliant, still having the class clown disrupting the lessons, when your trying to study something that will benefit the rest of your life.

Its also the message it implants. "Hey, I don't have to get a weekend job at the moment, I'm getting £30 a week!". If that ethical code is planted into too many students head, what will Britain turn into? People wouldn't be working because of the laziness they learnt as a child. The lessons we (the student) learn from weekend work is invaluable aswell. I can quite honestly say I have learnt more skills working at a small resturant, then I have in the past 5 years of secondary school education.

Having said all that, I know people who are in genuine need of the money, and the money does go to help them through there education. But, when people start going to school cause of the money there getting, you know the clusterfuck of a government have got it all wrong somewhere.]]>Jan 12th 2010 3:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/]]>Jan 12th 2010 4:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
Thank you for raising the point of EMA, pisses me off to no end. Think about it for just a second. Just because you are in a higher earning bracket, does not mean you have more FREE cash, often there is a bigger mortgage etc. And even if the parents do have a lot of free cash it does not mean they are going to give it to the child.

Hell my friend spends £14 a week on it on a cinema card...

And i get fuck all, great isn't it?]]>Jan 13th 2010 2:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
"Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free"...OH WAIT! ]]>Jan 12th 2010 2:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Jan 12th 2010 2:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/isnt this where DC (ah lol) is going for? All for remove benefits and everyone must earn their living..no scrounging- except for the possible no inheritance thing]]>Jan 12th 2010 2:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
and no, dropping out of school at 16 because you didn't past your GCSE's because you were high or in labour doesn't count as mentally ill.]]>Jan 12th 2010 2:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/]]>Jan 12th 2010 5:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Jan 12th 2010 5:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/You really are full of shit, aren't you?]]>Jan 12th 2010 6:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Ah, a cameron supporter, well that's an insult to yourself I cannot top.
]]>Jan 21st 2010 5:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Jan 12th 2010 2:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Agreed. What kind of laptop and broadband are they giving them for over a grand each?]]>Jan 12th 2010 3:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Jan 12th 2010 4:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
Macs, sheesh, can't you see the picture?!]]>Jan 12th 2010 4:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Jan 12th 2010 2:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
That's what I was thinking haha. They won't be able to give much if they're going out 17" Macbook Pros.

Also kind of funny if this were really happening: Apples are a bit of a status symbol, no? So if this program happened to give Macs, won't it suddenly give the wrong image? Haha ]]>Jan 12th 2010 4:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Jan 12th 2010 7:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Jan 12th 2010 2:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
ahem....ebay is their best frnd....]]>Jan 12th 2010 3:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Jan 12th 2010 4:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.thisnext.com/item/C9BAF23A/Holy-Toast-Maker
or DIY http://www.blacktable.com/gillin041202.htm]]>Jan 12th 2010 5:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Jan 12th 2010 2:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
When I was at school (only 30 now) there was no broadband and internet was very expensive, pc's weren't cheap either.

Now I know you're all asking how did my parents keep up with my grades and how well I was doing, it was quite simple really, we had parent's evenings and a piece of paper with our grades on.

I don't mind a leased approach where you pay £5 a week for a laptop (like a 12" netbook say) and then get a reduced education only broadband for a few quid more. Why should they get full internet when we have to pay for it and they don't.

Why should the lower incomes get more free things, as it is those just outside the 'low income' bracket are usually worse off than the lower income ones. It's even more annoying when the likelihood is that the people who will get the free things are most likely the ones who have never worked etc]]>Jan 12th 2010 2:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/The biggest problem is creates you just illistrated perfectly

it creates an "US" and "THEM" social classes.

The Caste system all over again.

I thought humanity has been making progress? ]]>Jan 12th 2010 7:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Jan 12th 2010 2:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Jan 12th 2010 2:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Drive on any roads, lately?]]>Jan 12th 2010 2:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Jan 12th 2010 2:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/they got what.. 5 mil votes.. the same amount of people who fit in the benefits group]]>Jan 12th 2010 3:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Jan 12th 2010 5:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
Pride?]]>Jan 12th 2010 10:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Jan 12th 2010 2:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/
I guess browsing 4chan is just as important.]]>Jan 12th 2010 2:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Exactly. What about me? What the fuck do I get as a reward or incentive for being successful? Fuck all, all my taxes spent on extraneous luxury technology for the ickle wickle poor people.]]>Jan 12th 2010 2:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Jan 12th 2010 2:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/free-laptops-and-broadband-promised-for-270-000-poor-uk-families/Jan 12th 2010 2:36PM