If u think of a $100 laptop and GNU software as a universal tool for economic activity u can imagine the multiplier effect it has on economies. Mark has truly grasped the GNU philosophy and realised how universal a tool a pc and good software is.
Just need some cheap/reliable/available way to power up these laptops. :) If this combination of laptop+gnuware+telecom has to really make a positive impact in the most underdeveloped regions of the developing nations we need electricity to run these laptops which is unfortunately more off than on.
But I am sure there is someone out there who has figured out a way to charge these using solar energy. Ofcourse I am not talking about giant solar panels or even medium ones. But something designed specifically to make these devices run. I remember reading about a basic manual charger for cellphones designed at IIT.
-abhi
*********************************************************************** Faith, by definition, defies evidence: it is untested and unshakeable, and is therefore in direct contradiction with science. ***********************************************************************
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