Bill Gates: Cheap PCs won't help the poor

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Talkback 11 comments

  1. Bill is Right John -- 29/02/08

    I have always said to the OLPC fanboys that as a hungry, of poor health, no education person of the 3rd world I am not sure why I want a computer to surf the web. I want security of life, food and education so I can learn, grow and stay alive.

    Good on you Bill for reminding us all of what is really of importance in countries less fortunate than ours, and what a list of prioirities might contain, certainly not a computer of any type

    1. Bill is Right Bob Hubbard -- 29/02/08

      I agree with what John said how can they operate a computer if they have not been educated as well as not having any food or a health system

    2. Bill is right John Bailey -- 05/03/08

      True enough. What he said was the poorest two billion people in the world have no need of computers. Couldn't agree more. And I doubt anybody in the world would. Including the people who make the OLPC, every charity and NGO on the planet, and every person who has given it more than five minutes thought.

      However......

      There are about 6 billion people in the world, and I very much doubt the population of the first world is twice that of the third world, so all those that fall between the two groups, where food is taken care of, where a reliable clean water supply is available,and where basic medical needs are handled already, there is a need for education, and the OLPC can help there. The areas referred to as third world, and beyond that, to the areas designated as developing countries, are an economically varied and geographically diverse collection of countries. Not everyone is starving.

    3. please help me i need some amount Muhammad akram -- 10/05/08

      i m the poor man . i took the loan from the bank. i have no money to give back. plz give me at about US$ 5000. i m waiting for ur reply .plz help me. no body help me . i m trying to take borrow from peoples but no bidy ready to help me. plz do some thing for me. plz

  2. easy to say, Bill Anonymous -- 01/03/08

    If Bill really meant it, he would give all he had to help people in need. I loath people like this, setting up 'foundations' in effort to offset a bad conscience and wrongdoings in ones life when they are rich, sad and have lost the meaning of life. Wont remove the horns pal.

  3. Bill Grates Foundation Simon Jones -- 02/03/08

    Here is a man who runs the richest charity in the world! WTF! A charity should not hoard money it should be given to the people who need it.

    Start "donating" some of that money, help feed and supply medical aid, then maybe the rest of might listen.

    1. Why not just burn it! John -- 02/03/08

      He actually doesn't hoard the money, nor does he pile it up and turn it into a bonfire.

      If you actually did some investigation you would realise Malaria is one of the largest killer of people in undeveloped countries. Bill is pouring money in Malaria research. He has stated and followed through with investments in diseases of the third world. That means he will not cure your fat arse but will actually attempt to provide cures to people who need it in countries where most diseases mean poor health and death.

      Giving currency to corrupt governments and military powers does nothing for the people in the country, you might as well burn it, as you suggested.

    2. i need some money plz help me MUHAMMAD AKRAM ANSARI -- 10/05/08

      i need some monay which is at about US $ 5000. plz give me this amount. i took loan from the bank they call me to give back my loan i m in very big problem. plz help me i have no money to give back. i m low employ GOVT Servent. we r hand to mouth. plz try to under stand my problem. i think u help me.

  4. HW cost vs SW cost Anonymous -- 03/03/08

    The cost of hardware is steadily declining but the same cannot be said about software.

    Which one requires more effort/resources to manufacture on a repetative basis? Duplicating CDs is so cheap.

    So why do we pay so much for software?

    1. Costs Anonymous -- 03/03/08

      absolutely hardware is dropping in costs, so is CD duplication. The problem in that thoght is the software is free to write and has no costs. This is not true whether done for love or money. There is a cost no matter which way you look at it.

  5. Peter T. Anonymous -- 04/03/08

    On this occasion, I rather agree with Gates. OLPC might be useful for Second-world countries, but it is hardly going to help people in Third-world countries who are desperate for food, accommodation and medical help.

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