Yeah. Hardware costs aren't much. We can explore options for community PC's and all running Linux. My favourite model is Thick server- thin client. This only makes it important to upgrade the server as and when necessary.
How much computing ower you need? 486 with 5 MB RAM to run BSD. 65 MB hard drive to run linux under Command line.

Mars ROVER used only 4hz...yes 4 HERTZ to transmit those pics. It never needed any version coming from Redmond.

In anycase, Linux is the answer. Or BSD> Cost effective, secure, scalable, idiot proof and FREE for all times to come. THis thin client can cost roughly 6000-7000 per terminal for upto 25 terminals. It makes sense. Glorious sense. Csts can be brought down by using older systems. I shall explore in detail in a later post.

"digital divide" is another cool topic that can mix with the broadband topic :-)

just imagine, a 256 kbps affordable (Rs 250/- per month seems like a good start) connection without data transfer limits (or some reasonable limit, if any, and certainly not the ridiculous 400 MB per month), so you can download not just all the free software you want, but also things like free open university courses, like you have at ocw.mit.edu - MIT open courseware

combine that with your SIMputer or one of "$100" PCs... and that's one small step for mankind to cross that digital divide hehe

so, to recap today's lesson... mix one part affordable high-quality broadband, with one part affordable high-tech piece of hardware (broadband+simputer), and you have a delicious cocktail full of knowledge and intellectual horsepower. and this is a cocktail all the school kids under 21 can enjoy and benefit from.

(ps: as you can tell, i ain't no shakespeare)

Yeah. Hardware costs aren't much. We can explore options for community PC's and all running Linux. My favourite model is Thick server- thin client. This only makes it important to upgrade the server as and when necessary.
How much computing ower you need? 486 with 5 MB RAM to run BSD. 65 MB hard drive to run linux under Command line.

Mars ROVER used only 4hz...yes 4 HERTZ to transmit those pics. It never needed any version coming from Redmond.

In anycase, Linux is the answer. Or BSD> Cost effective, secure, scalable, idiot proof and FREE for all times to come. THis thin client can cost roughly 6000-7000 per terminal for upto 25 terminals. It makes sense. Glorious sense. Csts can be brought down by using older systems. I shall explore in detail in a later post.

"digital divide" is another cool topic that can mix with the broadband topic :-)

just imagine, a 256 kbps affordable (Rs 250/- per month seems like a good start) connection without data transfer limits (or some reasonable limit, if any, and certainly not the ridiculous 400 MB per month), so you can download not just all the free software you want, but also things like free open university courses, like you have at ocw.mit.edu - MIT open courseware

combine that with your SIMputer or one of "$100" PCs... and that's one small step for mankind to cross that digital divide hehe

so, to recap today's lesson... mix one part affordable high-quality broadband, with one part affordable high-tech piece of hardware (broadband+simputer), and you have a delicious cocktail full of knowledge and intellectual horsepower. and this is a cocktail all the school kids under 21 can enjoy and benefit from.

(ps: as you can tell, i ain't no shakespeare)